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NBA Player Power Rankings: Superstars Keep Making History

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 28, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) moves to take a shot while Indiana Pacers forward Rakeem Christmas (25) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) moves to take a shot while Indiana Pacers forward Rakeem Christmas (25) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: Power Forward
Age: 21 (11/15/1995)
Experience: 2nd Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .535/.357/.826
2016-17 Season Averages: 37.0 MPG, 24.7 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.6 ORPG, 2.7 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.2 3PM

In just his second NBA season, Karl-Anthony Towns has looked the part of a Top 20 player. The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t winning games, but the injuries suffered by Kevin Durant and Kyle Lowry have created two openings in the Player Power Rankings.

There are a number of deserving candidates, but Towns sneaks in on the strength of what’s been a statistically historic second NBA season.

Towns is on pace to become the second player in league history to average at least 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 1.0 3-point field goal made per game. The only other player to previously achieve the feat was Kevin Love, who shot 44.8 and 45.7 percent compared to Towns’ 53.5 percent.

Towns is also on pace to become the first player to average at least 24.0 points and 12.0 rebounds on 53.0 percent shooting or better since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000-01.

It’s difficult to rank players on bad teams, but Towns has snuck into the Top 20 with his stellar play. He gives a concerted effort on both ends of the floor and is producing with both elite volume and elite efficiency.

Much as Anthony Davis has been forgiven for his team’s shortcomings, the same can be done for Towns in just his second NBA season.