News that Towns would be moving from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick broke last week. The blockbuster trade was officially announced by teams on Wednesday, resulting in a farewell letter from Towns to the state where he played for nine seasons.

“Nine years ago I came to Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home and its people my family,” Towns said wrote. “Their love, support and unwavering loyalty fueled my journey and inspired me to be the best player I could be. Thank you to my teammates, coaches and the entire Timberwolves organization for the countless opportunities and experiences. I will cherish the friendships I have made and the battles we have fought together.

Towns’ news was accompanied by a video that highlighted his accomplishments in Minnesota, from being selected by the Timberwolves out of Kentucky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to being named the 2016 Rookie of the Year and being named the first center to win the 3-point contest at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.