Karl-Anthony Towns has been heavily linked to the New York Knicks recently, as he made his rounds in Big Apple, from partying to pitching in a Yankees game. But the Knicks’ interest in the oft-injured, three-time All-Star big man is waning, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
“From what I’ve heard from a couple of people in touch with them, they felt the temperature was a little down on the interest in Towns compared to where it was very early on in Leon Rose’s tenure,” Begley said on the May 25 episode of the Hoopshype podcast with host Michael Scotto and fellow guest New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy.
Towns has strong ties within the Knicks’ organization, starting with Rose, who represented him when he was still an NBA agent. Towns’ father even attended Rose’s first game as Knicks president, according to Begley.
Tom Thibodeau Open to Reunion With Karl-Anthony Towns
Tom Thibodeau, who coached Towns during his first two All-Star berths with the Timberwolves, is said to be open to a reunion despite their bitter ending in Minnesota, according to Bondy.
“I had heard unequivocally that Tom Thibodeau would have no problem coaching Towns again. That was maybe two years ago, so things could’ve changed,” Bondy said on the Hoopshype podcast.
Towns and Thibodeau did not see eye to eye during their tumultuous two-plus seasons together in Minnesota. Towns even took a shot at Thibodeau after his unceremonious firing in Minnesota as the head coach and team president back in 2019 in an interview with WCCO’s Cory Hepola.
“I think that I’m very blessed that I have a great front office. I have a great coaching staff,” Towns told Hepola during a live interview at his summer camp. “We think we have the best coaching staff possibly in the game right now from a talent, experience and just culture standpoint. And the culture we’re building here is something special. So I’m a very happy. I’m very glad now we’re introducing Culver and Noel to a culture that we possess now. You know, I don’t think the situation before it would’ve been very beneficial for them.
While clearly referencing the Tom Thibodeau lead Timberwolves, Towns talked about how he felt it held back the development of the players.
“And that’s a disrespect and a slap in the face to their development, you know, and I want to make sure that they …read more
Source:: Heavy.com
