Ex-Kentucky Star Karl-Anthony Towns Wins NBA’s Taco Bell Skills Challenge

The new wrinkle created new layers of intrigue, an unusual amount of controversy and, ultimately, a new champion: Timberwolves rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Through 54 games, Towns is averaging 17.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.

“Oh, I came in today at I think it was 11:00 in the morning and got a practice run”, Towns said after the competition. To begin the big-man bracket, Towns came from behind to steal a first-round victory from Golden State’s Draymond Green before Sacramento centre DeMarcus Cousins did the same to New Orleans Pelicans centre-slash-cartoon-character Anthony Davis, earning a victory despite losing his ball out of bounds literally the moment he began dribbling it. That’s where Towns pulled off the upset. This led to widespread criticism on social media for Cousins being allowed to advance without completing all the drills. McCollum, one of the most electric ball handlers in basketball, lost his dribble while making his way through the obstacles.

The top overall pick from Kentucky beat out Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas by draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key. This is bigger than me.

Afterwards, all of the bigs mobbed Towns.

“I like proving people wrong, so I’m glad I was able to make a lot of people wrong”, Towns said.

First up was the Skill Challenge, which featured big men as well as guards.