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 March. This is the fifth consecutive month Towns has won the award, becoming the first player in Wolves history to earn Kia NBA Rookie of the Month honors in five consecutive months. Towns is the ninth player since the award began in the 1981-82 season to win five 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, David Robinson in 1989-90 and Ralph Sampson in 1983-84.

Towns led all qualified rookies in rebounding (10.5 rpg), field goal accuracy (58.2%) and PER (23.8), while ranking second in scoring (21.9 ppg), blocked shots (1.33 bpg) and minutes played (35.9 mpg) in March. He also was third among rookies in free throw percentage (83.6%), fifth in steals (1.00 spg) and eighth in assists (2.7 apg). The 7-0 forward/center also shared the overall league lead in point/rebound double-doubles with 12, ending the month with a personal season-best 10 consecutive double-doubles.

After averaging 21.1 ppg and 11.8 rpg in February, Towns has become just the fourth rookie in the last 20 years to post back-to-back months averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds, joining Tim Duncan, Elton Brand and Blake Griffin.

The first overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Towns scored a game-high 28 points, on 14-for-18 shooting, and added a season-high seven assists in the Wolves’ March 5 win vs. Brooklyn. He led all scorers with 32 points while adding 11 rebounds March 18 at Houston, his fourth 30+ scoring effort of the season. Towns recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a March 23 win vs. Sacramento and followed that up with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a double OT victory March 25 at Washington. He set the Wolves single-season rookie rebounding record in the Washington game, breaking Kevin Love’s record.