It’s not common for a home crowd to cheer an opposing player, especially not one who has been playing as well as Karl-Anthony Towns has during his first season as a member of the New York Knicks.
But on Thursday night, that happened when Minnesota fans gave their former star player a loud ovation upon his return to the Target Center, only to have him follow that up with a statement performance.
From the moment he was traded, Towns knew he would have to face the emotions of a homecoming on a cold December day in Minnesota. And on Thursday night, that happened for Towns as he received a video tribute and a warm welcome from the only NBA franchise he knew prior to the blockbuster trade on Oct. 3.
The video tribute detailed Towns’ journey with the Timberwolves, from being drafted with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, to helping get Minnesota to its first Western Conference Finals appearance in 20 years in what became his final season with the franchise.
And it makes sense for Minnesota fans to show their appreciation for Towns, a player who they watched grow up and who experienced plenty of lean years before being able to win in the playoffs.
Towns shared what feeling love from the Minnesota crowd means to him when asked during the TNT broadcast.
“It was emotional. It’s always great to get love back from a place I dedicated my life to. Really happy that the fans appreciate the work I gave here.”
Towns also showed the fans in attendance what they are missing by throwing up a monster double-double in a Knicks’ 133-107 win. He scored 32 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and helped out with six assists while connecting on 10-of-12 shots from the field in 38 minutes.
In nine years with the Timberwolves, Towns averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He was a four-time NBA All-Star, was named the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year and even won the NBA 3-Point Contest in 2022.
Now so far as a Knick, Towns entered the game averaging 24.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, all equating to his best individual season in years.
