Karl-Anthony Towns throws some fun shade at John Calipari following 60-piece

If you haven’t heard, one of the Big Blue Nation’s all-time favorite people exploded for the most points in a single NBA game this season on Monday night. That man was none other Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ripped off a franchise-high 60 points in a 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Towns, who played at Kentucky during the Wildcats’ 38-1 run to the Final Four in 2015, finished with a final stat line of 60 points, 17 rebounds, and three assists on 19-31 shooting from the floor, including a 7-11 mark from beyond the arc. He’s the first center to drop at least 60 points and 17 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O’Neal went for 61 and 23 on his 28th birthday back in March 2000. Towns dropped 32 of his 60 points in the third quarter alone, the fourth-most over a single quarter in the last 25 years.

Basically, it was a historic night for the former ‘Cat, and he made sure that his college head coach knew about it — particularly the 7-11 clip from distance.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari posted to Twitter on Tuesday morning that he shared a conversation with Towns following the 60-point performance, joking that he only scored 32 points all game long, instead of just in the third frame. Towns was quick to counter the Hall of Fame coach, telling Calipari he’s going to send a TV (instead of a signed basketball) that constantly replays Towns winning this season’s 3-Point Contest at the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend.

As Towns loves to remind Calipari, the head coach wouldn’t let him shoot 3-pointers during his days in Lexington.

I have to share a conversation I had w/ @KarlTowns this morning that absolutely made my day. I left Karl a voicemail saying, “Heard you had 32 points last night”, knowing he had 32 IN THE THIRD QUARTER. Immediately, he calls back & as soon as I answer, he yells, “SIXTY!!!”

I told him I needed him to sign the game ball and send it to me, so I can put it in my office and he said he’s going to send me a TV instead, so I can watch the replay of him winning the three-point contest because I never let him shoot threes. LOL!

What a man he has become! So proud of you, @karltowns. For what you’ve done…and what you will still do! Karl is one of the special players we’ve had here, who didn’t score like they wanted, but learned how to fight and how to be a great teammate…and I am so proud of them all!

John Calipari via Twitter

I have to share a conversation I had w/ @KarlTowns this morning that absolutely made my day.

I left Karl a voicemail saying, “Heard you had 32 points last night”, knowing he had 32 IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

Immediately, he calls back & as soon as I answer, he yells, “SIXTY!!!”

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 15, 2022

What a man he has become! So proud of you, @karltowns. For what you’ve done…and what you will still do!

Karl is one of the special players we’ve had here, who didn’t score like they wanted, but learned how to fight and how to be a great teammate…and I am so proud of them all!

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 15, 2022

The 60-piece nugget for Towns was extra special for another reason, though. Monday marked exactly two years ago that both of his parents were admitted into the JFK Medical Center in New Jersey as they battled bouts of COVID-19. While his father would survive, his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, would later tragically pass away due to complications with the disease.

Since then, Towns has been open about how he’s dealt with the grief of losing his mother, along with several other family members due to COVID-19, and is an avid advocate for people to take the vaccine. On Tuesday, Towns took to social media to briefly reflect on the journey he’s been through over the last two years, going from losing his mom to playing the best basketball game of his life during that span.

Yesterday was two years to the date that my parents walked into the ER at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ and were admitted with COVID-19. The same hospital that my mother gave me life, and tragically, the same hospital where I saw her life begin to slip away

Two years later, I walked into AT&T Center with the greatest guardian angel that I could ever ask for and dropped 60 against the winningest coach of all time.

I say this to say…no matter what life throws at you, you can come out of it stronger. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. Miss you Momma. This game….my life…is for you

Karl-Anthony Towns via Twitter

Yesterday was two years to the date that my parents walked into the ER at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ and were admitted with COVID-19. The same hospital that my mother gave me life, and tragically, the same hospital where I saw her life begin to slip away

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 15, 2022

I say this to say…no matter what life throws at you, you can come out of it stronger. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. Miss you Momma. This game….my life…is for you ❤️🕊

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 15, 2022

It’s been a hell of a ride for Towns over the last two years, but he’s come out on the other side a stronger person and even better basketball player. He’s beginning to piece it all together, too. Now 26 years old, the three-time All-Star is averaging 24.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per outing this year on a shooting split of 52.9/40.8/81.9.

Not too shabby.