Knicks’ Minnesota visit stirs up Karl-Anthony Towns’ Timberwolves memories

MINNEAPOLIS — Over one year later, the feeling remains the same for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Returning to the Target Center for just the second time since the Knicks’ blockbuster trade to acquire him right before the start of last season, he reflected on his old stomping grounds — and the community he left behind.

“It can be two truths in that,” Towns said before the Knicks’ clash against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night. “You can be at peace knowing the business cycle keeps going and business is business. After the year we had last year in New York, feeling more at home, fans welcoming you in more, obviously you can be at peace with it, but it still stings when you’re not walking into this locker room. Coming to this amazing state, this city and realize you’re not going to the training facility anymore, you’re not making that drive in, you’re not doing all that. Now you’re in a hotel, it hits different.”

The trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves seems to have worked out for both sides.

Each team reached the conference finals last year, and all three major players involved have had personal success at their new stops. Towns had an adjustment period to coach Mike Brown’s new system, but he’s looked much more comfortable since moving back to primarily playing center.

And Towns holds no animosity toward the Timberwolves for dealing him away from the only NBA team he had played for. That differs from Randle, who did not look back on his Knicks tenure fondly — calling the end of it his “darkest moment” in an interview with The Athletic before the season.

Karl-Anthony Towns (32) puts up a shot over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half when the New York Knicks played the Miami Heat Sunday, December 21, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, are still a special organization to Towns.

“I know we’ve done a lot of amazing things in the last 12 months in New York, but I had nine years here,” Towns said. “Just watching this organization grow from being a lottery team to now being a Western Conference juggernaut — to be part of that growth, part of that organization’s rise, to be blessed with the opportunity to change a lot of people’s lives. And a lot of the kids that grew up watching me now are adults. Some of them got kids themselves. To be able to give them something to cheer for, it’s what it’s really all about.”

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The Knicks only played in Minnesota once last year, and Tuesday’s game will be the only regular season meeting at Target Center this year.

During last year’s matchup — a 133-107 Knicks win almost exactly a year ago, Dec. 19 — Towns poured in 32 points (on 10-for-12 shooting from the field and perfect 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point range) along with 20 rebounds and six assists.

And just like that game last year, Towns was emotional beforehand.

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the Western Conference Finals at Target Center on May 22, 2024. Getty Images

“Hell yeah, I was yesterday, me and my girl was,” Towns said. “Going to our house here, it’s different when you’re not here. We talked about the lifestyle here and how awesome it is to be here and all the memories here — just reliving them, driving by the same places that we always used to go to, getting our coffees and stuff. And then being able to have HopeKids at the Theater yesterday, having that kind of community event that I was always having here, it’s crazy that it’s the second year and it still feels the same.”

Towns’ bond with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards — whom he played with for four years — has lasted.

“I talk to him almost every day,” Towns said. “Spent a lot of time with him [Monday]. Just happy that he’s continuing his journey and that I get to watch it.”

Towns’ own journey has him playing a central role in a side that views itself as title contenders. His previous journey in Minnesota remains a big part of him, though.