A move back to center has boosted Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding.
The 29-year-old collected a game-high 19 boards in Sunday’s 118-85 breeze over the Pelicans, raising his average to a career-best 13 per game.
It’s somewhat a throwback to earlier in Towns’ career, including three seasons under Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves, when he averaged more than 12 rebounds.
In the past three years, however, Towns was down to single digits. The dip coincided with Towns’ change to power forward to accommodate the arrival of Rudy Gobert in Minnesota.
“With Rudy, he played away from the basket a lot more,” Thibodeau said. “He’s a terrific rebounder. Always been a terrific rebounder. He’s longer than you think, long ams, strong, really strong. Great anticipation. His experiences have helped him a lot, too.”
Jalen Brunson echoed that point while taking a dig at Josh Hart’s reputation for stealing rebounds.
“I think when you are in a different situation, you have to adjust,” Brunson said. “For him, he’s been able to adjust. I think all great players know they are able to impact the game however they can. Whatever it takes to win. He knows that. And he adjusts. He goes out there and gets every board, even if it means fighting with Josh.”
Rookie Pacome Dadiet was demoted to G League and dropped 12 inefficient points Sunday in his debut for the Westchester Knicks.
Dadiet, chosen 25th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, represents the first Knicks first-round pick in three years but was always viewed as a long-term project at just 19 years old from France. He had some brief moments in the senior Knicks’ rotation, averaging 1.9 points in 10 appearances.
But Dadiet wasn’t on the roster for Sunday’s game against the Pelicans because he played with Westchester.
Thibodeau indicated Dadiet will continue to be back-and-forth with the G League team while practicing with the senior Knicks.
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“[It’s] situational,” Thibodeau said. “So there was an opportunity to get some playing time, take advantage of it that way. And he’ll be back with us for practice. The beauty of it is the setup, where we’re both practicing in the same building. So take advantage of it.”
Dadiet shot 4-of-13, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, while collecting four steals as the Westchester Knicks fell to the Capital City Go-Go, 129-127.
The Knicks held a moment of silence before tipoff for former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca, who died Saturday at 99.
The Hall of Famer led the Johnnies to two Big East Tournament titles and a Final Four appearance in 1985.
