Karl–Anthony Towns‘ surprise trade to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick via the Detroit Pistons shocked the NBA world. In a recent preseason matchup between the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Towns revealed his emotions playing against the team he called home for years.
The game, held at Madison Square Garden, marked the third preseason contest for both teams. The Knicks came away with a 115-110 victory, extending their unbeaten record to 3-0, while the Timberwolves suffered their first loss (2-1) of the preseason.
After the game, Towns reflected on the experience of playing against Minnesota. “It’s weird being on the other side but seeing the Timberwolves jersey,” Towns said postgame via Posting and Toasting.
“A lot of emotions,” he added. “I had amazing moments and years of my life in Minnesota, a place I call home. Those guys aren’t just teammates—they’re my brothers, real-life brothers. Wild day.”
Julius Randle reflects on his trade to Timberwolves
This trade signals a new chapter for both the Knicks and Timberwolves. Randle, who had been a key figure for the Knicks over the past five years, shared his thoughts on the transition during his introductory press conference in Minnesota.
“It was a lot of emotion,” Randle admitted. “You spend a certain amount of time at a place—New York—having gone there five years ago with a lot of goals in mind, putting in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It’s always a shock at first.”
“But the next morning, I woke up and felt really excited,” he continued. “It was like a breath of fresh air. I’m looking forward to bringing everything I’ve learned in New York and helping these guys out. My only goal here is to help—whether it’s Ant, Rudy, or Naz—I just want to help win a championship.”