Towns has thrown himself into acclimating himself to the area with same enthusiasm he has to making the transition to the NBA, sampling local restaurants and hitting the Mall of America with friends just as most 20-year-olds do.
The former University of Kentucky star is averaging 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds as the Timberwolves near the halfway point of the season, solidifying himself as a favorite for the league’s rookie of the year award. And he’s already leaving quite an impression on those in the league.
“He’s a future Hall of Famer,” Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant said.
Towns has also been active in the community, organizing a shoe drive to provide footwear for those in need, participating in a pair of shopping sprees for children before Christmas and this month he launched a “My Brother’s Keeper” campaign with the NBA and the White House to promote the importance of mentoring.
Towns has been active in charitable endeavors for years because it was encouraged by his parents at home. There was never a lot of money to go around while growing up in Piscataway, but Towns devoted his time to working with autistic children and several other endeavors.
Towns lauded the mentorship he received from Atlanta Hawks star Al Horford when the two were teammates on the Dominican national team. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is also featured in the campaign.
At 12-28, the young Timberwolves have won more games than just three other teams in the league. The losing hasn’t been easy for Towns to get used to. But getting used to a new city and a new home has gone much better.