Karl-Anthony Towns Gets Warm Welcome Back in Minnesota
Karl-Anthony Towns returns to Minnesota, receiving a heartfelt standing ovation from fans at the Target Center during his first game back.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota, New York Knicks, Timberwolves, NBA
He made his return to the Target Center on Thursday, marking his first game back since being traded after nine seasons with the Timberwolves. It could have been awkward, but the fans showed up for him.
The Timberwolves put together a sweet 86-second video tribute, and when Towns was introduced, the cheers were deafening. You could see the joy on his face.
Interestingly, while Towns was getting all the love, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau faced some boos. He had a rocky history with the Timberwolves, so that was no surprise.
Throughout the game, fans kept cheering for Towns, especially when he scored his first basket. It was clear they still appreciated him.
The trade that sent Towns to New York stirred up some debate. The Timberwolves had just come off a great season, but the front office decided to shake things up by trading him and Rudy Gobert for some new players.
Towns didn’t seem too happy about the trade, either. He only tweeted an ellipsis that night, which said a lot. He had just signed an extension to stay in Minnesota, and it hadn’t even kicked in yet.
So far, he’s been doing great this season, averaging 24.8 points and leading the NBA with 13.9 rebounds per game. He’s shooting well, too, with over 52% from the field and nearly 44% from three-point range.