Minneapolis/St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves at this time introduced the staff has signed All-NBA middle Karl-Anthony Cities to a multi-year contract extension. Per staff coverage, phrases of the settlement weren’t launched.
“I couldn’t be prouder to proceed my dedication to this franchise and neighborhood for years to return,” mentioned Cities. “Minnesota has develop into my house and I’m excited to proceed making the followers proud to assist the Timberwolves. My first seven years within the league, it has been a tremendous journey. It began with Flip Saunders taking an opportunity on me and now right here we’re. I sit up for all of the achievements which can be forward for our staff and the Timberwolves fanbase.”
Cities, 26, has performed all seven of his NBA seasons with Minnesota, showing in 482 video games (all begins), holding averages of 23.2 factors on 52.7% taking pictures, together with 39.7% from three, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 blocks in 34.2 minutes per recreation. He completed the 2021-22 marketing campaign ranked eleventh in scoring (24.6 ppg), 14th in rebounding (9.8 rpg), sixteenth in subject objective share (52.9%) and seventeenth in three-point share (41.0%). This yr marked Cities’ fourth season (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22) averaging 20+ factors on 50%+ taking pictures from the sector and 40%+ from three per recreation, tying Kevin Durant for essentially the most such seasons within the NBA for the reason that three-point line was added in 1979.
“Karl’s quantity 32 will at some point dangle within the rafters of Goal Heart and this contract extension represents how a lot he means to this franchise and neighborhood,” mentioned Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. “He has accomplished a lot for the Timberwolves and I’m thrilled he’ll be again for a few years to return.”
“Karl will go down as probably the greatest gamers to ever put on a Timberwolves uniform and we are able to’t wait to see him again on the court docket this season and for seasons past,” mentioned the Timberwolves Possession Group. “We thank Karl for all the things he’s accomplished for our neighborhood and sit up for persevering with to see his constructive influence each on and off the court docket.”
In Minnesota’s 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Mar. 14, Cities erupted for a career-high and franchise document 60 factors on a career-high 19-of-31 taking pictures, together with 7-of-11 from three-point vary and 15-of-16 from the free throw line. Cities added a season-high-tying 17 rebounds, changing into the primary participant in NBA historical past to succeed in every of these numbers in a recreation. He turned the primary middle with a 60-point recreation since Shaquille O’Neal (Mar. 6, 2000).
Named a Western Convention All-Star for the third time in his profession final season, Cities marked his third All-Star Recreation look on Feb. 20 in Cleveland with 9 factors, six rebounds and three assists. He turned the primary middle to win the MTN DEW 3-point Contest on All-Star Saturday evening, scoring an occasion document 29 factors within the remaining spherical. Cities was additionally named Western Convention Participant of the Week thrice this season and marked the seventh time in his profession that he has gained the weekly award (April 11, 2016, Mar. 13, 2017, Nov. 20, 2017, Oct. 28, 2019, Dec. 20, 2021, Mar. 7, 2022 and Mar. 21, 2022). Cities trails solely Kevin Garnett (15 instances) for essentially the most Participant of the Week honors in Timberwolves historical past.
Following his profession season in 2021-22, main the Wolves to the playoffs for the second time since 2004, the Piscataway, N.J., native was named to the All-NBA Third Workforce for the second time in his profession (2018), changing into the third participant in franchise historical past to be named to a number of All-NBA groups (Garnett, 8x and Love, 2x). Cities ranks first in membership historical past in three-pointers made (779) whereas rating second in factors (11,170), rebounds (5,465), blocks (663), subject targets made (4,130) and free throws made (2,131) and third in assists (1,486).
Beforehand named a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion finalist by the NBA, Cities has been a mainstay within the Twin Cities neighborhood since he arrived in 2015, giving again on a wide range of platforms. Because the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic he turned a outstanding advocate for vaccine training following the lack of his mom, Jacqueline Cities and labored intently with the NBA for the league’s vaccine PSA. In collaboration with Cue Well being, Cities offered 100 COVID-19 testing kits to greater than 50 faculties in each New Jersey and Minnesota, and labored with Walgreens on their Get a Shot, Give a Shot marketing campaign to advertise flu pictures and assist guarantee entry to anybody who needs one by way of a $5,000 donation.
In July 2021, Cities donated $20,000 to the George Floyd Memorial Basis in partnership with JD Sports activities and attended rallies all through the Minneapolis neighborhood. Cities continues to function a board member of the Nationwide Basketball Social Justice Coalition. Final yr, Cities made a donation to Kean College in New Jersey to assist programming for his or her girls scholar athletes highlighting empowerment and internships and named the collection in honor of his late mom. The campus court docket at Kean College can also be named in her honor, the Jacqueline Cities Courtroom. This yr, Cities is a finalist for the 2022 Muhammad Ali Sports activities Humanitarian Award.
