MINNEAPOLIS — For Karl-Anthony Towns, it was a winter wonderland lovefest.
The center returned to snowy Minnesota Thursday night, where two video tributes were scheduled as Towns gushed about the “warm feeling” he felt returning to Target Center. One was before tipoff between the Knicks and the Timberwolves, and the other was during the game.
“I've been here nine years. That's a long time. I called this place home,” Towns said. “It felt really nostalgic to be back here and sleep at home again.”
Towns, who spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2015, was caught in 6 inches of snow, but dismissed the idea that he would have a hard time getting to morning shootarounds.
“That's a New York question. It's not a Minnesota question,” Towns said. “Come. I'm not going to answer that.”
Unlike former Knick Julius Randle, Towns clearly holds no ill will towards his former team or being traded the day before training camp.
He also enjoyed the accolades on his big day, tweeting out a highlight package from his Minnesota career.
“I wanted to look my best in any NBA jersey, but especially here in a Timberwolves jersey,” Towns said, acknowledging Thursday was more than just a game. “This place has given my family so much, not only financially, but also in terms of life, including the experiences we have had and what we have been able to accomplish here thanks to the organization. You can never discredit and you can never lose love. I continue to consider Minnesota home.”
Towns' new teammate, Mikal Bridges, may have some sympathy after being traded from the Suns and returning for a video tribute last year.
But he acknowledged that Towns “has done more than that.” [for Minnesota] More than what I did in Phoenix, being the No. 1 pick and all that.
“So I think it's going to show a lot of love for him and how much effort he's shown and how much he's contributed to the city,” Bridges added.
There was a good reason Towns was comfortable and content with his situation.
He was acquired by former agent Leon Rose to be closer to his family and has continued to play well entering Thursday, averaging 24.8 points and a career-high 13.9 rebounds while becoming an All-Star starter. He strongly emphasized the possibility.
Offensively, his transition from power forward in Minnesota to center in New York State further increased his effectiveness.
“I'm not surprised,” Bridges said. “The fact that he's a 5 is kind of a mismatch problem for other 5s. I think he creates a mismatch for pretty much everyone guarding him. …If you give him size I think it makes it even harder because he's faster than them. They have to protect him all the way at the 3-point line because otherwise he'll shoot and be successful every time. I think it will be a big advantage for us.”
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said a change in position is behind the surge in rebounds.
In 2022, Minnesota acquired Rudy Gobert as a rim protector, and Towns was converted to power forward for two seasons.
“The Knicks play him deep drop, so he's always around the basket every time he takes a shot,” Finch said. “And he's a little different player at No. 5 than he was at No. 4, and that shows up in different ways. You don't even have to play with a dominant rebounder like Rudy. But it's unbelievable. . He's got great hands, he's tall, he fights. He gave us numbers like that when I first got here, maybe not consistently. But he had a big rebound night when he was with the Five.”
Towns, who is waxing poetic about his former team, was in contrast to Randle, who playfully dodged all questions about the Knicks after Wednesday's practice and complained of ignorance.
Towns was on another boat.
He received a big contract extension from the Timberwolves before being traded (Randle, on the other hand, could become a free agent after the season) and returned the love Thursday.
“It’s a wild, wild experience,” Towns said. “I have great memories here over the years, and I always get a warm feeling when I walk into Target Center.”
