NEW YORK — A year has elapsed since Karl-Anthony Towns’s transfer from Minnesota to New York, yet the sentiment lingers within the Knicks’ All-Star center.
“It continues to amaze me, truly. It feels peculiar,” Towns expressed after the Knicks’ dominant 137-114 victory over his previous squad on Wednesday evening.
“Having navigated the past year as a Knick, the feeling is more ingrained, but seeing the Wolves jersey—especially the striking black variant—without ‘Towns’ emblazoned on the back remains surreal.”
Towns alluded to the Timberwolves’ retro uniform, revived this season to honor the Kevin Garnett era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Towns dedicated nine seasons to Minneapolis before the monumental trade, which saw Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo heading to the Timberwolves in exchange for Towns, just prior to last year’s training camp.
The move came as a surprise, given the Timberwolves’ recent achievement of reaching their first Western Conference finals since the Garnett era (2004), positioning Towns as a pivotal figure alongside Anthony Edwards after enduring years of challenges.
The Knicks envisioned Towns as an ideal complement to Jalen Brunson, while the Timberwolves sought to alleviate Towns’s salary to circumvent the stringent luxury-tax threshold.
Despite the rationale, the emotional undertones endure.
During his postgame interview on Wednesday night, Towns briefly paused, acknowledging his near slip in referring to the Timberwolves as “we,” a testament to his ongoing connection with the franchise.
“We established something unique there,” Towns reflected. “Transitioning from being part of the process to competing against it feels different. They’re an exceptional team. I anticipate nothing short of excellence from them.”
Both the Knicks and Timberwolves progressed to the conference finals last season, now aiming for even greater heights. Towns maintains regular contact with his former teammates, “almost daily,” noting that several plays previously designed for him are now executed by former Sixth Man of the Year, Naz Reid.
“It’s always a joy to see my brothers,” Towns remarked. “Witnessing Ant emerge as a leading figure in the league. Rudy [Gobert] and I, after years of opposing each other, becoming teammates and forging a strong bond. It was rewarding to compete against my brothers.
“It transcends basketball; it’s about family.”
This marked Towns’s second encounter with the Timberwolves, and he has consistently performed well in both matchups. On Wednesday, Towns contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in 31 minutes, as the Knicks asserted dominance in the final three quarters.
Despite the defeat, Randle delivered a stronger performance in his second return to Madison Square Garden, amassing 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Towns executed a few memorable plays against his former teammates, overpowering the smaller Edwards and dunking over him. He also caught Gobert on another play.
Edwards, in his characteristic style, took it in stride.
“He dunked on me today,” he admitted. “Although I didn’t jump. He backed me down, showcasing his incredible strength, compounded by his 7-foot stature. I held my ground for about five seconds, but at that point, assistance becomes necessary. At 6-3, 6-4, against a 7-footer, I inevitably require support.”
