Karl-Anthony Towns has spent his nine-year NBA career seeking fouls, and now in New York, early signs suggest he might finally receive the calls typical for a superstar. Throughout his career, Towns has never averaged more than 6.5 free-throw attempts per game. During his nine seasons with the Timberwolves, he averaged just 5.2 free-throw attempts per game, which is significantly lower than other elite scorers. For instance, Giannis Antetokounmpo has maintained an average of 9.5 to 12.3 attempts per game over the past six seasons, while Joel Embiid has achieved at least 10.1 attempts per game in five of the last six seasons. In New York, Towns is anticipated to be the second scoring option behind point guard Jalen Brunson. In a recent preseason victory against the Wizards, Towns led the team with 20 shot attempts and reached the free-throw line 11 times, finishing his home debut at Madison Square Garden with 25 points and 12 rebounds in just 28 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns has 11 free throws over 27 minutes tonight.
A big market whistle so far.
— Charlie Walton (@CharlieWaltonMN) October 10, 2024
“Maybe he was pressing a bit at first, given that it was his first time here,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “I liked the opportunities he created. He just needed to be patient. Ultimately, things would fall into place, and they did. He remained focused and shifted toward playmaking, which led to easier baskets. He drove to the basket, got to the line, and made a couple of layups. He’s an incredibly talented scorer, able to score in various ways—whether from the three-point line, off the dribble, or with his back to the basket.
If one method isn’t working, he can always return to playmaking, which opens up the floor for everyone.” While it’s not uncommon for Towns to achieve double-digit free-throw attempts, it isn’t a regular occurrence either. Last season, he recorded 10 or more attempts in only four games, and he did so just once during his injury-shortened 2022-23 campaign. He managed it 14 times in the 2021-22 season, with previous season totals of 7, 6, 12, 5, 10, and 1 dating back to his rookie year in 2015-16.
This count includes playoff games as well. Overall, Towns has achieved double-digit free throws in 60 games, which is only about 10% of his total of 605 regular season and postseason appearances. While it’s just one preseason game, Towns is expected to take on a significant scoring role in New York. He’s also returning to the center position, shifting away from power forward, which may lead to more favorable matchups against slower centers instead of the quicker power forwards he faced during his last two years with the Timberwolves. This change could result in a higher number of free throws for him. Only time will tell, and the next opportunity to gauge this will come on Sunday when Towns and the Knicks face off against the Timberwolves in a preseason game that will be nationally broadcast by ESPN at 5 p.m. CT.
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