3x All-Defensive player laments Karl-Anthony Towns' 'awful trade' for Wolves - "Destroyed Rudy"

Prior to the season, the New York Knicks made an offseason-defining move to bring in Karl-Anthony Towns via trade, sending Julius Randle and Dante DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The trade has paid dividends for New York at the start the season as Towns has performed at an All-NBA level through the Knicks' first 27 games.

On Thursday night, Towns continued his high level of play versus his former team. He erupted in his first game against the Timberwolves with a double-double effort in his return to Minnesota as the Knicks cruised to a 133-107 win.

Former Timberwolves player and All-Defensive guard Patrick Beverley had strong words for the trade following Towns' performance.

"@KarlTowns just killed the Twolves and destroyed (Rudy Gobert)," Beverley tweeted. "Awful trade."

Patrick Beverley played for the Timberwolves in 2021-22, suiting up alongside both Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. In his lone season in Minnesota, Beverley averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Karl-Anthony Towns dominates in return to Minnesota

Just 77 days after being traded from Minnesota to New York, Karl-Anthony Towns had the opportunity to exact revenge against his former team. In 38 minutes of action, Towns took advantage of the opportunity.

Towns recorded game-highs in points and rebounds, dominating his former teammate Rudy Gobert in the post. The former Timberwolves big man scored 32 points on 10-of-12 shooting, connecting on each of his five 3-point attempts in the win. He also grabbed an eye-popping 20 rebounds, dishing out six assists and grabbing two steals in the process.

With this performance, Towns became just the second player in NBA history to record 30 points and 20 rebounds versus his former team, joining Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also stymied his former teammate defensively, limiting Rudy Gobert to just three points and four rebounds.

The Knicks continued their hot streak with Thursday night's win, securing their 12th win in their last 16 games. Thursday's win gives New York sole possession of the third seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 17-10 record.