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Karl-Anthony Towns felt his mind swirling with thoughts. The reality of being traded just before the onset of training camp last fall from the only NBA franchise he had ever known, the Minnesota Timberwolves, to the New York Knicks, struck him deeply both intellectually and emotionally.
Images and ideas flooded his mind, each one quickly replaced by the next—a rapid sequence of memories and flashbacks from his life, laced with reflections on what lay ahead.
His roots in Edison, N.J. came to mind. Madison Square Garden. The vibrant orange and blue. The Timberwolves. His mother, Jacqueline. Family members he had lost to COVID-19 starting in April 2020. The late Flip Saunders, who had drafted him, was also gone.
Target Center. Manhattan. Aspirations. Jalen Brunson. Mike Breen. His father, Karl Sr. Knicks training camp. He had to gather his belongings, say his farewells and hellos. What was there to eat?
Amidst this whirlwind of thoughts, a familiar image of Tom Thibodeau emerged.
Oh right. Thibs.
As his breathing began to steady and his thoughts calmed, Towns found a way to organize his feelings. Thibodeau held significant importance. They had previously worked together for over two seasons in Minnesota from 2016 to early 2019, and now they were set to reunite. Coach and star player, back together on a larger stage with greater ambitions.
Whether it would prove to be a trial or an opportunity, the partnership of KAT and Thibs 2.0 would be crucial in determining the fate of the Knicks’ 2024-25 season and postseason.
“He’s a different person, and I am too,” Towns remarked recently. “At this stage in our careers, we’ve both evolved.”
Thibodeau chuckled when he heard this. “Yeah, because I’m a lot older now,” the coach responded.
Towns and Thibodeau had shared a tenure in Minnesota from 2016 to 2019 that, while never toxic like some infamous pairings—such as Latrell Sprewell/P.J. Carlesimo or Magic Johnson/Paul Westhead—did become tumultuous and ended on a sour note.
Under Thibodeau’s guidance, Towns flourished, evolving from the 2016 Kia Rookie of the Year into an All-Star and an All-NBA talent. In his second year, alongside teammates like Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, the Timberwolves finally broke a 14-year streak of missing the playoffs.
However, things began to fall apart. The catalyst for the unraveling was Jimmy Butler, a player Thibodeau favored from their time in Chicago. In a sequence of NBA dramas that would see Butler demanding a trade, his frustrations with Towns and Wiggins’ prominence in the team’s plans led to tension.
Thibodeau was dismissed with a record of 19-21. The Timberwolves reverted to being also-rans. Meanwhile, Towns continued to score, honing his three-point shooting, but ultimately was sidelined by mid-April for the subsequent three years.
Fast forward to 2024: Under coach Chris Finch, Towns and his team had made it to the postseason for three consecutive years. They pulled off an impressive Game 7 victory against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, before being eliminated by Dallas just 11 days later. Nonetheless, they had reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004.
By then, the emotional Towns had faced and seemingly overcome numerous challenges, including the arrival of rival center Rudy Gobert in 2022 and the emergence of Anthony Edwards as the team’s leading offensive option. This was further complicated by his personal hardships off the court.
Then, the trade happened.
Towns was taken aback. “Flabbergasted might be the better word,” he later acknowledged.
Now, on the bright stage of Broadway, Karl-Anthony Towns has elevated his performance, easing the load for Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks, with Leon Rose at the helm—Towns’ former agent—had long desired to acquire the talented big man. Yet, following the departure of free agent Isaiah Hartenstein to Oklahoma City and yet another significant injury to rim protector Mitchell Robinson, New York’s center position had become precarious.
Thus, the reunion of Towns and Thibodeau emerged out of necessity, albeit at a significant cost, sacrificing Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, some draft picks, and considerable maneuvering by the team’s salary cap experts to integrate Towns’ new supermax contract.
“When Isaiah left and we learned Mitch would be sidelined, it altered our needs,” Thibodeau explained following a recent visit to Charlotte. “Making the trade was challenging due to what Julius and Donte contributed to our team, but it became essential for us. We traded solid players to obtain a great one.”
With Towns joining the lineup, the Knicks improved their offensive efficiency from seventh to fifth, albeit slipping defensively from ninth to 13th. They also incorporated Towns and Mikal Bridges into the mix while navigating a challenging month without Jalen Brunson due to an ankle injury. Finishing the season at 51-31, they won one more game than the previous year and secured the No. 3 seed in the East, set to face Detroit in the first round (Game 1, Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, ESPN).
At 29, Towns has seamlessly integrated into his role, posting familiar statistics—24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 52.6% shooting, and 42% from three-point range—which could potentially earn him a third All-NBA selection. Although his three-point attempts (4.7) have declined compared to recent seasons, he has shot sufficiently to space the floor as envisioned by the Knicks and Brunson.
Additionally, Towns’ contributions in the pick-and-roll have become a vital part of New York’s offensive strategy. An insider from the Timberwolves who has examined his evolution views the 7-footer as a stronger post player now, effectively establishing his presence and executing his assignments early, reminiscent of classic big man play.
“As an athlete, he’s significantly different than before,” Thibodeau noted. “His grasp of the league has matured. He’s making sacrifices for the team, prioritizing the collective, which often comes with experience. Early on, young players typically focus on establishing themselves first, but with time, they realize that individual success is tied to team success.”
He cited Towns’ willingness to adjust when Gobert joined the squad and to concede some scoring to enable the team’s overall improvement—evident in their reaching the Western Conference Finals—as proof of his growth.
The source of much of the strife between the player and the coach, Butler, is long gone. Towns recalled reaching out to Thibodeau after a Wolves-Knicks game to mend fences. By the time of the trade, both felt curiosity about their renewed partnership without any sense of dread. They had both moved forward.
“Timing is everything,” Towns remarked. “Right now, we’re in an excellent place. Our working relationship has rekindled, and we can become an even better version of ourselves.”
“He’s a funny guy, and he’s a wonderful person to be around. It’s nice for people to see a side of Thibs they might not have known before.”
When Towns discusses his coach now, he does so as a seasoned veteran of the NBA. He conveys a sense of maturity, almost like a grown child reflecting on his father, filled with perspective, wisdom, and appreciation.
“Yeah, we’ve shared so many experiences together,” Towns explained. “As time goes on, we grow closer. It feels fantastic to be back working with Thibs. I remember the coach who dedicated himself tirelessly to his team and players. I’ve always held him in high regard.”
Interestingly, Towns may find himself in a situation reminiscent of his time in Minnesota during this postseason, sharing minutes in a two-big lineup alongside a recovered Robinson, similar to his previous pairing with Gobert. Thibodeau, known for his defensive strategies, has appreciated glimpses of that combination and may opt to deploy it against Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart/Jalen Duren duo or other matchups.
It may work, or it may not. Questions about the Knicks’ overall playoff capabilities loom, adding pressure as they enter the postseason. Towns, now ten seasons into his career, is eager to chase after a championship ring, or at the very least, reach the NBA Finals.
Knicks fans share that enthusiasm, aiming to at least replicate or improve upon their run to the conference semifinals the previous spring, where they fell to Indiana in seven games. This intensifies the scrutiny on Thibodeau as well.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s unlikely that the newly forged bond and trust between Towns and Thibodeau will be fractured. Beneath their differing personas lies a shared drive for success.
“What I admire about him,” Thibodeau stated, “is his insatiable desire to improve and never settle for less.
“He’s always been an exceptional scorer at all levels, but now he has enhanced his passing, recognizing how defenses collapse on him. He comprehends the players around him much better, as well as the strategies teams implement against him.
“He’s developed significantly, and none of it has surprised me.”
Both the Knicks, and the duo of Towns and Thibodeau, enter this phase feeling optimistic, well aware that even the second marriage can have its honeymoon period.
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Steve Aschburner has reported on the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, explore his archive here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
