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3 Dark Horse NBA MVP Candidates

By Brandon Carney

Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates a basket in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates a basket in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns had an absurdly productive rookie season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, so much so that he’s already in the discussion of best big man in the NBA. Towns outpaced the competition by a wide margin in the Rookie of the Year race, receiving all 130 first-place votes.

His numbers were not indicative of someone playing their first year in the league as he averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. The scary part? He’s only going to get better.

If Towns can improve upon those numbers, he’ll be in the MVP discussion in no time. It’s extremely feasible for Towns to approach numbers similar to those of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, both of whom average right around 25 points per game.

The issue for Towns, and it’s an issue he shares with both Davis and Cousins, is how good his team is going to be.

There’s no question the Timberwolves are on the rise. Their hoard of young talent, led by Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and the newly drafted Kris Dunn, has been pegged to lead Minnesota to greatness in the near future. But the question is, exactly how close it that success?

If it’s still a few seasons away, Towns will likely be out of the MVP discussion regardless of his numbers, just as Cousins (26.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, but on the hapless Sacramento Kings) can attest.

But if the Wolves can accelerate their improvement and possibly reach the playoffs in 2016, Towns could indeed find himself in the MVP conversation by season’s end.

Next: No. 3