CHARLESTON, S.C. — Soft.
It’s the label that has followed Karl-Anthony Towns for years but was shot down by a person who worked closely for years with the Knicks center. “Finesse player? Yes. Soft player? No,” the NBA source told The Post.
“I think it’s the whole thing that happened with Jimmy Butler. In today’s world, somebody can write a script about you and that s–t never changes.” Indeed, there’s an important distinction.
Towns, perhaps because of his affable personality and game being so perimeter-based, hasn’t shaken the reputation that was shaped by Butler’s taunts from six years ago — when the fiery forward was upset about his contract situation and targeted Towns , his Timberwolves teammate who had just signed a super-max extension. The fact that Butler left the Timberwolves and went to three conference finals with the Heat became an indictment on Towns, a form of validation, albeit misguided, of the soft talk. But there’s a difference between being soft and being a stretch-the-floor 7-footer who works hard but fouls too much and isn’t a good defender.
The latter is Towns. And it’s up to Tom Thibodeau to make it work . “Thibs should understand this — you don’t trade for an offensive player so he becomes the best defensive player,” the source said.
“The kid has been in the league for eight years, he is what he is. The best way he can contribute for you is to let him score. He’s 20 and 10 every night and he can give you a 30-.