CHARLESTON, SC — Karl-Anthony Towns was “flabbergasted” when hearing the news of being traded from the Timberwolves. After all, he spent his entire nine-year career in Minnesota. But now with the Knicks, there’s plenty to recognize.
He is from the area with a deep and emotional connection to MSG. His former agent, Leon Rose, runs the front office. And there’s also a familiar head coach, Tom Thibodeau, who guided Towns on the Timberwolves during a roller-coaster 2 ½ seasons that ended in 2019.
“I think it gives us a little bit of a head start. I know the offense that he runs, I know the way that he likes to play defense and I know what he expects from his players,” Towns said. “I just think it gives us a little bit of a head start.”
Despite butting heads toward the end of their time together in Minnesota, the coach and center “squashed” the beef years ago, as Towns said last season, and both seem excited about the reunion.
“I think over time you just learn a lot about each other and mature,” Towns said. “Obviously our relationship has been good. I think that for us we just want to win. I think none of you all doubt about Thibs putting the work in and wanting to win. So our conversations are all about winning and doing the best we can do every single day.”
Thibodeau noted that Towns is a different player than five years ago.
“He’s a lot more experienced. I think all those experiences teaches you a lot. He’s been through a lot of different things now, so he’s bringing all those experiences here,” the Knicks coach said. “I think as with most players, now he’s had experience being deep in the playoffs. He knows what that’s like. As much as you try to prepare for it, until you go through it, you don’t fully understand what it is and I think his understanding is much further along now than it was his second year in the league, and his skill set is so unique. I think he fits well with everybody.”
For Towns, the Knicks always held a special place because of his mom, Jaqueline, who died from COVID-19 complications during the pandemic.
“Madison Square Garden, to her, was the Mecca and, to our family, it’s always been the Mecca,” Towns said. “To be able to play in a place that’s so revered by her, obviously it strikes a different emotion.”
Outside expectations have been raised with the acquisition of Towns, a four-time All-Star who plugs a hole at center with top-flight offensive talent. But like the rest of the Knicks during training camp, Towns wasn’t making grand proclamations or bold predictions.
“I think most importantly to get to a position like (the conference finals), it starts now,” Towns said. “It’s not during the season. It’s not, you start turning up in the second half of the season or after All-Star break. It starts now. You’ve got to put the work in now. You’ve got to get your body, your mind prepared to play basketball that deep into the season. So just staying focused, working on our discipline, working on our habits. I’m just here to amplify everybody as much as possible.”
