In year two following the blockbuster swap, both KAT and the Wolves have found all sorts of success without each other. The MN Timberwolves entered last night’s reunion/game with a 19-10 record, well within the conversation for Western Conference playoff contenders.

Meanwhile, the Knicks came in with an even more impressive record of 20-8, trailing only the Detroit Pistons atop the East. This, one season removed from both Minnesota and New York making their respective Conference Finals in 2024-25.

Anthony Edwards leads MN Timberwolves over NY Knicks

On the floor, Tuesday’s cross-conference matchup was about Anthony Edwards — who was good all the way through, but completely took over in the second half — eventually finishing with 38 points on 15/27 shooting with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. On both sides of the floor, Ant stole the show.

Anthony Edwards 38 PTS, 2 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK, 15/27 FG, 4/10 3FG, 64.1% TS vs Knicks https://t.co/lOKpdiyEup pic.twitter.com/nwrppruMw2

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) December 24, 2025

The only player last night who could keep the Knicks in spitting distance of Edwards and the Wolves was Ant’s former teammate and still-great friend, Karl-Anthony Towns.

KAT poured in 40 points (3/6 3PT) in 35 minutes Tuesday, to go with 13 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against the team that selected him No. 1 overall in 2015. But for Towns, coming back to Minnesota is never about basketball, a fact he doesn’t run from.

Even 15 months after the trade was consummated, KAT still sounds like a lost soul who would give up ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he’s won and experience in the Big Apple, if it meant he could leave his hometown and return to Minnesota and play for the Timberwolves again.

Karl Anthony Towns still missing Minnesota bad

On Tuesday night, KAT received a huge ovation from the crowd at Target Center — both before and after the game. That warm welcome back from fans hit Karl right in the feels, something he talked about after the game.

Combine that with a bunch of emotional reunions Towns had with former coaches, teammates and staffers throughout the day, and it was almost too much for the newly-turned 30-year-old to handle.

All three of the below videos/quotes are from SEPARATE interviews Tuesday.

Karl-Anthony Towns this morning: "I feel weird. Y’all have the Hardwood Classic thing going on and that was the logo I had when I got drafted. I don’t know if I’m old or am I already a Classic edition? It’s weird seeing that court and it’s not my rookie year."

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 23, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns this morning: "I feel weird. Y’all have the Hardwood Classic thing going on and that was the logo I had when I got drafted. I don’t know if I’m old or am I already a Classic edition? It’s weird seeing that court and it’s not my rookie year."

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 23, 2025

When asked if the September 2024 trade still stung or if he was at peace with what happened, Towns said, “There could be two truths in that.”

“You could be at peace knowing that the business cycle keeps going, and business is business,” he said. “And after the year we had last year in New York, feeling more at home, fans welcoming you in more, you could be at peace with it.

“But it still stings when you’re not walking in this locker room, coming to this amazing state, the city, and realize you’re not going to the training facility anymore, you’re not making that drive in, you’re not doing all that, and now you’re in a hotel. I think it hits different.”

Star Tribune

Minnesota bested the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and returned in a back-to-back Sunday with arguably the best closing stretch they have had all season. Edwards was in the middle of it, and he set a new franchise record in the process.

Timberwolves scoring title belongs to Anthony Edwards

Plenty of hoopla is generated when a player goes off for 40 or 50 points. Those are the outlier games though. Traditionally, an MVP-caliber player is going to average around 30 points per game, and now no one in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history has had more of those games than Anthony Edwards.

Most games with 30+ points in Timberwolves history:

102 — Anthony Edwards
101 — Karl-Anthony Towns
82 — Kevin Garnett

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) December 1, 2025

Playing against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, Edwards poured in 32 points for the Timberwolves. It was the 102nd time he has crossed the 30-point threshold in his career, and it broke a franchise tie with now New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

Minnesota saw Edwards reach the new record in 397 career games. Towns’ tally came across 573 games. Although the game was different back then, Kevin Garnett hit 30 points just 82 times in 970 games with the Timberwolves.

Ant shines in the Timberwolves win!

🐜 32 PTS
🐜 6 AST
🐜 4 3PM

MIN inches closer to the top 5 in the West. pic.twitter.com/zstKiLivBT

— NBA (@NBA) December 1, 2025

Edwards is averaging a career-best 28.7 points per game this season, but is being asked to do more overall. Since Tim Connelly didn’t shuffle the roster much this offseason, more pressure falls on the shoulders of Edwards. If Chris Finch’s team is going to make their first NBA Finals then the superstar has to find a new level. He can’t close out games like he did when they blew it against the Suns, but a 36-19 finish Sunday against the Spurs shows that the Timberwolves do have that dog somewhere in them.

Now 12-8 this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves can build momentum off of their latest win. They are back in action Tuesday in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The two sides play each other in consecutive contests with another road tilt on Thursday.

As big as Towns’ celebrity is, it’s easily trumped by his girlfriend Jordyn Woods. The couple has been together since 2020 and they have gone through plenty together. The Knicks big man turned 30 on Saturday and Woods got him the present of a lifetime.

Karl-Anthony Towns receives the present of a lifetime

Karl-Anthony Towns spent the first nine years of his professional career in Minnesota. The state became an extension of him, and he grew up with the Timberwolves. Now into his formative years, it’s Towns and girlfriend Jordyn Woods forming a life together. The influencer pulled out all the stops for a sentimental birthday gift this year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HEIR JORDYN (@jordynwoods)

The death of Karl-Anthony Towns’ mom Jacqueline Cruz was among the most substantial stories during the pandemic. She battled the newfound disease and ultimately passed away. Towns sharing that his dream car was simply one she drove him around in was enough for Woods to get to work. Ultimately landing the vehicle for him, the gift holds significant personal value.

Just in his mid-20’s at the time, it’s hardly a shock that Towns struggled to cope with his newfound reality. Confiding in Woods, Towns shared that a vehicle would bring back the memories of his mother. She went to work in a way that would present a meaningful outcome, and the heartfelt gift could not be more pefect.

Now a blossoming adult, Towns continues to find his way in New York. He is in his second season with the Knicks and is averaging 21.8 points per game through 12 contests thus far. He recently bested the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he is looking to follow up his third All-NBA performance from last year.

It remains to be seen what the future will look like for Woods and Towns. If a gift as thoughtful as the car purchase was is anything to glean on though, the former MN Timberwolves star has a keeper he should be looking to wife up in short order.

A little over one year ago, when Tim Connelly shocked the basketball world by sending his star big man to the Knicks, there was nobody more surprised by the news than KAT, Randle and DiVincenzo.

Not only did the trade shuffle the core of both teams, but it rattled the brains of all players involved. Both Donte and Julius were a shell of themselves for much of their first seasons as Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t been the same since, something that he’s made known publicly numerous times.

KAT can’t get the Minnesota Timberwolves off his mind

But before Wednesday’s game, over a year since the trade was completed, Towns again talked with media about how he’s still shocked over the deal to this day and that he still misses playing with his buddies back in Minnesota.

Some postgame of Karl-Anthony Towns in which he says he still feels “stunned” about the trade more than a year later. pic.twitter.com/VmDROzMP2v

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) November 6, 2025

“I’m still stunned. It’s weird. You feel more like a Knick now after what we went through last year to get to the heights we went to, but it’s weird when you see that Timberwolves jersey. Especially them fire black ones that y’all got. Not being able to see Towns on the back is a weird feeling. I love those guys in the other locker room to death and would do anything for them, even if it wasn’t about basketball.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

It’s now been over a year since the Minnesota Timberwolves sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. He spent nine seasons with Minnesota though, and was drafted first overall in 2015 as a 20-year-old. It’s hardly a shock he still has feelings for his former employer.

It’s rare that an athlete opens up as candidly as Towns did to Star Tribune reporter Christopher Hine above. Obviously, the star big man still has a very special place in his heart for the franchise he grew up with.

Last season during his first year with the Knicks, Towns made his fifth All-Star Game and was named to his third All-NBA team, proving his longing for Minnesota has not affected his play on the court in New York.

“Like I said, we built something special over there. They’re just a really, really, really good team. I was about to say we, but they’re a really good, really good team. Expect nothing less from them to be great out there and you gotta compete against it and just because you may know what they’re going to do doesn’t mean you can stop it. Tonight we did a great job as a team finding a way to win.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York bests MN Timberwolves

It was tough sledding for the Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Minnesota hung around for the first half while getting Anthony Edwards back on the court after his hamstring strain. Ultimately, they couldn’t keep up though. Towns talked about the game as well.

There was definitely rust for Edwards who finished with just 15 points and a -25 on the evening. Towns scored 15 against his former team, and was +15 while on the court.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are back in action on Friday against the Utah Jazz. They will debut their 2025-26 NBA Cup court for the first time.

For one season in the Big Apple, it was a bold move that reunited Towns with his former head coach in Minnesota, Tom Thibodeau. Despite the new-look Knicks going on to win 51 regular season games and making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, Thibs was fired on Tuesday.

While there are still questions surrounding Towns’ fit in New York, the $53 million (2025-26), $57 million (2026-27) and $61 million (2027-28 player option) he’s due the next three seasons will make it nearly impossible for the Knicks to move him. Instead, they will likely be forced to find a new head coach that can get them to the next level, with KAT on roster.

Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori linked to Knicks head coaching job

And wouldn’t you know it, the Knicks are eyeing up the Minnesota Timberwolves yet again, in assistant coach, Micah Nori, according to The Athletic insiders — who linked him, along with eleven other candidates, to the New York Knicks’ newly vacant head coaching job.

Nori has been involved in several coaching searches in recent years while serving as the lead assistant in Minnesota under head coach Chris Finch. He has earned acclaim for his smarts and his mid-game interviews with the Timberwolves, while the franchise has also had two of its most successful seasons during his time there.

The Athletic

The fit in New York is an understandable one. Nori has a well-developed relationship with Towns and would be given reign to push him. If there is a way to bridge the gap on the roster between those that were there, and Towns going forward, a familiar face could be it.

At 51 years old Nori isn’t a former player fresh off of retirement and stepping onto the sidelines. He’s also not the aging retread that has been passed around the league by countless other teams. Nori has been waiting for his opportunity and he’d be a fresh voice in NBA head coaching circles.

He began as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors during the 2009-10 season and was there until going to Sacramento in 2013-14. He worked under Tim Connelly in Denver and came to Minnesota before the 2021-22 season.

Related: Timberwolves Deja Vu: Tom Thibodeau Relieved of His Coaching Duties in New York

It’s a pretty big ask for a new head coach to come in and improve upon 51 wins. Then again, it was here that you read about Tom Thibodeau being a fit for the incompetent New York Knicks.

So… is Nori going to leave for the New York Knicks?

In recent seasons there has been plenty of talk about Nori’s possible rise to head coaching prominence. At some point, that much smoke should eventually catch fire. Until then, he will continue to assist Chris Finch, who is easily the most successful head coach the Minnesota Timberwolves have ever had.

For as great as Finch has been, he has been severely out-coached at times, as well. If the Minnesota Timberwolves were to surprise the basketball world and look to improve on Finchy, maybe Nori would get a look. More likely, he and other rising assistants will look elsewhere for head coaching opportunities.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty things they will be juggling this summer on their own. I’d guess Connelly would prefer not to add a coaching hire to the mix, but he may not have a choice.

Interestingly enough, both the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves made it all the way to the Conference Finals, before falling short. The Knicks lost in six games to the Indiana Pacers. The Wolves in five games to the OKC Thunder.

As was the case during his time in Minnesota, Towns has been a controversial player in the Big Apple. Some love KAT, others can’t stand him. An immensely talented basketball player, Karl-Anthony Towns’ flaws have been consistent and constant for most of his career.

New York Knicks annoyed with Karl-Anthony Towns

On offense, Karl-Anthony Towns is capable of scoring at every level. He’s one of the best shooting big men in NBA history. On the other side, KAT’s constant whining to officials and inconsistencies on defense have continued to haunt him.

It didn’t take long for New York Knicks fans to grow tired of Karl’s mannerisms and defensive deficiencies. But according to recent reports, his teammates weren’t impressed with what they saw either. James Edwards and Fred Katz outlined the reality in a recent report for The Athletic.

“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns’ defensive habits — less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end. Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn’t grasp the importance of the matter.”

The Athletic

In two of the four losses against Indiana, Towns posted plus-minus numbers of -20 and -17. It’s an imperfect statistic on a single-game level, but defensive breakdowns and an inability to stop the Pacers scoring threats were evident for the New York big man.

It’s that effort, or lack thereof, that quickly lends itself to finger pointing. Towns did post a better 24.4 points per game this season, and his .42% three-point shooting was the second highest tally of his career. The effort and efficiency on the defensive end nullifies that performance in the locker room.

Early trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns in New York

It remains to be seen how the Knicks will build moving forward. They came up just short against the Indiana Pacers and won 51 games this season. Karl-Anthony Towns was a part of that, but could also quickly be seen as a problem.

Trading KAT should be priority #1 for the Knicks.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 1, 2025

A trade of Towns is an eyebrow-raising suggestion from NBA Insider Kevin O’Connor. It’s not that outlandish though. He is a tough player to build around, and there are major questions surrounding his ability to be a major contributor on an NBA Finals caliber team.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau already knew that from his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves though, so he must believe. For Towns to actually be moved, an acquiring team would need to swallow cap hits of $53 and $57 million the next two seasons. He also has a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season, when he’ll be 32 years old.

Related: Orlando Magic Could Target Minnesota Timberwolves Guard

These are the warts New York was going to take on with Towns when moving Randle and DiVincenzo. Minnesota has decisions to make on the players they brought in, but they are substantially less financially and motivationally impactful than what Towns has served up for the Knicks.

Pairing Anthony Edwards, the league’s fastest-rising superstar, vs Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in a 2023-24 West Finals rematch was a Christmas Day no-brainer. But then, the Wolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, in exchange for Julius Randle.

Minnesota Timberwolves blockbuster trade gone wrong…

The results from that blockbuster deal have not been what Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly was imagining, when he rolled up to KAT’s house nearly three months ago, to let the 30-year-old former No. 1 overall pick know he was being traded to his hometown New York Knicks.

KAT is putting up MVP numbers — 24.7 PPG | 13.9 RPG | 45.6% 3PT | 127 OFF RTG — in the Big Apple, and the Knicks are a top 3 team in the East. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves are a .500 team (14-14), entering their Christmas Day matchup vs the Mavericks, a game they are +3.5 point underdogs in.

Related: Anthony Edwards Reveals Major Issues Within “Soft as Hell” Timberwolves Locker Room

Anthony Edwards is all out of sorts, posting some of his worst numbers since he was a rookie. He sounds borderline apathetic, at times, in postgame press conferences… when he isn’t blaming refs for the Wolves ineptitude. Other players are following Ant’s lead. Nickeil Alexander-Walker even went on record complaining about fan expectations being too high. Lol.

I asked Nickeil Alexander-Walker about fan frustration over the Wolves still figuring things out at this point in the season. He gave an answer that went into the negativity the team is hearing right now from the fanbase. "You can tell that they're holding onto [last year]." https://t.co/FJsB16GJWU pic.twitter.com/Qb7BlET7ZV

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) December 24, 2024

But really, the finger pointing blame game continually lands on the new guy, Julius Randle, and for good reason. The other Kentucky product was supposed to replace much of Towns’ offensive production. Instead, Randle has proven himself to be an offensive ball-stopper who rarely shows any effort on defense.

Additionally, he and Ant have zero chemistry, even after playing together for 28 games. Chris Finch isn’t helping. The newly extended head coach remains curiously stubborn with Randle. No matter how poorly the guy plays on either end of the floor, Finch refuses to hold him accountable. He won’t cut his playing time or leave him on the bench during big moments. No consequences, whatsoever.

All of that has led to a locker room that appears broken… or at least fractured. Players don’t look like they are having fun anymore. Body language is horrible… and there is no sign that things are going to get better.

Timberwolves shopping Julius Randle before NBA trade deadline?

At this point, it has gotten so bad inside the bowels of Target Center, that rumors of another blockbuster move have started to turn into reports that, with the NBA trade deadline still six weeks away, the Minnesota Timberwolves are ready to shop Julius Randle.

According to Evan Sidery (Forbes), rival NBA executives believe Minnesota “will gauge Julius Randle’s trade value”, due to their “inconsistent start”… which is putting it way too politely.

Rival executives believe the Timberwolves will gauge Julius Randle’s trade value amidst their inconsistent start.

With Minnesota over the second apron, Randle’s $33.1 million salary would be critical in any potential deal to help rebalance their roster around Anthony Edwards. pic.twitter.com/CZeBRzmjzQ

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 24, 2024

Entering Wednesday’s Christmas matchup, the Wolves are on a three-game losing streak, and on the verge of falling apart. This team hasn’t scored over 110 points since November 26, against the Houston Rockets, and they’ve allowed 113 points or more in each of their last six losses.

Yes, there is a lot of time before the NBA trade deadline on February 6. Unfortunately, it’s very possible that waiting until then would be too late. But what is Randle worth on the trade market, right now? It can’t be very much… which adds even more complications to making this trade work.

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns for NBA MVP…?

Sure, swapping KAT for Julius Randle was more about financials, than winning. Having Karl, Ant and Rudy Gobert on the same roster was not financially viable long-term. No matter what the plan was for Randle, whether that was to make things work in Minnesota or provide a short-term bridge… there’s only one option now. Trade him as soon as possible.

Could former Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns win an MVP?

There was never going to be an easy way to watch Karl-Anthony Towns leave the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was a former first overall pick. He had a special relationship with former coach Flip Saunders. Now that the band-aid has been ripped off, he’s a full-on New York Knick. Former hooper Kendrick Perkins thinks he’s worthy of top recognition too.

KAT has definitely entered into the Top 5 early MVP conversation.

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 10, 2024

Through his first 22 games this season, it’s hard to argue against Perkins. The big man is averaging 25.1 points per game (2nd best of career). He’s shooting 53.1% from the field and a career-best 44.7% from deep. His 13.3 rebounds per game are a career-high, and his 60% effective field goal percentage is another best.

The sportsbooks are putting him on the map as well.

Neither sportsbook has agreed with Perkins’ assessment thus far. Both see Towns as a legitimate contender, but there is a further level of proof needing to be shown in the pudding. The Knicks are 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-9 record. Towns can certainly elevate his status by pushing them higher.

Karl-Anthony Towns DUNKS it on the Hornets!!! pic.twitter.com/2jLUfnUVWN

— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) December 6, 2024

Related: Report: NBA Teams View Discontent Minnesota Timberwolves Guard as Possible Trade Candidate

It remains to be seen what Towns finishes like during his first season with the Knicks, but there’s no doubt he has put his best foot forward.

Where does Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards stand in MVP rankings?

Back in September it was Perkins suggesting that Anthony Edwards was on the precipice of his first MVP award. That got off to a rocky start with the Timberwolves coming out of the gate slow. They have since turned it around and the young phenom is still well-positioned.

Edwards has averaged a career-best 26.4 points per game this season. It has been imperative for him to pick up the offensive effort with Towns gone. His counting stats are largely the same, but with 10.5 three-point attempts per game, he is letting it fly. Thankfully that has translated to a career-high 42.7% from deep.

WE ARE HOOPING HOOPING. 👌 pic.twitter.com/5GlZH7gWJx

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 7, 2024

If Edwards can continue to make the more significant impact, and stretch the defense, it will be hard for him to slide down the conversation. Last season he finished seventh in the MVP voting, and a rise up the rankings makes sense.

Related: Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards for MVP?

Minnesota needs Edwards to continue on as their superstar. It’s a lot of responsibility for a young player, but he is also among the most dynamic across the entire league.

The Timberwolves get to reduce their payroll, leading to the retainment of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and potentially Nickeil Alexander-Walker, among others. They did so, all while strengthening the team’s depth by adding Donte DiVincenzo plus an All-Star in Julius Randle.

Meanwhile, the Knicks got the starting center they desperately coveted after realizing that Mitch Robinson wouldn’t be ready by the start of the season due to his ongoing injury recovery. Plus, KAT is a local two-time All-NBA talent that helps sell more tickets and fits their all-in effort to win the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.

Yet, now that the Timberwolves are off to a 6-4 start and the Knicks are 4-5, there’s already an early narrative forming around KAT in The Big Apple under Tom Thibodeau, and it’s not a good one.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Reveal New (Part II) City Edition Uniforms

Tom Thibodeau has to be disappointed with Karl-Anthony Towns (again)

We’re dealing with a very small sample size of nine games since the New York Knicks traded for Karl-Anthony Towns. Yet, Tom Thibodeau should have already had an idea of how to use the four-time All-Star after coaching him for three seasons in Minnesota.

Back then, Towns operated as the Timberwolves’ starting center, which is the same role he’s filling in New York. This is different than how Chris Finch’s Wolves utilized Towns after acquiring Rudy Gobert, with the sweet-shooting big moving to power forward to accommodate for the Stifle Tower’s arrival.

In Minnesota, the Timberwolves surrounded their ‘Northern Heights’ frontcourt with capable perimeter defenders, including Jaden McDaniels, an All-NBA defender, Mike Conley, and Anthony Edwards.

In New York, the Knicks have tried to do the same, aside from Jalen Brunson, who’s not viewed as a plus defender (122 D-Rating in 2024), plus two All-NBA defenders in Mikal Bridges plus OG Anonoby to go with Josh Hart. Yet, the results are leading to a drastically different outcome for Thibodeau’s Knicks.

In fact, Towns has been the NBA’s worst rim protector this season, allowing opponents to shoot 91.4% against him at the rim.

Karl-Anthony Towns is allowing 91.4% shooting! Players are shooting 32 for 35 against KAT in the restricted area this season according to .@TimBontemps. It's the worst defensive percentage for any player who has guarded at least 30 shots at the rim. pic.twitter.com/0FF9Hwf4It

— The Knicks Recap (@TheKnicksRecap) November 11, 2024

That’s obviously not what the Knicks wanted by trading for KAT. While the Knicks allow the 13th-fewest points in the NBA, they have the eighth-worst defensive rating in the league. As much as he’s struggled defensively, KAT has been as advertised on offense, where he averages 24.9 PPG while pulling down 12.3 RPG.

Still, at a cap hit of $49 million this season, $53M in 2025, and $57M in 2026, the Knicks have to hope Towns can start altering some shots in the paint too, even if he keeps pouring in points on the opposite side of the court.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves (Semi)Final Ownership Battle Has Begun

We’ll find out whether or not the Wolves’ play on the court this season reflects the boldness of their PoBO. But that might be difficult, especially after you hear KAT talk about how Tim rolled up on his house in the Twin Cities suburbs and broke the shocking news that he had been traded.

Minnesota Timberwolves kept Karl-Anthony Towns in the dark

At this point of the social media + sports world, it’s virtually impossible to make any type of significant transaction without it leaking prematurely. Between Jeff Passan (MLB), Adam Schefter (NFL), Ian Rapoport (NFL), Shams Charania (NBA) and a plethora of others, every league has multiple insider so plugged in that it pretty much nothing gets past them, even before it happens.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Reveal the Worst Official Hashtag in Social Media History

But some way, somehow, the Timberwolves were able to get the Karl-Anthony Towns deal done without anyone finding out, including KAT. The new Knicks big man appeared on teammate Jalen Brunson’s “Roommates Show” and revealed how Tim showed up at his house and broke the news to him and his four friends/family members just four minutes before Shams broke it on Twitter (X).

Karl-Anthony Towns says Timberwolves president Tim Connelly pulled up to his house, with his three friends and dad there, to inform him he had been traded

(🎥 @Roommates__Show / https://t.co/eqJzJ1DdDu) pic.twitter.com/TfVCiM6Jxc

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 18, 2024

“Four minutes [before the Shams tweet is when Towns found out]. By the time the shock had wore off, Shams had already tweeted. I didn’t get called. They told me, Tim told me to my face that I was traded so. Gangster, it was gangster, I’m not going to lie. I was at the house. He came to my crib. Honestly, it’s a tough situation regardless what would have happened, but the fact that it happened that way I have got to give him respect. It was me, three of my closest friends, and my pops, so. Shout out to him. He came to a house, by himself, with five dudes there who could’ve just started spazzing out and crash out. We said alright. I’ve got to give him respect for that for sure.”

Karl-Anthony Towns on how Tim Connelly broke the trade news to him (Roommates Show)

The trade was one that had been rumored for quite some time. KATto the Knicks made sense, but the Timberwolves continued to tell media members and fans that there was no initiative inside the building to trade their four-time All-Star. Then… boom.

Related: ESPN BPI Loves Timberwolves + Knicks Blockbuster Trade… for One Team

Minnesota has to make things work with Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle now. The former is an immediate answer for all sorts of weak spots, including at point guard. The hope is that Randle can quickly assert himself alongside Rudy Gobert, and maybe knock down a corner three every once in awhile.

Karl-Anthony Towns nice driving layup pic.twitter.com/xcBZFRM7bw

— Knicks Highlights (@KnicksClipss) October 18, 2024

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns Struggling to Move on from Minnesota Timberwolves

The NBA preseason is over and Karl-Anthony Towns will need to quickly turn his focus towards the regular season. It’s time to turn the page and exceed expectations for a market that will give him no breaks. No matter how difficult that might be for him.