National Basketball Association

Time To Sell On Anthony Davis, Buy On Karl-Anthony Towns

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Anthony Davis is no longer the NBA’s next great rising star. That mantle now belongs to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns.

Anthony Davis isn’t the NBA‘s next true superstar.

His premature crowning came with his pure statistical contributions to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Davis averaged 22 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his first four seasons with a slash line of .516/.281/.780.

These numbers are more than solid coming from a young big man learning how to be effective in today’s modern game.

But his skill set isn’t the problem.

Davis hasn’t even cracked 70 games played in one of his first four years in the league. His health has been a major concern to the Pelicans and is still one moving forward.

Can he bounce back this season and play in a full slate of games or is he looking at another injury-riddled year?

Either way it’s time to sell on Davis as the next transcendent star now. Put all of that stock in the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Karl-Anthony Towns.

Why Karl-Anthony Towns?

Towns has only played in one season thus far in his young career. But that first year served as a statement to just how good he can be right away.

It only took Towns a single season to emerge as a perennial All-Star candidate as his rookie numbers were tremendous.

His 18.3 points per game on a slash line of .542/.341/.811 along with his 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game stand out for a 20-year-old center.

How many bigs can run down the floor with his speed, handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter and still stand as a force in the paint?

I already mentioned that Davis’ skill set isn’t the true detriment to his removal from the top shelf. The NBA is a face-up game now more than ever, so his athleticism and touch are more than welcome.

But Towns doesn’t sacrifice any of those attributes and he has a full array of moves around the rim.

His back-to-the-basket game isn’t as advanced as fellow rookie Jahlil Okafor, but his footwork has few holes in it.

He’s strong, tough and competitive, and it shows in his willingness to battle in the low post.

Towns doesn’t back down from anyone given that he has the size and demeanor to compete at the center position night after night.

While Davis’ length helps him on the offensive glass he’s not the same defensive rebounder as Towns is. It took Davis three years before he cracked more than eight defensive boards per game.

Towns did it in his first season and he flashed great potential as a rim protector and anchor on defense.

Davis’ block percentage and averages outweigh Towns’ contributions on that end of the floor, but Towns still put up 1.7 blocks per game himself.

Not only that but his awareness and IQ defensively is already ahead of Davis, which is surprising given the lack of experience.

In the Timberwolves’ contests against the Golden State Warriors, it was Towns who guarded Stephen Curry down the stretch.

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It wasn’t Ricky Rubio or Andrew Wiggins, but the team’s center that affected the game in a meaningful way.

His length and lateral quickness proved too much for Curry late in the second game. That matchup sealed the win for the developing T-Wolves.

Where Does Davis Fall?

This piece isn’t meant to say that Davis can’t play the game or can’t develop into a star.

Davis’ freakish athleticism and two-way potential still have him on track to compete against Towns for best big for years to come.

But his health and lack of a low-post game diminish his case overall. Towns is the best prospect in the NBA today, and it’s not even close.

Barring any serious changes to their health, this is now Towns’ crown to lose.

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