The day that Karl-Anthony Towns was traded away from the Minnesota Timberwolves will be forever burned into the minds of Wolves fans. After a mostly quiet 2024 offseason, everything changed on September 27, 2024.
The news that KAT had been dealt and would no longer be suiting up in a Timberwolves uniform was more than just any other notification fans got on their phones. It was the signal of the end of an era, one in which Towns had been this organization's leader and had gone from an unproven rookie to an established veteran that was known the league over as the game's best-shooting big man.
With KAT out of the picture, the focus of course shifted even more to Anthony Edwards, but that does not mean that many did not stop to reflect on Towns and all he meant to not just the Timberwolves organization, but to Minnesota as a whole. KAT fully embraced representing this franchise, and seeing him leave was a tough sight to stomach.
Now, fans will finally get to welcome Towns back to his old home as the New York Knicks get ready to face off with the Wolves at Target Center on Thursday night. Ahead of the matchup, KAT took part in media availability at New York's shootaround, and he shared some very interesting words.
Karl-Anthony Towns on keeping in touch with his old teammates and watching their games.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) December 19, 2024
"I watch. I'm a avid Timberwolves fan now." pic.twitter.com/3pZGz7htcF
KAT says he's an "avid Timberwolves fan" now
When asked if he watches Minnesota's games and/or keeps in close contact with his former teammates, Towns was quick to reassure listeners that he does. "I keep in very close contact with them, yeah," he said. "I watch. I'm an avid Timberwolves fan now. So I kind of be watching a lot of the games when I get a chance."
No words would be more likely to bring tears to the eyes of Wolves fans than these, especially those still wishing the trade could be undone. We already knew the level to which KAT took pride in representing Minnesota during his time with the organization, but the fact that it meant so much to him that he is still watching and following along now speaks volumes.
"They're still my brothers," Towns said. "Still my guys. Just because the trade happened doesn't mean I lost love for . My love for them has always been good." There is likely at least a part of Tim Connelly, Chris Finch and everyone involved in making that decision to deal KAT that wishes they could have kept him around. After all, the decision was never about not wanting him, it was simply having to do with finances.
When 8:30 PM on Thursday night rolls around, there is a high likelihood that Target Center is flooded with nothing but loud cheers when Karl-Anthony Towns' name is called in the Knicks' starting lineup.