The Knicks are building something new, but like any major construction project, it takes time for all the pieces to fit.
The blockbuster trade sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns marked a seismic shift at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks are still laying the foundation for its new identity, set to heavily rely on Towns at both ends of the floor.
For Towns, the adjustment has been as personal as it is professional.
Still figuring out his living situation in New York, Towns admitted that the trade caught him off guard.
“Last night, me and my girlfriend were having dinner, [and] she looked at me and she just tapped me on the shoulder and she said, ‘Can you really believe this is our life now?’ And we’re both still in shock,” Towns shared. “It’s definitely still there. I’m having moments where, even for me being on social media — very rare times that I do — or I’m getting a Timberwolves update on my phone and I’m kind of confused by a lot of things. So I’m just going with the flow right now.”
The shock is understandable, but Towns isn’t confused about his role.
He knows his job is to help the Knicks elevate beyond their recent playoff ceilings.
After back-to-back second-round exits, the Knicks are banking on Towns to make them a deeper postseason threat.
The star big man flashed his potential during Wednesday’s preseason win over the Washington Wizards, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks, but he also struggled with efficiency, shooting 7-of-20 from the field and 1-of-7 from three. Towns made up for it at the line, where he sank 10-of-11 free throws, underscoring the different ways he can impact a game even when his shot isn’t falling.
“Obviously, we’ve got to shoot better, including myself,” Towns said after practice on Friday. “I think we did a great job defensively. The team was really gelling out there on the defensive end. It led to the offensive points we were able to garner.”
It’s not just Towns figuring things out.
The entire Knicks squad is working to build the chemistry necessary to compete at a high level.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau, who previously coached Towns in Minnesota, understands that integrating a new player — especially one as talented as Towns — will take time.
“Day by day, just keep getting more comfortable,” Thibodeau said. “He’s nine years in the league now, so I think he has a great understanding of what his strengths are, what his weaknesses are, the league, things like that. So he has to adjust to learning how to play with his new teammates, and that takes a little bit of time. He’ll figure it out quickly. Each game, each day, he gets better and better, whether in practice or in-game. The more he’s out there with his teammates, the better he is.”
Though the preseason is a time for experimentation, the Knicks are not without growing pains. For now, they’re focused on gradual progress and trusting that their talent will gel as the season gets underway.
Forward Josh Hart, who’s known for his unselfish play and high energy, emphasized that the team’s early strides on both ends of the floor are encouraging, but the journey has only begun.
“Yeah, it’s coming along,” Hart said. “I think we’re still trying to figure out where everyone likes the ball and those kinds of things, but moving the ball, we’re getting good shots and making progress.”
