Seemingly from the moment the Minnesota Timberwolves hired Tom Thibodeau as their new coach and GM, hopes have been sky-high for the team. Reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t mask his excitement about a turnaround in Minnesota come 2016-17 earlier this summer and is not backing off that stance. In an interview with Jared Zwerling on NBPA.com, Towns talks about his goals for the season, working with Thibodeau and more:
NBPA: Since the season ended, you’ve made different entertainment appearances, like attending the ESPYs, making a cameo on Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and being a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. What have been your summer highlights?
KAT: Definitely I would say the Disney show. I love acting. I had a lot of fun doing it, and it was a huge honor to just be part of that show. Cameron Boyce is awesome, everybody was great. From there, I think probably just doing the Foot Locker commercial with some of my best friends, D’Angelo Russell and Devin Booker, was awesome.
Also, I had a chance to do a special thing: enjoy some time with my family. I haven’t gotten a lot of time with my family since I was in high school. So for the first time in two years, I got to go home and actually spend some time with them—see my niece and nephew grow up a little more than I ever was able to do. So I had a lot of fun.
…
NBPA: On the court, take me inside your workouts with trainer Bryce Stanhope this offseason. What’s been your focus?
KAT: He’s been awesome. He’s a great trainer. With my dad having knee surgeries, it’s a little harder for him to do a little bit more of what I need. So Bryce has been great stepping into the role and helping me grow my game and get better. We’ve been just working on every single aspect of my game to be even sharper and a better player next year. Me and Bryce slow it down a lot. We make sure we get good reps in. It’s not always about going so fast and doing it so much. We make sure each rep is a quality rep and we take our time with the process.
NBPA: How do you see your game evolving?
KAT: I think it’s going to be much much better. I’ve had a whole season to learn under KG [Kevin Garnett]. I just feel that I can be a much better player. Having a whole year to learn and have the whole year to see for myself what it takes, I feel I’m going to be a much better leader from a player standpoint. I will take what I’ve learned in one season and build upon it. It’s going to be awesome.
NBPA: The Timberwolves are being viewed as one of the biggest breakout teams for next season. How would you describe that excitement brewing in Minnesota?
KAT: We’ve just got to go out there and work. It’s excitement because people feel that we have a chance to do something special, and we’ve got to deliver. So it’s about us working and constantly finding ways to get better.
NBPA: In your short time with Tom Thibodeau, what have you learned about him so far?
KAT: It’s awesome. He’s taught me a lot so far. He’s really smart, he’s a great guy. I look at him not even as my coach, but as a good friend of mine, and that’s how it has to be. If we want to be able to go to another spot to something greater, we have to always be on the same page and have a good rapport. That’s what we
do have.
…
NBPA: What are your personal and team goals for next season?
KAT: Personal goals are based on team. We’ve got to make the playoffs. We’ve got to do something special, and it’s up to us to continue to work and to make that happen.
