CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Karl-Anthony Towns says his initial reaction was shock upon learning he had been traded from Minnesota, his NBA home for nine years, to New York.
Still, the four-time All-Star was all smiles Thursday during his first full day with the Knicks, joking with coach Tom Thibodeau toward the end of the team's training camp workout. Towns and Thibodeau have history together from their time in Minnesota, a familiarity that Towns said could help he and the Knicks jell a bit quicker than normal after such a blockbuster deal.
"I think it gives us a little bit of a head start," Towns said of his relationship with Thibodeau, who coached him for two and a half years with the Timberwolves.