Karl-Anthony Towns says goodbye to Minnesota as Timberwolves-Knicks trade becomes official

Karl-Anthony Towns bids farewell to Minnesota, a state that “will always hold a special place in my heart.”

News that Towns would be traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick broke last week. The blockbuster trade was officially announced by the teams on Wednesday, prompting a farewell letter from Towns to the state where he played for nine seasons.

“Nine years ago, I came to Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home and its people would become my family,” Towns said. wrote. “Your love, support and unwavering loyalty have fueled my journey and inspired me to become the best player I can be. Thank you to my teammates, coaches and the entire Timberwolves organization for the countless opportunities and experiences. I I will cherish the friendships I made and the battles we fought together.”

Towns’ message was accompanied by a video highlighting his accomplishments at Minnesota, from being selected out of Kentucky by the Timberwolves with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, to being named Rookie of the Year in 2016 and become the first center. to win the 3-point contest during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

“To the amazing fans, your support means the world to me. It gave me strength on and off the field. I will never forget it,” Towns wrote. “You will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything.”

The feeling is mutual. The Timberwolves shared several graphics on social media celebrating the towns.

“Thank you for everything, 32 years,” the Timberwolves wrote on X. “You will always be a part of the Wolves family.”

The Towns trade follows the Timberwolves’ first appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 20 years. They lost the series to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. In 573 regular season games with the Timberwolves, Towns averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and earned four All-Star nominations (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024) and two All selections. -NBA Third Team (2018, 2022).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Karl-Anthony Towns, Business Manager: All-Star says goodbye to Minnesota