KAT's message about Wolves playing 3 bigs together: 'Watch us'
It's becoming clearer than ever that the Timberwolves intend to use three bigs on the floor together in 2023-24.
On Friday, head coach Chris Finch suggested that playing Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid at the same time is a possibility. Then, over the weekend, Towns had a very simple response in a back and forth with ESPN's Malika Andrews.
Andrews: For anyone that says, in the modern game, three bigs can't work, what's your message?
Towns: S***, watch us.
Playing three natural centers together is unheard of in NBA history, but Minnesota might try it because Towns and Reid have more versatility and ball-handling skills than most typical bigs.
"Naz has such a versatile game and his skill opens up so much lineup flexibility with our team. Whether he backs up at the four or backs up at the five, heck we might even try to play all three together just because there's so much skill there," said Finch last Friday while taking in Minnesota's Summer League opener in Las Vegas.
Towns was a guest alongside his agent, Jessica Holtz, with Andrews serving as the host at NBA Con in Las Vegas. The bulk of the 35-minute interview was focused on Holtz's story of becoming the first woman to negotiate a max contract in the NBA, having done so for Towns and Phoenix's Devin Booker on the same day in 2022.
In the brief moments Towns was asked about basketball, he spoke excitedly about Minnesota's potential this coming season.
"I'm just entering my prime. I came in young so I got a lot more great years, I got my best years in front of me. I'm excited," he said when asked about how he feels entering his ninth season in the NBA.
He added that he can't see himself "leaving this game without one of my fingers having a ring on it," then suggested that the 2023-24 Wolves "should be really good."
"If you look at the teams that have won championships throughout the years, they've had continuity, they've had years with each other. We have not had that," said Towns. "I think that actually being together, having more time with each other, implementing Big Fella (Rudy Gobert) into the fold, a lot of cool things can happen, a lot of great things can happen. We gotta put the work in, obviously, but I've never been a guy to shy away from confidence. I feel pretty good about us. I'm excited."
