NBA
Karl-Anthony Towns Bids Farewell to Timberwolves After Trade to Knicks
Former Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has bid farewell to the organization where he spent the first nine years of his career.
Towns shared an emotional message and video to the fans via his personal social media account.
Towns said, “To the Timberwolves Family:
Nine years ago, I arrived in Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home, and its people would become my family. Your love, support, and unwavering loyalty have fueled my journey and inspired me to be the best player I could be.
Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and the entire Timberwolves organization for the countless opportunities and experiences. I’ll cherish the friendships I’ve made and the battles we’ve fought together.
To the incredible fans, your support has meant the world to me. It gave me strength on and off the court. I’ll never forget it.
You’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything.
KAT”
Towns was traded to the New York Knicks last Friday, along with the draft rights to James Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange, the T-Wolves received Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Keita Bates-Diop from the Knicks, as well as a top-13 protected first-round pick that originally belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
The Hornets will get second-round picks in 2025, 2026, and 2023, plus DaQuan Jeffries, Charlie Brown Jr., and Darius Washington, all from the Knicks via sign-and-trade. They will also get $7.2 million in cash.
While his departure from the Mid-West saddens Towns, Knicks president Leon Rose is happy to have a player like Towns on his side.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks family,” said Knicks president Leon Rose. “Karl-Anthony brings a skillset that is unique to the game of basketball. He possesses a blend of playmaking, shooting, rebounding and defending that in combination with his size allows him to compete at a level that is rare in this league. Karl-Anthony has demonstrated throughout his career to be a high caliber player and person on and off the court who will complement the type of team and culture we continue to build in New York.”
Towns panned out an excellent career for himself in Minnesota. In nine seasons as a T-Wolve, he averaged 22.9 points per game, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three in 573 games.
All he knows is Minnesota, so the adjustment period will take a while. Nonetheless, Towns has a legitimate chance to win his first title with a loaded Knicks team set to take the leap this upcoming season.
More news: Anthony Edwards Breaks Silence About Timberwolves’ Shocking Karl-Anthony Towns Trade
Make sure to follow Newsweek Sports for all your NBA news and updates.