While Kyrie Irving’s 50-point performance in his Nets debut was the top highlight of Brooklyn’s 2019-20 season opener, it was Karl-Anthony Towns who led his team to a win in the 127-126 overtime finish at Barclays Center on October 23.
Like Irving, Towns knocked down seven 3-pointers in the opener — tying one another, along with Charlotte Hornets rookie P.J. Washington, for most 3-pointers in a season opener.
Minnesota is now 7-4 to start 2019-20, and Towns has appeared in nine of those 11 games. The big man is averaging 25.8 points per game on 48.4% shooting (40.7% from three), along with 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
With the Timberwolves among the top eight teams in the Western Conference standings, Towns is receiving a fair amount of credit. Typically, that will lead to social media praise at any opportunity — like when he and San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay butted heads on Wednesday.
KAT not backing down from anyone this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/h7iIcB1N1i
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 14, 2019
KAT’s about it this season. (via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/AwjER3t4Dn
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 14, 2019
But there are still some who haven’t bought into Towns. Among this group is Taurean Prince.
The Brooklyn Nets wing took to Twitter on Thursday to offer his opinion on the Timberwolves big man:
😂😂😂😂😂 I’m not a believer https://t.co/ayZh8L2FdM
— Forever Humble (@taureanprince) November 14, 2019
Maybe Prince and Towns will have a few things to discuss when the Nets and Timberwolves meet up again on December 30.