Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns ready for first real ‘test’ as Knicks teammates

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Karl-Anthony Towns’ debut will likely be Sunday. 

Tom Thibodeau said he plans on playing the starters together in the preseason opener at Charlotte, including newcomer Towns — providing Knicks fans with their first glimpse at one of the league’s top point guard-center tandems with Jalen Brunson. 

“I’m ready to see where we are,” Brunson said. “Every day is a test, and we get to see where we are and move on from there.” 

Thibodeau cautioned that he first needs to consult with the medical staff and Sunday’s rotation isn’t “finalized.”

But Towns has been a full participant in training camp despite his late arrival and is eager to suit up in Charlotte, according to Thibodeau. 

“I think he wants to play and he’s been going full tilt so far so we’ll see where he is after [Saturday’s practice],” the coach said. 

Asked if Towns, who underwent knee surgery in March, is bothered by an injury that would necessitate the consultation with the medical staff, Thibodeau said conversations about health is standard with all his players during training camp.

He added that the rotations won’t resemble the regular season’s until the preseason finale Oct. 18 against the Wizards. 

“Now, we start incorporating the games,” Thibodeau said. “And then each game, you’ll increase to build up until the last game which is really the game where you want your rhythm and rotation. You probably won’t be exactly at your minutes and rotation but you’ll be close to it by the last game.” 

Towns missed three training camp sessions while awaiting the finalization of the trade from the Timberwolves, a deal that was held up because one of the important salary-matching pieces, Duane Washington Jr., also needed to negotiate a buyout with a European team. 

Towns said Saturday that he was unfazed by the missed practices because of his built-in conditioning. 

“I train tremendously hard in the offseason, so I’m ready for whatever this season has in store for me,” he said. “Missed a couple days of training camp. It was the work I put in the offseason that paid dividends, especially early on.” 

Thibodeau hinted that returning forwards Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are projected starters. Newcomer Mikal Bridges will occupy the other spot. 

“It’s new for KAT, but it’s new for a lot of other players as well,” Brunson said. “We’ve got to get everyone up to speed. It’s a new team, different pieces, so we have to make sure we focus.” 

The possibility of a Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll is the most tantalizing aspect of the new-look Knicks.

Along with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey and Denver’s Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray, the Knicks are in the running for the top duo at their paired positions. 

It should start Sunday, but Brunson warned of a learning curve. 

“I just feel like it’s gonna be a learning process,” Brunson said. “Every day is gonna be a challenge for us to get better. It’s not gonna be perfect from Day 1, but as long we have the right mindset, we’re gonna continue to get better.”