Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns is set to return for Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after missing nearly four months with a Grade 3 calf strain.
It should be recalled that Towns suffered the injury in a game vs. the Washington Wizards last year. Although, he will still be subject to a final check before the game, but he said he expects to play for the first time since Nov. 28. He also said he doesn’t anticipate any restrictions once he’s back despite the lengthy rehabilitation process he’s been through over the past four months.
After sustaining the injury, he suffered a major setback six weeks into the rehabilitation process that essentially sent him back to the beginning of the process.
In a lengthy interview with a major outlet in the US, he said, “I’m super excited to get back out on the court and help my team because these next nine games are super important.”
“I’m just trying to pick up where I left off,” Towns said. “I was telling my dad right before I got hurt, I felt the most complete as a player in my career. From defensive end, from offensive end, from a mental aspect, leadership aspect … I felt very complete.”
“When you have a torn calf, that’s a significant one, It takes time. And being my size, you don’t want it to become like KD in Golden State.”
“The return is imminent, and then boom, Do a little too much. It just in essence, retore. And now we’re back at square one again.”
“It wouldn’t heal unless we drained it, I still have pictures of the syringe they used to take it out.”
“The hardest part was not being able to watch games from the bench.”
“Because of the blood and everything, I can’t have my leg laying out like that. One time we tested it. I was in the tunnel so the fans didn’t see me. But in the 15 minutes I was standing there with the boot on, my legs were so sore. I was hurting so much, I was like, ‘I got to go in the back’ [and] put my leg up. Was watching the game. So fans never saw me at the game, but I was in the back in the locker room watching it.”
“I don’t feel like I lost the step, I actually gained steps because I’ve been able to learn from a different aspect, in a way that I’ve never looked from just sitting on the sideline.
“I think anytime I step on the court, I can make an impact. But specifically we’ve been struggling a lot right now with free throws, and I’ve always been a really good free throw shooter. I think that, for shooting-wise, it’s going to be great to add that kind of 3-point component to us.”
His return will be a major boost for Minnesota Timberwolves who have a (36-37) record. They are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. With his imminent return together with an in form Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, who knows how huge their next few weeks will be in their quest to make the playoffs?
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