Karl-Anthony Towns: 'No promise' from Timberwolves about No. 1 pick
Projected top NBA draft pick and former Kentucky star Karl-Anthony Towns denied reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves promised him he would be the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft.
SNY reported on Monday that Towns was assured of being the top pick.
"Believe me, if I got a promise, I would let you know," Towns said to SI.com. "I wish I could get one. I’d be a lot less stressed."
Towns left Kentucky after one season, helping lead the Wildcats to the Final Four. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds, earning second-team All-America honors.
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Towns met with Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders and owner Glen Taylor last week and went through a workout on Saturday.
If Towns is taken first, he would make around $5.7 million in his first season.
Minnesota has the top pick after finishing the 2014-15 season with an NBA-worst 16-66 record, missing the playoffs for the 11th straight season.
Towns insisted he doesn’t care where he begins his NBA career.
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“It doesn't matter to me where I play,” Towns said to the Associated Press. “It matters what you do at the place you play at. It doesn't matter how successful or how unsuccessful a team is. It can all change with one pick.”
GALLERY: NBA NO. 1 PICKS IN THE LOTTERY ERA
The NBA's No. 1 Draft Picks in the Lottery Era
1985: Patrick Ewing
Manny Millan/SI
1986: Brad Daugherty
Manny Millan/SI
1987: David Robinson
Damian Strohmeyer, David E. Klutho, Manny Millan, John W. McDonough/SI
1988: Danny Manning
Mike Powell/Getty Images
1989: Pervis Ellison
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
1990: Derrick Coleman
John Iacono, Chuck Solomon/SI
1991: Larry Johnson
David E. Klutho/SI
1992: Shaquille O'Neal
Manny Millan, John W. McDonough(2), Walter Iooss Jr./SI
1993: Chris Webber
Bill Frakes/SI
1994: Glenn Robinson
Manny Millan/SI
1995: Joe Smith
David E. Klutho/SI
1996: Allen Iverson
Manny Millan, Al Tielemans/SI
1997: Tim Duncan
John W. McDonough(3), Bob Rosato/SI
1998: Michael Olowokandi
John W. McDonough/SI
1999: Elton Brand
John W. McDonough/SI
2000: Kenyon Martin
John W. McDonough/SI
2001: Kwame Brown
John Biever/SI
2002: Yao Ming
John W. McDonough/SI
2003: LeBron James
Greg Nelson/SI
2004: Dwight Howard
Walter Iooss Jr./SI
2005: Andrew Bogut
John Biever/SI
2006: Andrea Bargnani
David E. Klutho/SI
2007: Greg Oden
Rick Bowmer/AP
2008: Derrick Rose
David E. Klutho/SI
2009: Blake Griffin
John W. McDonough/SI
2010: John Wall
David E. Klutho/SI
2011: Kyrie Irving
John Biever/SI
2012: Anthony Davis
Greg Nelson/SI
2013: Anthony Bennett
Greg Nelson/SI
2014: Andrew Wiggins
Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns
Isaac Baldizon/Getty Images
- Scooby Axson
