D’Angelo Russell‘s arrival in Minnesota is a “big incentive” for star center Karl-Anthony Towns to stick around town.
Towns, 24, was happily “shocked” the Timberwolves were able to pull off a Russell – Andrew Wiggins swap with the Golden State Warriors ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
The T-Wolves (13-35) have lost thirteen games in a row, but their franchise cornerstone and fanbase suddenly and unexpectedly have reason to smile.
Per The Athletic:
“I’d be lying if I told you I thought it was possible,” Towns told The Athletic on Thursday. “I’m shocked like everybody else. We’ve been putting it into the universe since Day 1. We’ve never been shy about saying it in the media or interviews or wherever it may be. If you want something to happen, you have to keep believing and keep saying it to the universe and repeating it and one day the universe will hear it and give you your wish.”
He was all smiles as he surprised unwitting customers as a fill-in clerk at a Northeast Minneapolis Metro by T-Mobile store while shooting an ad campaign, then laid to rest the growing speculation about his long-term future in Minnesota.
“I think with D-Lo here, it’s always going to be a big incentive for me to want to stay,” Towns said. “D-Lo is a big part of everything the vision is. D-Lo always knows he’s going to be wanted because his brother is here with him and he always knows he’s going to have his back covered because I’m always going to be there for him.”
He was still coming to grips with the whirlwind of activity. He still couldn’t believe he was about to head to the airport to pick up his best friend.
“At the end of the day, I think it’s starting to set in that my brother’s going to be here with me,” Towns said, “and hopefully we’re going to be together for a long, long time.”
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