Karl-Anthony Towns is heading back to familiar territory - but this time, he’s wearing blue and orange.
The former face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise is set to make his second return to Target Center as a visiting player, now in his second season with the New York Knicks. After nine seasons in Minnesota, where he averaged 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and made four All-Star teams, Towns is no stranger to the building. But that doesn’t make the experience any less emotional.
“Obviously you can be at peace with it, but it still stings when you’re not walking into this locker room,” Towns told the New York Post ahead of Tuesday’s matchup. “Come 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.”
That’s the kind of honesty you only get from a player who poured nearly a decade of his career into one franchise. Towns didn’t just play in Minnesota - he grew up there, professionally and personally. From Rookie of the Year to franchise cornerstone, he was the Timberwolves’ anchor through highs, lows, and everything in between.
But now, the job is different. Towns is a Knick, and with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby both ruled out for Tuesday’s game, the spotlight shifts squarely onto him. If New York is going to leave Minneapolis with a win, Towns will likely need to carry a heavy load on both ends of the floor.
And he’ll be looking to bounce back. Towns is coming off one of the quietest performances of his career - a 2-point outing against the Miami Heat, just the second time he’s been held to two points in a game. That’s not the standard he’s set for himself, and knowing his competitive fire, don’t be surprised if he comes out with something to prove.
This isn’t just another game for Towns. It’s a return to a place that shaped him, against a team he still holds close.
But make no mistake - he’s coming to win. For all the emotion tied to the Timberwolves, Towns is focused on what’s ahead in New York.
And with two key starters out, the Knicks will need every bit of that drive to get past a Timberwolves squad that knows him well.
Tuesday night in Minneapolis won’t just be about nostalgia - it’ll be about opportunity. For Towns, it’s a chance to remind his old home what he’s still capable of. For the Knicks, it’s a chance to rally behind one of their stars and keep building momentum in a season that’s already seen its fair share of twists.