Karl-Anthony Towns likely is the player the Knicks can least do without, especially with Mitchell Robinson still unable to practice.

There was no Villanova reunion. There was no anticipated spat with Rick Brunson to keep an eye on. Former fans didn’t have the chance to watch him play on the Garden floor during what has been a hot streak for the Delaware native.

Exactly a year prior to his long-awaited MSG return, the highest mark of Julius Randle’s tenure was taking shape.

The 21-19 Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to get on the same page at times after making a monstrous offseason trade that brought in Julius Randle

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots at the basket as Boston Celtics forwards Xavier Tillman (26) and Jayson Tatum (0) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

Friday night marked Randle’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks traded him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team blockbuster that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

The Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb) is questionable for Friday's game against the Timberwolves, who will be without starter Donte DiVincenzo (toe).

Randle believed in the Knicks and their potential when almost no one else in the NBA did. When Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and almost every other free agent took a hard pass on the Knicks, Randle risked coming to a franchise that had just finished a 17-65 season and had gone six straight years without making the playoffs.

Want to trade Julius Randle? Target the worst teams in the league who are in a race for Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.

There are nine games on the NBA slate tonight and Andrew Caley has you covered with his best NBA player props including Julius Randle in his return to New York.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks has a bone chip in his right thumb, but is expected to try to play through the injury.

Knicks fans left little doubt about their feelings for Julius Randle. A familiar roar filled Madison Square Garden as Randle was introduced during Friday night’s pregame starting lineups, even though this time,