Karl-Anthony Towns: “Shoutout to my brother Anthony Edwards, talking to him all the time.“
I think KAT is someone who thrives off of his teammates believing in him & positive reinforcement. Anthony Edwards brought that in abundance to the TWolves & this Knicks team has the power of friendship which seems to be an overall good vibe. So it feels like KAT thrives around good energy
Are you telling me that criticizing your teammates constantly is not good?
Kobe stans would make you believe that actually harassing your teammates is just tough love.
I think it really depends on who Kobe was doing it to. I heard he was harassing Pau Gasol like crazy but Pau used it as motivation to get better (someone fact check me with this I’m 10+ beers in).
It worked with Pau because he was a top level player. Kobe’s issue is he didn’t adjust his approach to lesser teammates. It’s like, everyone knows that they’re not elite, but you don’t have to constantly rub their noses in it if you want them to be motivated to do the dirty work to win.
He did not use the approach with Lamar, for instance. He was a lot more lax and even helped him with gambling debts.
That being said, him and Mike were ruthless.
He learned to be a better teamate overtime. He was pure asshole during the shaq era and the few years after.
He was also 20 to 23 years old and already a multitime NBA champion. Not that it means he should’ve been an asshole, just that it makes sense why he was an asshole.
Honestly, I’d blame some of that on Shaq. All those stories about Shaq being a giant piece of shit to his teammates and that’s the ‘leader’ Kobe learned from first.
He had great relationships with players like Sasha V, and even publicly defended Adam Morrison. Most stars wouldn’t be chill if they had kwame and smush parker as their starting pg and C
Kobe got a long with plenty less talented players. He cared about how hard you worked and he wanted to challenge teammates and their mentality.
He won 5 chips and 2 as the main guy. It worked. And you had players that wanted to play with him.
Not sure what this narrative is but it’s funny.
It’s funny he admitted to rape and everyone moved on.
That’s a crazy thing to laugh at.
It’s funny to laugh at the insanity of Kobe‘s case that he became the black mamba out of it. He wasn’t harmed in anyway except his wife being upset until he bought her a mutiple million dollar ring or necklace. It’s funny to laugh at how much people are willing to overlook evil, as long as you win championships.
Yea…it’s crazy you’re laughing at it.
someone fact check me with this I’m 10+ beers in
My brother it is the butt crack of dawn
Where you at the only place on earth?
My bad for assuming someone ten beers in is in the streets of new York. Respect to them for going wild on the other side of the world in honour of a team they aren’t located near.
Yeah believe it or not fans are in other parts of the world. It’s really crazy bro sometimes they ain’t even from the place!!
Not sure my comment necessitated that level of snark but hey good on you, hope you feel good about yourself.
Kobe raped a woman. Full stop. That’s all you need to say in matters of Kobe’s character.
Kobe even borrowed that from Jordan.
Tom Brady approves this message.
Don’t say anything bad about notoriously bad teammate and sexual assaulter Kobe or some dude with a name like MambaOut1374747 will call you a fucking idiot that knows nothing and has never watched a game.
Everyone reqcts differently. Kobes way didn’t work for everyone, but the same can be said about the friendly route.
Same with Jordan.
Well Kobe was a 5-time champion, unlike the player that is actually being referenced here.
Yes, but you can win rings easily and be a great without being an asshole for the most part. Bron is pretty chill with most of his teammates(except Westbrook). Tim Duncan and Curry were pretty likeable around their teammates and are top 10 alltime greats.
Curry the dude who was ok with Draymond sucker punching Jordan Poole? That guy?
I agree I just think it’s funny to use someone who was an actual winner as an example of how not to do things just because you don’t like them as a player.
I think it’s because those are the most well known examples too. And the comparison with teams that don’t act like that is kinda addressing the glorification of assholery.
Like, it’s evidence that shifts that from “he was a dickhead, so he won, because you need to be a dickhead to win” to just “he was a dickhead, and he won, but clearly you don’t need one for the other”
So it makes sense to me as a comparison, because it’s counterevidence to the idea that being an asshole is necessary to succeed
Folks also do such a good job not actually listening to players. Kobe was no doubt a psycho asshole to a lot of guys but a lot of guys also love him and thought of him as a mentor, his contemporaries and young guys alike. Dude was available to them and clearly not just the cold ruthless personality he played up
Kobe was great because he was incredible at basketball. Kobe being asshole to his teammates was just his personality; it wasnt some recipe to winning.
Those that didn’t respond to his personality likely got traded
I assumed there was a lot of criticism from Jordan and Kobe vs this knicks squad. To me, it shows both environments can win.
Really depends on the person. Personally, im really hard on myself and prefer people to be blunt with me so I know what to get better at.
Its definitely not how everyone likes to operate though.
You can be blunt and criticize and not be an asshole though, it’s not mutually exclusive
You’re pretty immature because you think being hard on yourself is a productive quality. Work on that, it’s a stressful way to exist.
It’s fine as long as you do it on a burner.
Well Michael Jordan and Kobe were sociopathic menaces to society as teammates. So naturally that’s the only way to be according to the internet. If you want to win a title that is.
Jimmy Butler is just tough and holds himself and those around him to high standards because he’s such a hard worker himself
Jimmy needed to learn nuance in his leadership though.
You can’t coach everyone the same way. Some players respond well to criticism, some don’t. This is basic leadership 101.
Definitely. The trade rumors must’ve really caused some tension and doubt during the season, but all of that went away with this run
So it feels like KAT thrives around good energy
I think this is most people tbh
Please learn to be great, Timberwolves. You’ve spent too much time just trying to be good.
Turns out the counter to the future centers like Wemby and Chet, was KAT all along..
This is so true and really this finals was a lie how they quickly whistled him the whole time. The NBA knew he was going to shit on Wemby
Right. It was like “We can’t have our new face of the league getting embarrassed on the biggest stage. Get that KAT guy out of here.” Ridiculous. They let him get away with 2 obvious flagrant fouls and when they reviewed the one with him throwing Brunson to the floor, they chose not to give him the F1. And tonight another clear flagrant, not giving Brunson room to land, making him twist his ankle. Another no call. This series was really 5 vs 8.
Give credit where credit is due, Fox tried his best to assist, so it’s closer to 6v7.
I’ll allow that, that’s absolutely fair lol
This sequence of comments sent me. Well done both of you.
It’s so bittersweet. We had the best counter to the other big men in the league and we traded him away.
I like Randle but I love KAT bro. Happy for him though.
We had the best TWO counters to all big men.
2026 Gobert is Jokic’s sleep paralysis demon.
I dont know the details, but how true is it that the wolves were screwed by the new CBA? In the sense that moving KAT was really their only move without being in apron hell or gutting the team
Keeping KAT would result in Timberwolves being kinda trapped in second apron. Also resigning Naz Reid would have been out of the question while keeping KAT. While it would have been great if we could kept KAT I still think it was right decision even after everything that happened. Keeping KAT means we are losing Reid and have to bear penalties of second apron (and being repeat offenders is really expensive).
So it was either keep KAT and lose Reid and go into second apron or turn KAT into Randle, DDV, keep Reid and more roster flexibility with contracts. Wolves had to do it. I guess there was an option to keep KAT and trade Gobert + not resign Reid but everyone who watches Wolves would tell you that would make team worse.
Wolves made a right move in unfavourable situation that came with new CBA. Anyone that tells you that this trade was terrible is hindsight 20⁄20. It was important to keep roster flexible and quality players on bench during Ant’s prime rather than have Ant, KAT, Gobert, Jaden + bunch of players on minimum salary.
And all those rings prove it out.
Damn shit, some things don’t work out even if you made in your opinion the best decision that you could at that time. Knicks having Brunson on that cheap contract allowed them to have KAT + supporting cast, something that Wolves couldn’t do. Our team would have zero depth if we sticked with KAT so for Ant’s future I still think it was better move. CBA fked us royally, there were not really great moves to make and staying over second apron for two years is something no team wants. I would say we should have got maybe some picks from Knicks but swapping KAT for Randle, DDV and keeping Naz Reid wasn’t bad return.
Nah all these morons who still don’t get the new CBA and 2nd apron repeater penalties are so fucking annoying. Dumbass Bucks fans still blame Horst for Kuz without realizing that was literally the best deal he could get for Middleton - everyone knew we had to get out of the 2nd apron, no leverage. Same thing with Boston having to move Jrue and KP, Denver moving MPJ, etc.
I mentioned it earlier this year but the Knicks and Timberwolves total salary difference is essentially the same amount the Timberwolves saved by trading KAT. James Dolan is richer than the wolves owners so thats a factor but in theory the wolves could’ve ate it if they were happy with the team. I also think it’s an example of the CBA punishing poorer owners
Wolves just preffered to have Randle, DDV and Reid instead of just KAT. They couldn’t keep KAT and resign Naz. Being repeated 2nd apron offender is terrible for the team. Wolves couldn’t just eat if they wanted to maintain roster flexibility and depth. It’s much easier to naviagte around 2nd apron when you have three contracts rather than one big one.
Being over 2nd apron for 3 out of 5 years makes your first round pick automatically go to the end of the round. Being over 2nd apron is terrible in itself. Not being to trade first round picks, not being able to sign MLE really hurt in building a roster.
Wolves were hurt by CBA because they built their roster without it in mind. Knicks built their team with full knowledge of CBA rules and they have Brunson on really good deal.
Second apron really did a number on your roster building. It still feels like you need just that one piece to get over the hump.
It wasn’t really Kat but more of the Draymond/Jokic style of offense. Being fast enough to just be a few steps behind wemby but having the passing ability to bait wemby and the a ility to see and pass it to the right teamate.
Wemby also have issue vs the Nugget in season.
I hope the Timberwolves become better so their best accomplishment can be something other than beating us. They seem like a good group mostly.
ok but beating you guys is really fun and i look forward to it every year
Beating the Nuggets is our finals. I’m even surprised people kept watching the games after we won the championship this year.
That’s why we gotta move to the East.
We’ll get the 30 point finals comeback, reverse sweep first time ever in the finals, first team with 3 40 point performances in a game 7, etc.
Nah embarrassing the Nuggets this last playoffs will still be pretty up there… maybe even higher up than the comeback win in game 7 in Denver
I want to see you guys get yours, and I hope one or Donte and Randle are on there to do so
If not for injuries imo there was real chance this season. You got mental and abilities. Heck, even with all this injuries you actually were good challenge for Spurs.
So first of all: stay healthy.
Second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth of all, get a fucking point guard.
i heard there’s a guy in texas who’s an all-star guard who may need a new home
Trading KAT was a haunting mistake
I’ll always be bummed that KAT and Ant didn’t win anything together. They made great teammates
That 2023-2024 team coulda been the one, man
Dallas was just the fucking nightmare matchup man.
hear, hear
Anyone would have been a nightmare, we had nothing left after 7 games against Denver
Too bad Denver didn’t play Dallas first, that Denver team was legit.
Too bad Dallas didn’t play the Wolves first is how I see it lol. I dread playing the Timberwolves.
It’s very annoying none of their role players have even come close to playing at the level ever again.
As a Cs fan I was glad the Mavs were a bad matchup for the TWolves lol
That series was a lot like this one. Super close overall but the team with more playoff experience eeked out a couple close games and won in 5
That Dallas team was literally the expendable in nba version lol.
That was a tough one.
I didn’t understand the KAT trade then understand it even less now. Those 2 had good chemistry and another postseason under their belt I bet they would’ve figured it out
It was a second apron trade, not a basketball trade.
Don’t know how people still seem to be unable to grasp this. We were just the first casualty of the new CBA.
The lack of financial literacy out there is shocking.
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They chose Naz and cap flexibility in Ants prime over KAT, not Gobert. You dont understand the cap and how the second apron works, just say that.
Gobert would have been much tougher to move than KAT, his stock has been pretty low even if mildly unjustified
That isn’t the issue, moving Gobert doesn’t even get the Wolves out of the second apron lol. Gobert makes ~35M a year, KAT is on a supermax ~60M a year. It’s not even comparable.
Second apron, hard choices :
It was a cap thing, not a team fit thing.
They chose Gobert
Do you believe that Gobert is on a supermax?
I mean he was on a max deal when they decided to save money by flipping the home grown KAT, who was going to need to get paid, for a cheaper Randle.
They could have however still made it work if they stuck by KAT instead. Gobert was definitely easier to work around financially but moving KAT is still a domino from the Gobert trade
Now KAT has a ring and yall have been looking for anyone to take Randle off your hands since you got him and Gobert is sitting 4th quarters averaging 9 pts a game
Oh I see, you’re an idiot. Carry on then.
KAT had 2 points and will be making 60+ million dollars for the next 3 years
He also changed the way the Knicks played after Atlanta 2nd loss and took it to Wemby despite awful officiating. They don’t get this win without him. Even if he is slightly overpaid right now (which I don’t agree with), he’s been good enough to earn that contract.
Cope much? Lmfao.
They wouldn’t have won the title without KAT
Sure, but his contract will be a problem which is why he was traded
Dumb as hell. Screw the cap if it meant winning a chip for the first time ever… you’ve got a screw loose
KAT had no confidence in the paint with the wolves in the playoffs. Bud was like 2-35 shooting 3s and lost them the series
Shout out to Jimmy Butler too. KAT’s coming back next season with a Championship but I can’t wait to see what silly hairstyle you come back with.
Congrats KAT. 🎉
Even as a Celtics fan, I rather enjoyed the Knicks, especially during the Stoudemire/pre-Melo days. But was low-key rooting for them after acquiring KAT because of all the bullshit he gets on social media and everything he’s been through.
But being a Jimmy Butler hater, this is what brings me the most joy lol
“You will never see me in a Miami Heat jersey with a Championship Ring.”
-Jimmy Butler
Was a neutral cheering for the Spurs but I really like KAT as well and I’m happy he an Ant are still closer after the trade
After that ref job last night I switched to Knicks in real time. Glad they got the comeback, fuck off Adam Silver
KAT will always be an honorary Timberwolf. Really happy for him to get the respect he has always deserved!
As hard as that trade was, it was good to see him go not only to his hometown, but also a real squad and not some rebuilding, bottom feeding team. Not too long ago, KAT and Trae were on the same trajectory regarding their skill set and perceived value.
What you mean honorary?
He’s literally drafted by the Timberwolves, grew up as a star being one and will be one for life even if he was traded away.
He is a Timberwolf for life.
I suspect what he means is that most players are known by the teams they have had the most success with.
So like, CP3 will forever be known as a clipper, not a hornet.
once his career is over, barring something crazy, KAT will almost certainly be known as a Knick, not a Timberwolf.
Though this differs compared to KG, Who’s known as a Timberwolf, despite his greatest success being a Celtic. (There are exceptions to every rule)
Never realized how beloved KAT was by the Minnesota fans until he got traded. His resume with the Twolves is pretty impressive; you think the franchise will eventually honor him with a jersey retirement?
They got a pretty damn good consolation prize with Randle so they moved on quick. But definitely Ive never met a Wolves fan that had anything bad to say about KAT
If KAT goes on to win multiple championships and reaches the HOF, yea I could see them retiring his number. Not yet though
They did until he was gone. The second he was the fans realized what they had. Kat is awesome.
Haha but that’s like me calling Luka fat and lazy on D.
That’s still my guy tho and I have his jersey.
Did he shout out jimmy butler
Kinda hilarious that KAT and Wiggins have rings as major contributors and Jimmy has nothing but two ECF trophies 💀
“Nothing but two ECF trophies” is crazy. Yall will downplay anything. Just haters through and through. I’m stoked for Kat to reach the pinnacle especially with all he’s been through including the harassment from jimmy. But we don’t need to just start acting like every player reaches multiple conference finals.
Jimmy is the biggest fucking hater in the NBA lol dude can take his own medicine here
In addition to this, Jimmy got two games off a loaded Lakers roster highlighted by LeBron/ AD and at least took a game from Denver (which ran like a basketball machine) as the lead guy. Didn’t win but agree we can’t just throw “Nothing but two ECF trophies like it’s nothing”.
The Lakers team was mid and Miami couldn’t make them so much as sweat
For as much as Jimmy talked, acted like a drama queen, and painted a false narrative about KAT, I’m glad to see him come up short.
Haters hate. 🤝
“Playoff Jimmy” never winning the playoffs is very funny
To be honest he lead his team to the finals twice and lost to a loaded Lakers roster and the Nuggets with prime Jokic. I don’t think it’s fair to discredit him and act like he never accomplished anything.
It’s more fun for the narrative to act like he hasn’t done anything. He didn’t win a championship but got as close as you’re going to get to it twice. That’s no easy feat.
You win some you lose more.
Even jimmy wouldn’t shout out jimmy
Genuinely one of the nicest guys in the league
Shout out to Ant 🐜 From a Knicks fan 🏆🗽🔵🟠
Now that we got one Hope he gets one next, watching him get thru the spurs and thunder for a ring would be generational. And Randle would have a ring too
Minnesota is dumb for keeping Rudy, and Kat turned out to be a great player. He obviously needed to be around the right players in New York though
It was about money, KAT making 20 million more than Rudy. Is KAT 20mil more valuable than DPOY Rudy? It is unclear.
Huh? It’s pretty clear he is.
Yes
I would tolerate no Rudy slander. Rudy was pivotal to our recent success as well.
He was, but how many times did we need a score and only have four guys on the court that can do it? It is really hard to win when you’re paying a guy that much and he still can’t do a hook shot despite practicing basketball literally his entire life.
Rudy has been a more important piece to recent success than KAT was and would have been the last two years. I love KAT (hence the username lol), but to this day people seem to not understand how important Rudy is. Which is understandable when he smokes a wide open layup lol
I questioned that trade as well.
Rudy was a negative asset, it was easier for them to let go of KAT
A negative asset? Lmao that was the year he literally won DPOY you fucking dunce
He was on max contract and was a blackhole on offense and declining a bit physically
KAT posted a pic of him FaceTiming Ant on his IG story, so cool
KAT really had his ring before Jimmy could. Where you at Mr. Toxicity? 😂
Well this makes me happy. I was wondering in the back of my head if Ant’s connection with his teammates is kind of superficial, like maybe he says all the right stuff but isn’t actually that close with them behind the scenes, but if him and KAT are still in touch then it was a real connection
Their is a clip of KAT shouting out Ant to a camera after Ant got hurt in the playoffs.
Jimmy Butler is indeed not him.
Shout out to JIMMY BUTLER
He shouts out KG too.
Imagine trying to hate this team
KAT also wants to give a shout out to Jimmy B for having the third stringers bench guys beating him and Wiggins in practice game.
Aw. Besties!
Tell Ant that you gotta leave there to win championship
Andrew Wiggins - won a ring after being traded from MIN to Warriors
Karl Anthony Towns - won a ring after being traded from MIN to Knicks
I don’t know what is happening there in Minnesota but they’ve been trading good players and suddenly they’ve become better enough to win a ring.
How did you forget KG lol
And Love. Of course.
Have you ever paid attention to Minnesota sports? This is kinda what happens.
Don’t forget Kevin Love
It’s not restricted to basketball either. Sam Darnold just won the Superbowl after we let him walk.
They are step sisters
wait are they literally brothers? that’s crazy
Yup. They’re rivals with the Manning family