How could someone like Towns ever be considered weak?

A single Finals series has completely transformed fans' perception of Towns. In Minnesota, he was a center with full top-pick talent, possessing historically elite shooting skills for his position, yet his unwillingness to engage in physical play drew criticism.

He is not a center who likes to play in the low post; compared to direct physical confrontation, he prefers to settle matters with shooting. His two career 60-point games both came from incredible on-court feel, as centers can also get hot from three-point range. However, as the team's primary star, his leadership skills fell short. The incident where Jimmy Butler led third-stringers to beat Towns and Wiggins became a stain on his career, marking the point when his reputation began to decline sharply.

It wasn't until another top pick arrived that the Timberwolves rejoined the Western Conference contenders. In the 2024 Western Conference Finals, Towns struggled with his shooting in the first three games, going 17-for-51 overall and 3-for-22 from three, averaging just 16.7 points. Across the five-game series, he had only one hot shooting night, finishing with an average of 19.6 points and a three-point percentage of just 24%. More strikingly, as a center, he recorded zero blocks over the entire five-game series.

That summer, the impending 4-year, $220 million contract became the final straw weighing down Towns' career in Minnesota, leading to his trade to New York after nine seasons with the team, in exchange for Randle and DiVincenzo. For a long time, this trade was seen as a win-win, but after this year, the Knicks have clearly emerged as the biggest winners.

The Timberwolves couldn't contain Wembanyama in the playoffs, with veteran Gobert being completely overpowered by him offensively. Yet unexpectedly, Towns turned out to be the best option to limit Wembanyama this season. In the first two games of the Finals, Towns dominated Wembanyama on both ends of the floor.

This isn't to say Towns is a better center than Wembanyama, but the concept of certain matchups creating problems does exist in the NBA. Towns' presence genuinely makes it difficult for Wembanyama to perform. Offensively, Towns naturally stretches the floor; in one-on-one situations against Wembanyama, he consistently chooses to drive hard, utilizing his quicker footwork. If Wembanyama steps out to contest, he gets blown by; if he drops back, Towns takes the shot.

Defensively, Towns delivered the toughest playoff performance of his career, absorbing every one of Wembanyama's drives and repeatedly forcing him into difficult mid-range jumpers. His height, wingspan, and lateral quickness made him the ideal defender against Wembanyama.

After the first two games of the Finals, Towns jumped to the top of the FMVP conversation. He truly changed the dynamics of the Finals, neutralizing his opponent's star player. In the final three games, Towns frequently fell into foul trouble. Without commenting on the officiating, his inability to control his fouls has always been a recurring issue, but fortunately, his teammates stepped up.

Over the five-game Finals, Towns averaged 13 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks, with a field goal percentage of 49.0% and a three-point percentage of 33.3%. While the stats aren't flashy, Towns was the one who directly altered the Knicks' playoff trajectory.

After losing two games to Atlanta in the first round, Brown started having Towns operate heavily from the top of the key as a playmaker starting in Game 4. This change disrupted the Hawks' defensive schemes, and they were promptly eliminated. The Knicks then went on an incredible 13-game winning streak. Throughout the entire playoffs, Towns posted an outstanding plus-minus of +258, the highest in NBA history.

Overnight, the so-called soft player in fans' eyes turned into a tough guy. It seems every skilled shooting big man struggles to shake off the "soft" label, and the best way to reverse that reputation is to win a championship. Dirk Nowitzki did it in 2011, and Towns did it in 2026. As for that other big man in the East, when will he achieve the same?

During the award ceremony, Towns said: "Even when I was stuck in the mud, I kept moving forward step by step." The mud he referred to represents the doubts and prejudices thrown at him by the world. But the world always needs mud, for without it, how could seeds sprout and bloom into magnificent flowers?

He finally mentioned his mother: "Thank you, Mom. I'm grateful for everything you've given me." The first game of the Finals was also Towns' first-ever Finals experience, which should have been immensely stressful. Yet Towns said he felt surprisingly calm. During the game, he looked up at the stands and felt as if he could see his mother sitting there, watching him play like when he was a child, which brought him peace.

His playing style may lean towards finesse, but in my heart, he cannot be associated with being weak. Six years ago, when his mother was suffering from illness, to end her pain, Towns personally agreed to remove her ventilator and stayed with her through her final moments. I cannot imagine the courage required to make such a decision. How could a man like that ever be considered weak?

Towns later said: "The old Towns died that day. He's not coming back. The you're talking to is just my body. That Towns no longer exists. I don't know him. He's gone."

A part of him remained forever on that day. But by moving forward, he rebuilt himself, donned a tough exterior, and became a better version of himself.

He knows his mother can certainly see it, and she must be proud of him.