Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t know what Minnesota greeting will be with trade emotions still raw

ORLANDO — NBA seasons are like dog years.

And nine with the same team is rare, especially in Adam Silver’s era of player empowerment/movement.

To put it in local perspective, the last Knick to play nine seasons with the franchise was Allan Houston — roughly 20 years ago — and he missed 94 of his last 164 games.

It translated to a run of 16 years and counting as a Knicks executive for Houston, a position with excellent job security, having survived several regime changes.

Karl-Anthony Towns returns Thursday to the Target Center in a similar context.

He was drafted first overall by the Timberwolves in 2015 and sits No. 2 on the franchise’s all-time list of points, rebounds and blocks.

Until Anthony Edwards alters the order, the list of greatest Timberwolves starts No. 1 Kevin Garnett and No. 2 Towns, without much debate.

Despite this history, Towns said he’s unsure how Thursday’s crowd will react to his return.

He also passionately defended his commitment to the franchise that traded him in October.

“I don’t know (how they will embrace me). But I know that every single day that I put on that Timberwolves jersey I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent,” Towns said after his latest double-double with the Knicks, a victory Sunday over the Magic. “I gave them all of me mentally, physically, spiritually. I was there nine years, so I go there with a lot of pride and joy for the memories that I have.”

Towns then referenced his final moment with the organization in May, when the T-Wolves were eliminated in the conference finals and he emotionally blew kisses to the crowd.

On the eve of training camp, the 29-year-old was traded for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

“I know the last time I was there, I looked myself in the mirror and I knew I gave the state, the city, the organization over there everything I could possibly give and even found myself giving more than I thought I had,” said Towns, who returned for the playoffs last season from a torn meniscus. “So I was proud of the man that I presented over there in a Timberwolves jersey. You never know how the fans will respond. But I know for me, my household, I know what I gave that organization, and I am happy and proud for what I was able to do.”

Towns’ stint was polarizing — there was a lot of losing packed into nine years — but there’s little doubt Minnesotans will give him a standing ovation with a video tribute.

His departure was about dumping payroll to avoid salary cap hell, not about his play or attitude.

He was also part of the organization’s only playoff appearances since 2004 and signed two extensions.

The better question is how Towns’ game will respond to the extra layers of distractions.

“We’ve got a win to get so I better handle it accordingly, for sure,” Towns said. “Like I said, I don’t know, I can’t imagine myself even in a situation like this but here we are.”

Underscoring Towns’ surprise about being traded, he had slimmed down in the offseason with the belief he’d again play power forward next to Rudy Gobert.

But then he was abruptly shipped to New York to play center and, unsurprisingly given the Knicks’ lack of depth, is now averaging his most minutes since 2018.

“What you’re seeing now is a lot of hours in the summer I put in,” said Towns, who is averaging 24.8 points with 13.9 rebounds and is easily on pace for his fifth All-Star selection, perhaps in his first start. “Instead of having fun, I was in the gym working on my body, working on my game, working on my cardio. I’m happy I put that work in because obviously things got real crazy to start the season.”

Towns added: “You’re a four and then the next thing you know you’re a five. I had to do whatever I had to do. I’m not going to say I got heavier but I definitely knew what I had to do.”

The emotions on the other side of the trade are a little more complicated and tinged with animosity.

After helping resurrect the franchise from two decades of mostly misery, Randle never got his second contract extension and was instead shipped off just days after helping open a school in The Bronx.

The last time he was at the Garden, Randle said his chapter with the Knicks was closed.

“It’s finished now,” he said. “I got unfinished business where I’m at.”

DiVincenzo was shocked and upset about being traded just a year into a four-season contract.

His preseason return to the Garden included a couple heated moments with the Knicks bench.

Thursday is the rematch with regular-season implications.

“I think [Donte] is going to try to come in and kick our ass,” Josh Hart said. “I think Julius is going to try to come in and do the same. As they should. I think KAT will probably come in with a chip on his shoulder also.

“You know that is going to happen. You know it is going to be a fun game.”

The very early returns of the trade have certainly been positive for the Knicks, who are getting elite scoring and defensive rebounding production from Towns while sitting third in the East at 16-10.

The Timberwolves (14-11) have also started to pick it up with six wins in their past seven games.

Randle is playing well with averages of 20.1 points on 48 percent shooting in 33 minutes — especially considering he missed most of last season with a dislocated shoulder — while DiVincenzo is struggling mightily with a 35 percent field-goal rate.

“It’s a big trade, so you expect people to be comparing it until the end of time,” Towns said. “It’s just my job to do what I can control, which is be the best version of myself possible for this team and helping this team succeed. Obviously the comparisons will be up to ya’ll. My job will be making sure I take care of my end.”

And on Thursday, the extra task is navigating the unpredictable emotions of returning to a very familiar place.

“You say this like I’m used to this s–t,” Towns smiled. “I’ve seen people traded. I’ve never been traded.”