CLEVELAND — Outside of perhaps Larry Bird, you wouldn't expect a prototypical "big man" to win the NBA 3-point contest. But Karl-Anthony Towns is not your prototypical big man.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' center got hot down the stretch to win the 2022 edition of the competition Saturday night in Cleveland. "KAT" had 29 points in the final round, a new record for the event.
Despite making his third All-Star team and helping the Timberwolves get into playoff contention, it's been a rough year-plus for Towns, who lost his mother and six other family members to COVID-19. Since then, the 26-year-old has become one of the league's most vocal advocates for coronavirus vaccines.
Towns just edged Trae Young and Ohio native Luke Kennard in the finals. Stark County native C.J. McCollum also took part, but was eliminated after his first try.
Towns is the second Minnesota player to win the 3-Point Contest. Kevin Love, who now plays for the Cavaliers, was the first to do so in 2012.