TNT (DR) / Keith Allison (CC)
For a few years now, the NBA has once again become a league of duos, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have just proven it by carrying the Celtics to the Finals. And next season, a young All-Star dreams of being part of the pair the strongest since Shaq and Kobe 20 years ago.
For several seasons, the NBA has been dominated by the Big 3 and superteams, like the Warriors of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, four dominant All-Stars at the time who formed perhaps the greatest team of all time. But today this era seems to be over, since it is the duos that reign supreme in the league.
The proof, in the Eastern Conference, is the pair Jayson Tatum / Jaylen Brown who dominated this playoff campaign and which allowed the Celtics to reach the Finals. Likewise in the West, where the duo Steph Curry / Andrew Wiggins did wonders to make up for Klay and Draymond’s loss of momentum. And next season, those two pairs could be shaken up the pecking order by Paul George’s Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.
KAT and Edwards next Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant?!
But the two players from Los Angeles will not be the only ones dreaming of overthrowing the established order in the league. Indeed, following the arrival of Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, the Timberwolves are full of confidence, and they let it know as soon as they have the opportunity. For example, when passing through ESPN to speak with Malika Andrews, Karl-Anthony Towns expressed his ambition with Anthony Edwards:
With Anthony Edwards, we’re going to take to the court every night to play at a level that no one has seen in the NBA since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. We are going to do what we know how to do, we are going to be us, while improving our games. For him the objective will be to become a potential Defender of the Year, and I will have to be even stronger offensively, defensively, sharpen all my weapons.
I know I have a lot of work to do this summer, he has a lot of work to do this summer, but if we continue to grow together, to trust each other, and to do everything to win with this franchise, I think that we can become the best duo in the league. Not only that, but the team will also be one of the best in the NBA.
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t make a fuss during his appearance on ESPN, since after confirming his Wolves’ title ambitions, he promised that he and Anthony Edwards would reach the level displayed by Shaquille O’ Neal and Kobe Bryant in the early 2000s. It remains to be seen whether Rudy Gobert will agree to cede his DPOY status to his young teammate.
After a good series of playoffs against the Grizzlies and the arrival of Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns does not lack confidence for the next season. His ambition is clear: he wants to walk the league and win everything.