MN Timberwolves Towns Named Rookie of the Month

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The NBA today named Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns as its Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for April. This is the sixth consecutive month Towns has won the award, making him the eighth player since the award’s inception in the 1981-82 season to win six consecutive Rookie of the Month honors: Damian Lillard in 2012-13, Blake Griffin in 2010-11, Chris Paul in 2005-06, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James in 2003-04, Tim Duncan in 1997-98 and David Robinson in 1989-90.

Towns led all qualified rookies in scoring (18.9 ppg), rebounding (11.7 rpg), blocked shots (1.71 bpg) and minutes played (35.6 mpg), while ranking fifth in field goal percentage (49.1%) and assists (3.6 apg) in April. The 7-0 forward/center also recorded five point/rebound double-doubles in seven April games.

The first overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Towns helped lead the Wolves to a 4-3 record in April, including hitting the game-winning shot with :01.8 remaining to give Minnesota a 106-105 win at Portland. The victory capped a 3-0 West Coast road trip, the team’s most successful road trip since going 4-0 in December 2005. Towns recorded 11 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists April 3 vs. Dallas, becoming the NBA’s first rookie since Elgin Baylor in 1959 to collect at least 21 rebounds and nine assists in a game. The 21 boards tied Gorgui Dieng’s club rookie record and his 18 defensive rebounds were a new team rookie high. Towns posted game-highs with 28 points and 14 rebounds in a season finale win over New Orleans.

Towns finished the season ranked eighth in the league in rebounding (10.5 rpg), eighth in field goal percentage (54.2%), 10th in blocks (1.68 bpg), 26th in scoring (18.3 ppg) and third in double-doubles (51).