Despite the fact that Flip Saunders tragically passed away before Karl-Anthony Towns could play for him in the NBA, Towns has always listed Saunders as an important figure in his life. Because of that, Towns has done all he could to honor the man who drafted him number one overall in the NBA Draft, and on Monday he did so yet again after winning the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
As ROY, @KarlTowns will donate his @Kia to the Minnesota Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of the man who selected him, Flip Saunders.
— Kristen Ledlow (@KristenLedlow) May 16, 2016
That is just a great thing to do by Towns. Considering that he already has a big time NBA contract, with hopefully many more coming in the future, Towns does not really need a car, no matter how nice the KIA he won turns out to be. By donating it to the Minnesota Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Towns allows them to do what they want to do with it to best help their foundation. To do so in the name of a very important figure is even better.
As for actually winning the award, Towns clearly earned that. Towns averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while providing great defense for the Timberwolves this season and perhaps most impressively played all 82 games.