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.”

After shocking Washington fans by announcing his decision to enter the transfer portal, running back Cameron Davis has found a new home. Following six seasons on Montlake, the former four-star recruit will spend his final season in the Big Ten playing for coach PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

In his final season in Seattle, Davis took 44 carries for 190 yards, adding 14 catches for 156 yards, but was unable to find the end zone. He finished his Husky career with 253 carries for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns and accrued an additional 434 yards on 52 receptions. Now, he will join what has quickly become a very crowded running backs room.

After a stellar sophomore season that saw him total 1,206 yards and 11 touchdowns, Darius Taylor is expected to lead the way for the Golden Gophers in 2025. He’ll be aided by Marshall transfer AJ Turner, who was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after tallying 864 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024.

Shortly after Davis committed, Fleck earned a third commitment from a transfer back when former four-star recruit Cole Cabana announced his intentions to attend Minnesota. Cabana had taken just two carries for 6 yards in his three seasons at Michigan, but offers promising potential.

Without Davis, Washington is expected to lean heavily on Jonah Coleman, who announced his intentions to return for his senior season on Thanksgiving, and sophomore Adam Mohammed in 2025.

LEROY, Minn. (KTTC) – Leroy-Ostrander high school has less than 300 students in attendance. One of those students is the best high school football player in Minnesota.

Camden Hungerholt, L-O/L-P football’s do-it-all star, was named 2024 Minnesota Mr. Football, the honor awarded by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association to the top high school player in the state. In the 20-year existence of the award, he is the first ever 9-Player football athlete to earn the honor.

“It means a lot to win this award,” Hungerholt said. “To be put up for this award is even an honor, and to win it, to be the best player in Minnesota, I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and my coaches and everyone who has been a part of my journey.”

Hungerholt was historic in 2024. The quarterback led the state in rushing with 2,846 yards, more than 200 yards more than the second-leading rusher in the state. He also passed for 2,421 yards, good for sixth in the state, netting well over 5,000 total yards.

The senior star totaled 70 touchdowns, 36 on the ground and 34 through the air. L-O/L-P head coach Trevor Carrier described Hungerholt winning the award as emotional.

“To know that you have the opportunity to coach such great kids, kids like Cam, to have such a prestigious award come down to Leroy, it’s so many emotions,” Carrier said. “All positive emotions, you want to cry out immediately because the emotions are so strong.”

Hungerholt returned to LeRoy after the Mr. Football ceremony greeted by a gym packed with the Cardinal faithful.

“The joy of coming down here and supporting Cam and his family in this amazing time is just great,” Carrier said.

Carrier added that the ambulance and fire trucks escorted Hungerholt back into town.

Hungerholt showed his gratitude to the community.

“I just want to thank everyone that’s been a part of my journey, to everyone that’s ever helped me, no matter how big or small their part was, everything that’s made me who I am today has helped me so much.”

Carrier taught Hungerholt in three years of school, and he acknowledged his growth as an athlete and a person.

“I’m extremely, extremely proud of who he was, even in elementary school, and the man he’s become,” Carrier said. “I’m not even talking about his athletics or the fact that he’s top of the class academically. Amazing kid, and if my son’s half of what Cam is, then I’ll be an extremely happy dad.”

Hungerholt is off to Minnesota State-Mankato next fall to continue his football career. He caps a historic career as a Cardinal with an incredible honor.

Click here to watch Camden Hungerholt’s Athlete of the Week from November 11.

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