KAT affirms loyalty to T-Wolves: 'This ain't the circus like it used to be'

Karl-Anthony Towns returned for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after missing over a month with a knee sprain and illness, and during that time the center's name was still in headlines.

In one December report, Towns was said to be unhappy with the Timberwolves, and the Golden State Warriors were reportedly monitoring the 24-year-old's status in Minnesota.

However, Towns emphatically shut down those rumors postgame on Friday while reiterating his commitment to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2015.

"I think you've been around me long enough to know I don't go for all the shit. I just do my job, go home and I know what the real story is," he told the Star Tribune's Chris Hine postgame on Friday. "There's a reason those stories are made because people need to sell papers, sell links and clicks, whatever the case may be. I'm here to be a Minnesota Timberwolf. Very fortunate I have a head coach like Ryan (Saunders), a president and friend like (Gersson Rosas), I'm not worried about all that nonsense.

"Whatever we have to deal with in house, we'll deal with in house, but this ain't the circus like it used to be. This is something that's going to be done as a family."

Minnesota fell just short during Towns' return, losing 116-114 to the Indiana Pacers. The big man picked up right where he left off though, recording 27 points on 3-of-9 shooting from distance. He also tacked on five rebounds and an assist in 28 minutes.

Fortunately for Timberwolves fans, the team wouldn't need to rush into any deal even if Towns did want out. The two-time All-Star signed a five-year, $190-million super-max extension with the club in 2018, keeping him under contract through the 2023-24 season.