New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is returning to play in Minnesota for the first time since the Timberwolves traded the franchise cornerstone last September.

Towns chatted with reporters Thursday before the Knicks game and spoke about the "warm feeling" he had walking back into the Target Center before acknowledging that the return would be a "lot" when weighing the emotions of the night.

"I know it's going to be a lot," Towns said with a laugh and a smile (h/t ESPN's Jamal Collier). "But just appreciate every second, every moment and appreciate being back here."

Minnesota selected the ex-Kentucky star with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Towns made four All-Star Games and two All-NBA teams during his nine seasons in Minnesota while averaging 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

Obviously, it's understandable why Towns would be emotional upon his return to Minneapolis. He went through tremendous ups and downs during his time there, but Minnesota was on a huge high last year after winning 56 games and making the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004 and the second time in franchise history.

A few months later, Towns got traded in a seismic shake-up of the team.

He's excelling in his new spot, though, averaging 24.8 points, an NBA-high 13.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for a Knicks team sitting third in the Eastern Conference. Towns looks well on his way to a fifth All-Star appearances and third All-NBA team nod.

A part of him will always be in Minnesota, though, even if his time there is up. ESPN's Brian Windhorst explained.

New York and Minnesota are set to tip off in Target Center on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET, with TNT carrying the game.