On 22nd birthday, Karl-Anthony Towns' statistics place him among some NBA greats

At the ripe old age of 22, the Wolves star center has put up some numbers that place him along some of the league's all-time greats.

November 15, 2017 at 12:47PM
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunked the ball in the first half.against Dallas earlier this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunked the ball in the first half. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Timberwolves young star Karl-Anthony Towns will be just a little less young come Wednesday, when he celebrates his 22nd birthday with a home game against San Antonio and perhaps a greeting sung to him by rookie teammate Justin Patton.

Before he does, Towns in Monday's 109-88 victory at Utah became only the second player in NBA history to reach 3,000 career points and 2,000 rebounds before he turned 22. He did so by grabbing his second rebound of the night, just 85 seconds into the game.

The only other player that young and that prolific: Dwight Howard.

Statistically, he has compiled points, rebounds, shooting percentages, 20/10 and 30/10 games at a pace that places him along such stars as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett to do such things by their 22nd birthdays.

Players on their 22nd birthdays

Most points scored

1. LeBron James7,067

2. Kevin Durant5,967

3. Carmelo Anthony5,405

4. Andrew Wiggins4,384

5. Kobe Bryant 4,240

6. Dwight Howard4,210

7. Tracy McGrady4,187

8. Karl-Anthony Towns3,839

9. Chris Bosh3,773

10. Kevin Garnett3,662

Most rebounds

1. Dwight Howard3,169

2. Andre Drummond2,632

3. Karl-Anthony Towns2,011

4. Chris Bosh1,906

5. Kevin Garnett1,905

6. Shaquille O'Neal1,829

7. Andris Biedrins1,789

8. LeBron James1,763

9. Anthony Davis1,740

10. Josh Smith1,725

Highest FG percentage

1. Andris Biedrins.611

2. Shaquille O'Neal.581

3. Andre Drummond.570

4. Andrew Bynum.566

5. Dwight Howard.560

6. Tim Duncan.549

7. Nikola Jokic.545

8. Karl-Anthony Towns.542

9. Jonas Valanciunas.540

10. Greg Monroe.533

Highest FT percentage

1. Kevin Durant.882

2. Kyrie Irving.880

3. Devin Booker.840

4. Chris Paul.835

5. James Harden.828

6. Karl-Anthony Towns.827

7. Zach LaVine.821

8. Kobe Bryant.816

9. Brandon Jennings.813

10. Brook Lopez.806

Most games 30+ points

1. LeBron James100

2. Kevin Durant75

3. Carmelo Anthony45

4. Shaquille O'Neal32

5. Karl-Anthony Towns27

6t. Devin Booker26

6t. Tracy McGrady26

8. Anthony Davis24

9. Kyrie Irving23

10. Andrew Wiggins23

Most double-doubles

1. Dwight Howard169

2. Karl-Anthony Towns124

3. Andre Drummond114

4. Shaquille O'Neal110

5. Anthony Davis90

6. Antoine Walker80

7t. Chris Bosh76

7t. Kevin Garnett76

9. Elton Brand75

10t. LeBron James65

10t. Kevin Love65

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Star Tribune.

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