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The three All-NBA teams were announced on Thursday and it came at a cost for former Kentucky Wildcats and current Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Somehow, Towns finished fourth among centers in All-NBA voting behind Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (First Team), Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (Second Team), and Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert (Third Team).
The snub means Towns didn’t qualify for a supermax extension, which cost him $32 million in incentives.
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 23, 2019
Last September, the two-time NBA All-Star signed a five-year extension with Minnesota that would have paid him $190 million had he made one of the three All-NBA teams. Instead, he’ll make $158 million over the course of the deal.
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson took a similar financial hit, as his snub cost him $31 million in incentives.
A season ago, Towns was named to Third Team All-NBA over Gobert. This year, he received just 20 Third Team votes. Gobert, meanwhile, received one First Team vote, five Second Team votes and 69 Third Team votes. Towns made his second NBA All-Star appearance this season at center over Gobert, who was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Oh, and there’s this.
.@KarlTowns became the first @NBA player since KG's MVP campaign to record 1800+ points, 900+ rebounds, 250+ assists, and 125+ blocks in a season... all while shooting 40% from deep.
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 23, 2019
At 23, he's not even in his prime yet.
He's not a unicorn. He's KAT.
Jokic, Embiid, and Gobert are all superb talents. But I have a hard time believing Towns is the fourth best center in the NBA. I’d actually argue he’s the best. Maybe it’s time for the players to start voting rather than the media.