With Knicks training camp underway in Charleston, S.C., Karl-Anthony Towns addressed members of the media for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent him from Minnesota to New York.
“Shocked,” Towns said when asked about his reaction to the trade, via The Athletic’s James L. Edwards. “Maybe the word flabbergasted is more correct, but shocked.”
It’s hard to blame Towns for feeling that way, given that the former No. 1 overall pick spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, making four All-Star Games while also winning Rookie of the Year in 2015-16.
Plus, Towns signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension with the Wolves in June of 2022, a new contract that didn’t begin until this season.
But the deal, which sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota as part of a three-team trade, was made official on Wednesday, bringing another star to a Knicks roster that already includes talented players like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, among others.
Towns, who grew up in Piscataway, N.J., said that he’s grateful to be closer to his family, but he also gave a heartfelt thank you for his near-decade in Minneapolis.
“I’m super thankful for the nine years I had in Minnesota,” Towns said. “It’s amazing to be accepted into the community, and for nine years in the Minnesota community, thank you for allowing me to inspire positivity and change there, and to all the amazing teammates I had and coaches and front offices that I’ve been a part, I’m tremendously thankful for the opportunity to play basketball there.
“I’m excited to be playing here, and I can’t wait to start.”
It’s clear that the Knicks have built a winning culture under Tom Thibodeau and Leon Rose, something that had been lacking for quite some time, with the team making a run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.
With Towns now in the mix, the Knicks will look to take things even further in their pursuit of a championship.
“We’ve got great players,” Towns said, “and if we continue to put the work in day in and day out to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be every single day, we can do a lot of things.”
