Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been voted the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, according to a person with direct knowledge of the award.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made. The NBA was scheduled to announce the winner Monday.

The No. 1 overall pick from Kentucky posted the best rookie season for a big man since Tim Duncan. He averaged 18.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks and helped the Timberwolves win 13 more games than they did the previous season.

Towns also played all 82 games and was named Western Conference rookie of the month in all six months the award was handed out.

From the night of the NBA draft all the way to the end of his first season, Towns stood head and shoulders above the rest of his rookie class.

Towns turned 20 early in the season, but showed the polish and poise of a veteran from the very early stages of his arrival. His ability to pass, rebound, block shots and score from the paint and 3-point line make him the quintessential big man for the modern era and give the Timberwolves hope that they have finally found the star players needed to carry them out of the abyss.

“He’s going to be a Hall of Famer in this league,” Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant said.

Towns is the second straight Timberwolves player to win the Rookie of the Year award after teammate Andrew Wiggins had a similarly convincing debut. Add to those two young stars a promising supporting cast including Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad that will be coached next season by Tom Thibodeau, and the Wolves believe they have the ingredients to finally end a drought.