Julius Randle, who was traded from the New York Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns, recently offered some valuable advice to Towns about the challenges of playing in New York.

Randle spoke to the media, sharing his thoughts on how to handle the intensity and pressure of being in a high-expectation basketball environment like New York City. “Just think of basketball. Just stay locked in. Stay in the moment,” Randle said, as reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “This place tends to make things bigger than what it may seem like at the time.”

Towns, now in his first season with the Knicks, is set to face a new level of scrutiny and expectations from the passionate New York fanbase and media. As someone who spent five seasons in New York, Randle understands the pressure that comes with playing in Madison Square Garden. His advice to stay focused on the game and avoid getting distracted by external noise reflects his own experience with the ups and downs of playing in the city.

Towns, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Timberwolves, averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game last season. He is expected to play a key role in the Knicks’ upcoming season, and early signs point to his adjustment to the new team going well.

So far in the preseason, Towns has appeared in three games for New York, delivering solid performances. He scored 10, 25, and 16 points, respectively, while also grabbing 4, 12, and 16 rebounds. The Knicks won all three preseason matchups, giving fans a glimpse of what Towns can contribute on both ends of the court.

Despite these promising performances, the expectations for Towns will only increase as the regular season begins. Playing in New York is vastly different from his experience in Minnesota, where the spotlight isn’t as intense. Randle’s advice emphasizes the importance of mental resilience and maintaining focus, as distractions and criticism can quickly derail a player’s success in such a demanding market.