The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked

33) Karl-Anthony Towns

It may come as a surprise to many that Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most efficient scorers on this list, backing up his claim that he is the best shooting big man of all time. In 250 games over the first five seasons of the decade, KAT has averaged a terrific 23.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, with shooting splits of 50.7% FG, 40.2% 3PT, and 84.1% FT.

That makes him well-regarded among certain advanced stats, with him posting a terrific 22.3 PER and shooting 62.9% true shooting—well above league averages in both categories. Despite that, he has been criticized for his lack of defense and over reliance on jump shots and he has quickly been overshadowed by rising superstar Anthony Edwards.

Nevertheless, Towns has lived up to the expectations of being taken first overall and at 28, he can continue to put up big numbers through the end of the 2020s. In fact, 20,000 points and 9,000 rebounds could well be in reach for him, which is comparable to or even favorable to some of the big men that are already in the Hall of Fame. Being on a Hall of Fame pace makes him a shoo in for the top 35 on this list, with him having a chance to climb higher.