Karl-Anthony Towns Returns to Minnesota as a New York Knick - and a Different Kind of Star
When Karl-Anthony Towns steps into the Twin Cities these days, it’s not just a return to where his NBA journey began - it’s a checkpoint on a new chapter that’s still being written. Towns, now in his first season with the Knicks, has embraced the bright lights of New York, the proximity to his New Jersey roots, and the chance to play on a team that’s finally clicking. But every trip back to Minnesota still carries weight - not just emotionally, but competitively.
Towns spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, and while he still owns a home in Minnesota, it’s up for sale. So when he stops in to take a few shots on the indoor court or swing a golf club in the simulator, it’s not a sign of longing - it’s just a pit stop. His focus is firmly on what’s ahead in New York, not what’s behind in the Midwest.
Still, every matchup with his old squad feels like a referendum on the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Knicks just before the 2024-25 season tipped off. And the early returns? Pretty favorable on both sides.
The Knicks are 20-8 and fresh off an NBA Cup title. The Timberwolves?
Not far behind at 19-10, with Julius Randle thriving in a system that’s given him the runway to earn a contract extension - the kind New York wasn’t ready to hand out. Donte DiVincenzo has stepped into the starting lineup and found his groove.
Both teams have reason to feel good.
For Towns, the adjustment hasn’t just been about zip codes - it’s been about role. Despite a résumé that includes five All-Star nods, three All-NBA selections and a Rookie of the Year award, Towns has taken a step back to let Jalen Brunson lead. And that’s not a knock - it’s a sign of growth.
There were questions when Mike Brown took over as head coach this season. Would Towns fit in a system that didn’t seem tailor-made for his skill set?
Would he be asked to play out of position again? But Brown made the call to move Towns back to center, shifting away from pairing him with Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup.
That decision - and Towns’ willingness to adapt - has paid off.
He’s no longer the guy who has to carry the load every night. And he’s okay with that.
Take Sunday night’s win over the Miami Heat. Towns had one of the quietest games of his career - just two points on 1-of-5 shooting in 29 minutes.
He battled early foul trouble, picked up a technical, and never found a rhythm offensively. It was only the second time in his career he’s been held to two points, and just the eighth time he’s scored in single digits since his rookie year.
But the Knicks still poured in 132 points and walked away with a win - and Towns wasn’t sulking. He was celebrating.
“Of course, anytime you can win the game it’s a luxury,” Towns said. “I feel what’s great about our team is that we’ve shown y’all we can win so many different ways.
That’s going to prove well for us when we’re in the playoffs and we’re in those tough games in the regular season. We don’t know how we’re going to win, but we know that if we go out there and execute, whatever the script is, we’ll find a way to make sure it works out for us at the end."
On this night, the script belonged to Brunson, who dropped a season-high 47 points, including a barrage of tough, shot-clock-beating threes that left Miami scrambling. Mikal Bridges chipped in 24, and OG Anunoby - scoreless in the first half - exploded for 18 in the second.
Towns? He didn’t force it.
Instead, with the Knicks nursing a two-point lead after a Heat run, he made one of the game’s smartest plays: a laser pass to Josh Hart for a layup with under three minutes to go. It was a moment that didn’t show up in the scoring column, but it mattered.
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra noticed.
“What you have to respect about the Knicks is you have to take away every single possession,” Spoelstra said. “You can’t leave anything to chance with that team, ever.
That’s what they do. What they have is a will to win.”
Spoelstra pointed to three separate buzzer-beating threes the Knicks hit - the kind of shots that swing momentum and deflate defenses. One of them came after a loose ball scramble when the Heat were up 10 in the second quarter.
A broken play, a Brunson three, and suddenly the game was tied. That’s Knicks basketball right now - gritty, opportunistic, and relentless.
Now, as Towns returns to Minnesota once again, he’ll no doubt hope to recapture the kind of performance he had in his first game back last season - a 32-point, 20-rebound showcase. But if he doesn’t? He’s made it clear that winning is the only stat that really matters.
And in New York, that mindset is starting to feel like part of the culture.