The Unicorns of the 2015 NBA Draft

Three picks separated Karl-Anthony Towns, the #1 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Kristaps Porzingis, the #4 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.

Given the incredible combination of size (both players were at least seven-feet tall), length, athleticism, and basketball skills, it was easy to see how these guys could help further redefine the way we look at “big men” and “wing players” in the NBA.

But as both players enter their third season, they’re both not only emerging superstars, but along with guys like Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, they’re members of that group of players that analysts, media types, bloggers, and fans have begun to all “unicorns”: unique, generational talents of which we’ve never seen before, and would be hard pressed to see again.

By the end of his rookie season, many people around the league began to view Towns as perhaps the single-most talented young player in the NBA, with legitimate MVP potential, and maybe the guy at the top of the list of “players under 22 years old you’d want to build your franchise upon.” His combination of post moves, shooting touch from the perimeter, lateral agility, and shot-blocking prowess was absolutely tantalizing. It looked like it was just a matter of time before the lights went on, and Towns became the best big man in the NBA.

The image of the young Knicks fan crying when the team announced their selection of Porzingis will be relived for years to come. But, it’s quite fair to say that nobody is shedding any tears anymore, in terms of how the big Latvian has played so early in his NBA career. While nearly everyone agreed that Porzingis would be something of a longer-term project, he shot over 45% from the field as a rookie, showed flashes of his shooting stroke from three, and proved to be a startingly versatile defender who could jump out and challenge wing players, and subsequently move back into the post to block shots and protect the rim.

In fact, as both Porzingis and Towns enter their third season, an argument can easily be made that the former has surpassed the latter, in terms of who’s the better player at this point in their career. Through New York’s first 14 games of the season, Porzingis is third in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.9 points per game on 49.3% shooting (including over 40% on three point attempts). Perhaps more importantly, he’s been a dominant defender at times, especially in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, we might be suffering from a slight case of “too much, too soon” with Towns. Taking nothing away from the fact that his Timberwolves are currently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, Towns is taking less shots from the field — likely as a function of all the additions Minnesota made in the offseason — which explains why his scoring average has dropped from 25.1 points per game last season, to 21.5 points per game so far this season. But what’s more disappointing is the fact that his defense is still more “sizzle” than “substance.” Even with a defensive maestro in Tom Thibodeau as his head coach, Towns is still as likely to commit a mental error on defense, as he is to make a play with his breathtaking athleticism and skill.

But the biggest thing to keep in mind with both guys is the fact that they’re barely old enough to order an adult beverage in the United States; neither guy has even turned 22-years old yet. There’s still so much time for both Porzingis and Towns to further develop their games.

And if they do, we could be talking about how these two guys from the 2015 NBA Draft helped reshape the way we understand basketball.