Karl-Anthony Towns Says All-NBA Snub 'Did a Little Damage' to Him

Minnesota Timberwolves burgeoning superstar Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't named as an All-NBA selection in May, and the power forward acknowledged he was bothered by the snub.

"You know what, it did a little bit, it did a little damage to me," Towns told Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. "But that’s alright, because it is all about team success. You’ve got to win. You’ve got to win to be respected in this league. You have to do little things, there are things we can do as a team. We have to come back as a stronger team and win in the playoffs, because the playoffs are the most important thing."  

Making the All-NBA team as a big man this season was no easy task. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis were all first-team selections. Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert cracked the second team. DeAndre Jordan and Draymond Green were on the third.

While there's certainly an argument to be made that Towns was deserving of a spot on one of the three teams after averaging 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks this season, Towns seemed more focused on the team's disappointing 31-51 record than his own personal achievements.

"I expected more," Towns told Deveney. "We all expected more. I could care less about statistics, it’s all about team success. I am not comfortable with how last year went because we had a goal in mind and we let go of the rope. We did not accomplish the goal we had before the season started. This has to be the year we get those things done, we get that playoff experience."

They'll certainly be expected to do so with Jimmy Butler added to the fold, joining the core of Towns and Andrew Wiggins. That gives the Timberwolves an exciting trio of star players, joined by a supporting class of Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad (if he's retained in free agency).

That group should make the Wolves dangerous next season. And Towns seems excited to just get back on the court.

"I just want to play" he said. "I love the game so much, I just want to play every time I can. Every time I get to lace up my shoes, I am happy. Every time I see my jersey and I get to put it on, I feel like a kid in the candy store. Every time I get the chance to play, I am going to play."