Karl-Anthony Towns to Wolves rookies: Savor your first NBA game

On a late October night in 2015 Karl-Anthony Towns, the top pick in that summer's draft, played in his first regular-season NBA game for the Timberwolves.

He had the pressure of being the top pick. The Wolves were in Los Angeles to play the Lakers, the start of Kobe Bryant's farewell tour.

So, Towns contends, his first night figures to be a little different from what current rookies Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop will experience Wednesday at San Antonio.

"I just don't know how to make that comparison," Towns said after Monday's practice.

Well, just like Towns, Bates-Diop and Okogie will be fulfilling a lifelong dream playing in their first real game. And, like Towns, they will find themselves facing the nerves of their first game along with the speed of a regular-season game.

"I'm sure it will be an experience," Bates-Diop said. "The summer league to preseason, preseason to regular season, the speed increases every single time. So it will be an adjustment, for sure."

Said Okogie: "I think I'll be ready."

Having worked so hard on his shot, Okogie said he is confident his numbers will improve. And he didn't seem fazed by the prospect of the opener.

But Towns has some advice: Take it easy.

"It's an experience they need to savor and enjoy," said Towns, who had 12 points and 14 rebounds in his debut, a 112-111 victory over the Lakers. "I told them the same thing [Kevin Garnett] told me my rookie year. And I still abide by it today: Slow down and breathe if you find yourself doing too much. We've got two ultra-athletic rookies, especially with Josh. When you have athletes like that you tell them to calm down and play smart."

Okogie figures to play a good bit. Bates-Diop's chances at playing time decreased with the return of Jimmy Butler to the team.

"It's all learning, and they've embraced the learning aspect of it," coach Tom Thibodeau said.

"Thibs wants me to be aggressive,'' Rose said. "In the second unit, I'm able to have the ball a little more, and just play the way I normally play. The court is spaced out with the second unit, so I'm able to just drive and kick out."

Every player who talked to the media Monday agreed the return of Butler to practice has meant an uptick in intensity.

Rose noted that the intensity of practice changed with the trash-talking to one another, adding: "I mean, that's what you need. Even when he did the thing the first day when he came back."

Rose was referring to Butler's first practice with the team Wednesday, when he was reportedly in the faces of players, coaches and staff.

"Everyone else was probably shook," Rose said. "But I played with Joakim [Noah], and Taj [Gibson]. And we're used to it. If anything, we need that energy and we need that intensity."