In his first game against his former team, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reflected on the trade that changed his career. During a chat with The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, he explained the aftermath of his move to the Knicks and how shocked he was to be leaving the Timberwolves.
“There was no part of me that was willing to leave,” Towns said. “And life had a different path for me. I was stunned. I’m still stunned I’m in a different jersey.”
Towns, 29, was the first overall pick back in 2015 after a historic season at Kentucky. He joined a desperate Timberwolves team and immediately stepped into a role as their primary leader both on and off the court.
In nine years with the Timberwolves, the 4x All-Star averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 52.4% shooting. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves struggled through most of his tenure and it wasn’t until last season (with the rise of Anthony Edwards) that the franchise finally had a breakout moment.
With a 56-26 record (3rd best in the West), the Timberwolves went into the playoffs as one of the biggest contenders. They made it to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in a surprising upset.
Towns, who was still signed to a long-term deal with the Timberwolves, was content to spend the rest of his career with the franchise. In his mind, he was in a position to finally enjoy the fruits of his labor after years of waiting for a proper All-Star teammate.
But in a sudden and shocking move, the Timberwolves traded Towns and severed their long-term partnership to bring in Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The thinking was that the Timberwolves could gain in roster depth and perimeter defense what they lost in Towns’ scoring.
So far, however, the Timberwolves have been a worse team than they were a year ago, while Towns is thriving with the Knicks. By all accounts, it was the Timberwolves who lost the trade while the Knicks (and Towns) got the better end of the deal.
And yet, Karl’s heart seemingly remains with the Timberwolves, as it’s the place he thought he’d spend the rest of his career. He established deep roots in the city and had developed a connection with budding young star Anthony Edwards.
Everything changed overnight for Towns, who is still getting used to his new reality in New York. In such a big city, with a dedicated fanbase, the pressure is different than anything he felt in Minnesota.
More than anything, it will take time for the young big man to adjust but the signs are looking good so far with the Knicks at 17-10 while Towns averages 25.0 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 53.5% shooting. He’s been making a huge impact for the Knicks and is already becoming a fan favorite. Still, it remains to be seen if he’ll ever connect with the Knicks as much as he did with the Timberwolves.
After beating his former team on Thursday, Towns and the Knicks will head south to face the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center at 8:00 PM on December 21st. The Knicks are back home on the 23rd, for their matchup against the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 PM at Madison Square Garden. Finally, the Knicks will play on Christmas Day (December 25th) against the San Antonio Spurs at 12:00 PM EST.
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