Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Karl-Anthony Towns

How Karl-Anthony Towns built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Karl-Anthony Towns Jr., known as "KAT", is a Dominican-American professional basketball player currently playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected first overall by the Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA draft. He also played on the Dominican Republic national team as a teenager.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2004: Playoff Drought

In April 11, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns helped the Timberwolves clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2004, ending a long playoff drought.

2008: Youngest 30-Point, 10-Rebound Player

On January 29, 2016, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 32 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Utah Jazz, becoming the youngest player to have 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game since Kevin Durant did so in 2008.

2011: FIBA Americas Championship

In 2011, John Calipari coached the Dominican Republic national team, including Karl-Anthony Towns, to third place in the FIBA Americas Championship.

December 2012: Commitment to Kentucky Wildcats

In December 2012, Karl-Anthony Towns announced his commitment to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats under Coach John Calipari.

2012: Towns debuts for Dominican Republic national team

In 2012, Karl-Anthony Towns debuted for the Dominican Republic national team at the Centrobasket at the age of 16.

2012: State Championship

In 2012, Karl-Anthony Towns led the basketball team at St. Joseph High School to a state championship.

January 6, 2013: Quadruple-Double

On January 6, 2013, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a quadruple-double with 16 points, 17 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 11 assists.

2013: State Championship

In 2013, Karl-Anthony Towns led his team to another state title.

January 5, 2014: Second Quadruple-Double

On January 5, 2014, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his second quadruple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 12 blocks, and 10 assists.

2014: State Championship

In 2014, Karl-Anthony Towns once again led his team to a state title.

2014: College Freshman Year

In 2014, during his freshman year at Kentucky, Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds, playing 21.1 minutes per game, because Kentucky used a "platoon system" that limited the minutes of each player.

April 9, 2015: Declared for NBA Draft

On April 9, 2015, Karl-Anthony Towns, along with several Kentucky teammates, declared for the 2015 NBA draft.

June 25, 2015: Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves

On June 25, 2015, Karl-Anthony Towns was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

2015: NBA Season

During the 2015–16 NBA season, Karl-Anthony Towns played and started in all 82 games for the Timberwolves, averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and earning unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

2015: Selected First Overall in NBA Draft

In 2015, Karl-Anthony Towns was selected with the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

January 20, 2016: Season-Best Game

On January 20, 2016, Karl-Anthony Towns had a season-best game with 27 points and career highs of 17 rebounds and six blocks in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

November 30, 2016: Career-High Points and Rebounds

On November 30, 2016, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a then career-high 47 points and 18 rebounds in a loss to the New York Knicks.

March 8, 2017: Win Over Clippers

On March 8, 2017, Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 14 rebounds in a 107–91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, achieving his 100th career double-double.

April 11, 2017: Franchise Record for Points in a Season

On April 11, 2017, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, surpassing Kevin Love to set a franchise record for points in a season.

November 15, 2017: Ended Losing Streak to Spurs

On November 15, 2017, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 16 rebounds, helping the Timberwolves end a 12-game losing streak to the San Antonio Spurs.

December 14, 2017: Joins Kevin Garnett in Wolves Record

On December 14, 2017, against the Sacramento Kings, Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and five blocks, joining Kevin Garnett as the only Wolves players to collect 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ blocks in a single game.

December 31, 2017: Win Over Pacers

On December 31, 2017, Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points, 14 rebounds and a career high-tying six blocks in a 107–90 win over the Indiana Pacers.

January 5, 2018: Career-High Rebounds

On January 5, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 25 points and a then career-high 23 rebounds in a loss to the Boston Celtics.

March 20, 2018: NBA-Best Double-Double

On March 20, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his NBA-best 60th double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

March 28, 2018: Franchise Record

On March 28, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns scored a franchise-record 56 points and added 15 rebounds, as the Timberwolves beat the Atlanta Hawks 126–114.

April 11, 2018: Playoff Berth

On April 11, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds in a 112–106 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets, clinching Minnesota a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

September 23, 2018: Towns signed a five-year extension with Timberwolves

On September 23, 2018, Karl-Anthony Towns signed a five-year, $190 million super-maximum extension with the Timberwolves.

January 12, 2019: Towns recorded a career-high 27 rebounds

On January 12, 2019, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 27 points and a career-high 27 rebounds in a 110–106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

October 23, 2019: Towns scores 36 points in a win over the Nets

On October 23, 2019, in the first game of Minnesota's season, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked 3 shots, and recorded 3 steals in a 127–126 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

December 27, 2020: Towns joins NBA Hall-of-Famers in accumulating stats

On December 27, 2020, Karl-Anthony Towns joined Hall-of-Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Elgin Baylor and David Robinson as the only players in NBA history to accumulate over 8,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in 360 games or less.

January 9, 2022: Towns scores season-high 40 points

On January 9, 2022, Karl-Anthony Towns scored a then season-high 40 points, along with nine rebounds and seven assists, in a 141–123 victory over the Houston Rockets.

July 2023: Towns confirms participation in FIBA Basketball World Cup

In July 2023, Karl-Anthony Towns confirmed his participation in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, representing the Dominican Republic national team.

November 18, 2023: Towns scores 29 points with a game-winning layup

On November 18, 2023, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, shooting 10-of-11 from the field, with six rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, and a game-winning lay-up in a 121–120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

January 22, 2024: Towns scores a career-high 62 points

On January 22, 2024, Karl-Anthony Towns scored a career-high and Timberwolves franchise-record 62 points, with 44 of those coming in the first half, in a 128–125 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

October 2, 2024: Towns traded to the New York Knicks

On October 2, 2024, Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the New York Knicks as part of a three-team trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

2024: Led Timberwolves to Western Conference Finals

In 2024, Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals, their first appearance in 20 years.

2024: Towns receives the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award

In 2024, Karl-Anthony Towns received the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award from the NBA for his social justice work, including advocating for voting rights and producing the documentary "Forgiving Johnny".