Karl Towns post-game

[Rhavicc]

Following a question from a reporter starting off with 'With what you're gonna have to do in the NBA next year --- etc.' (pertaining to pick and roll defense), Towns initially snickering after the phrase "NBA" was mentioned, and by responding with "I mean uhm.. I never knew I was going to the NBA" -- "Next year, after we do what we need to do to accomplish our goals, we're gonna worry about making sure that I can play the best defense on this team -- on this team, right now there's no mindset in the NBA, I'm just worried about what I have to do to be the best player for this team and for my brothers."

That was good to hear. I'm not saying that I expect him to turn down the NBA, being the prospect that he is, but man if this team all decided to come back

 

[docholiday51]

KAT to the NBA is not a done deal by any means,he might go but he is just as likely to return.If you don't think that is possible then you haven't paid attention to this team very much.
This post was edited on 1/21 1:25 AM by docholiday51

 

[Rhavicc]

He has made it abundantly clear that he intends to get a degree. A big factor in coming to UK was his desire to major in kinesiology. He values his education and you can tell whenever you listen to him speak. Very well spoken young man.
He will obviously do what's best for him, and one day he'll make millions in the NBA, but I believe he wants something to fall back on, hence the desire for the degree.
I also believe he desires to be the best that he can be on every level. I would love to see him stick around and do that here, and eventually do the same in the NBA.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

Stuff like this can't really be taken serious.

MKG shut off NBA talks around the same time when he was here, but top 3 pick $$$ is hard to pass up.

 

[musrat59]

He is definitely a very intelligent young man.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

WCS and Towns almost have to go. Both are top ten picks. I've often wondered, however, what Calipari would do if a top 5 to 50 kid made a convincing argument to return. Jones was top 20-25 after his freshman year; WCS was top 15-20 last year.

What's the counter if someone like Towns, a top 3 to 5 pick, wants to return and has good reasons? Would Cal do what he did with Wagner and literally rip up the scholarship papers?

 

[HexxenHammer]

Originally posted by 5iveStarRecruit:
Stuff like this can't really be taken serious.

MKG shut off NBA talks around the same time when he was here, but top 3 pick $$$ is hard to pass up.

It's a good attitude/gesture regardless of what recent history tells us. Shows us his heart and head are in the right place now.

 

[ThroughBlue]

Originally posted by Son_Of_Saul:

WCS and Towns almost have to go. Both are top ten picks. I've often wondered, however, what Calipari would do if a top 5 to 50 kid made a convincing argument to return. Jones was top 20-25 after his freshman year; WCS was top 15-20 last year.

What's the counter if someone like Towns, a top 3 to 5 pick, wants to return and has good reasons? Would Cal do what he did with Wagner and literally rip up the scholarship papers?

Nobody has to return and I have said all year that if a top 3 pick would return it would definitely be KAT

 

[kats23]

MKG also said he was coming back. Don't believe the hype, the kid is gone. I think he'll be great but I don't know if he'll ever be great for UK unless the light bulb suddenly goes off.

 

[Bardstown]

He is gone, I would guess, but nice to see him burn the reporter.

 

[KMKAT]

Crazier things have happened........Tim Duncan was projected #1 his junior year and chose to come back.
He came back and the overall #1 rookie made +700K in '97 than '96 in year 1 of a rookie contract.

It may not make a difference to KAT, but Marcus Smart came back after being a Top 5 shoe-in.....not that it worked out better for him.

IMO, it depends on how the season ends as to who MAY return.

 

[qwesley]

Originally posted by Son_Of_Saul:

WCS and Towns almost have to go. Both are top ten picks.

Hate that argument/mentality. Some of the most revered players in sports - Manning, Duncan, GHill, even Jordan - came back despite being projected Top 5 picks. The NBA is is a grind and physically demanding, if a kid wants to take an extra year to grow up, while covered with an insurance policy, that is not automatically a dumb decision.

 

[Old_Red]

Towns as struggled the most when the other team is extremely physical with him as he isn't yet strong enough. NBA players will know just how to play him so he has to show he can handle that physical play and be effective. You can get to the NBA and not succeed if you aren't physically ready. However, he could show that he can handle it by tournament time and he would be ready for the NBA. We'll see then if he might come back.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Before I say all this, I do expect him to leave, and it would probably be the most prudent, safest decision. But...

1. His family does not appear to be in dire straights. His dad is a high school coach, and while that's not a ton of money, it's enough that they're probably decently well off. This isn't a Bledsoe-living-in-a-car situation.

2. He seems like the kind of kid who wants to be prepared, and he is not prepared for the NBA. That, of course, will not stop him from getting a fat paycheck. But he may just be that kind of kid who isn't comfortable being a project.

3. He's a straight A student, and with two years on campus, could be just a few credits shy of graduating in no time. He also seems to enjoy school, ala WCS.

4. He's already had a taste of what its like to be a pro ball player, playing for the Dominican national team. Plenty of guys on that team were college stars and marginal NBA talents. Perhaps they've discussed how college was more fun than the pros? How maybe some of them wish they could go back? It's all conjecture, but not out of the question.

And if he does stay, GOGOGO after your soph season, Karl. It'll be awesome to see that slow ass walk up to the podium.

 

[Tannerdad]

He's projected as a top 3 pick so he is gone.

Controversial take: I do question why he is that high a pick. He obviously is talented but he only shows bits and pieces of what he is capable of here. Has a real tough time finishing around the rim and fouls a lot. But I guess he will have plenty of time in the pros to develop and cash big checks.

 

[Smashcat]

He should be a two-year college kid but in this market I'm sure Cal will push him out.

 

[The_Godfather]

Originally posted by ukbob:
He's projected as a top 3 pick so he is gone.

Controversial take: I do question why he is that high a pick. He obviously is talented but he only shows bits and pieces of what he is capable of here. Has a real tough time finishing around the rim and fouls a lot. But I guess he will have plenty of time in the pros to develop and cash big checks.

NBA draft projections right now are complete nonsense.

 

[meteordealer]

Originally posted by kats23:
MKG also said he was coming back. Don't believe the hype, the kid is gone. I think he'll be great but I don't know if he'll ever be great for UK unless the light bulb suddenly goes off.

He was. Cal pushed him out the door.

Same with Cousins.

 

[Tannerdad]

Originally posted by meteordealer:

Originally posted by kats23:
MKG also said he was coming back. Don't believe the hype, the kid is gone. I think he'll be great but I don't know if he'll ever be great for UK unless the light bulb suddenly goes off.

He was. Cal pushed him out the door.

Same with Cousins.

Both are multi millionaires. I doubt either are unhappy about that "push".

 

[Bank Cat]

Originally posted by 5iveStarRecruit:
Stuff like this can't really be taken serious.

MKG shut off NBA talks around the same time when he was here, but top 3 pick $$$ is hard to pass up.

MKG actually said "I'm coming back." Then when the reporters sort of snickered he said "I don't know why y'all laughing!"

IMO, most of these guys are 99% in the moment. It's pretty great here and when you're having a year like this with success and team chemistry, I think they truly wonder if they want to leave. But once the season is over, it becomes a different game.

 

[TheTweak]

I think he is gone and he deffinitly should go. If he wants to come back I could see Cal letting him come back. As much as I love MKG he would've never been the number 2 pick if he comes back on that 2013 team. Karl could come back to get stronger and with his skill set at his size he won't fall far regardless. But he's gone though

 

[caneintally]

i think of all the bigs who will think of leaving ( Lee isn't one of them ) Towns is the most likely to stay . I think Dakari , WCS and Lyles are gone for sure as Lyles as said he wanted to be one and done . Towns has said he wanted to get a degree .

 

[Littlemoreaction Lessconversatio]

He's a great kid. He's not going to give any credibility to an NBA discussion after a performance like that. I'd like to kick whoever asked the question in the nuts actually.

 

[Rhavicc]

Originally posted by caneintally:
i think of all the bigs who will think of leaving ( Lee isn't one of them ) Towns is the most likely to stay . I think Dakari , WCS and Lyles are gone for sure as Lyles as said he wanted to be one and done . Towns has said he wanted to get a degree .

You may think I'm crazy, but I would put Towns in 2nd, and would say that WCS is most likely of all to return. He's in his junior season, he's about to get a degree, he loves college, he knows he sees room for improvement, and we all see the improvement. Cal firmly believes that WCS could be the #1 pick in an NBA draft, and honestly, if he were to return, if his offensive game continues to improve like we've seen, by no means is that a farfetched concept. If he starts consistently knocking down that jumper, and finishing on his spin move, and the layups when he drives the lane, I mean, you all put it together.
7 footer who would have decent handles, ability to drive the ball through the lane, a low post offensive skillset, a jumper (none of which he had coming into college), and the most unique part of his game, the ability to guard all 5 positions extremely well.

Karl Towns made it clear that he wants to become the kind of defensive player that WCS is, and with all of the versatile offensive skills on the team, it's not surprising to see Cauley-Stein's offensive game flourishing. I wouldn't be surprised to see them both come back next year, that said though, I wouldn't be surprised to see them go. Both have made it clear that the NBA is not on their mind, not in the least bit.

 

[BoulderCat]

I have said all along based on everything I've read about and heard from the young man that it's possible, perhaps even probable he will return. There are so many out there who say, oh how could he turn down the money? What if he gets hurt, etc. It's kind of become like a broken record to me if you remember records. In case your not aware there are 1000's of young people out their playing NCAA sports who will stay in school for 4 years. I know it's a difficult concept to grasp, but really people do actually do it. Heck I went for 6.

 

[Dream Team 13]

If you're projected in the top 5, you have to go make that money. Coming back is an extremely poor decision for a guy. Strike while the iron is hot. Earning capacity to think about as well.

 

[Uk1111]

Originally posted by ukbob:

Originally posted by meteordealer:

Originally posted by kats23:
MKG also said he was coming back. Don't believe the hype, the kid is gone. I think he'll be great but I don't know if he'll ever be great for UK unless the light bulb suddenly goes off.

He was. Cal pushed him out the door.

Same with Cousins.

Both are multi millionaires. I doubt either are unhappy about that "push".

cousins and PPat both admitted that they wished that they came back! The % of players that say com's back is much higher for those that came back! Virtually ALL the old timers feel strongly that coming back and enjoying the experience while preparing for the NBA is the way to go! I'd be willing to bet that many of our players wished that'd stayed knowing that they'd of Prolly made a difference in winning a title if staying, yet instead are not looked up to like when at UK, and instead are in Iowa in an NBD developmental league, and like I said even a top player like Cousins was not ready emotionally for the NBA yet anybody who says this on these boards are called homers or greedy when in fact they missed being here and NEEDED another year to become a Man and not a typical Teenager thrown to the Wolves for a paycheck! These kids are competitive and friggin Rock Stars having the time of there lives. Someone like PPat had no real need to come back other than work on his game which he could've done in the NBA without classes, but its HIS life and even though he had a degree all ready he doesn't need a reason to come back other than he knows these will be the best days of his life, and am pretty sure watching us come so close to winning it all and knowing had he come back he'd of not only had another year of being a true star, but most likely would've won a NC was the main reason he wished he'd of come back just like cousins ans many others who later on in life would've gladly given back 1 million of the 75 million for a NC and to have no regrets about leaving early! Cal has his NC so I get a little aggreviated when he acts like a kid must convince HIMSELF that he should come back, when the kids are the ones who 20 years later would almost assuredly give up his Rookie salary for the experience, and possibly an even bigger paycheck to go with his NC! IMO he should state the facts, give him his advice and leave the decision to the kid and the parents. It'd be different if the didn't have insurance policies that cover career ending injuries!