Knicks have star they've been searching for in Karl-Anthony Towns

If you want to know how important Towns can be to a team, take a look at how the Timberwolves are performing right now. Last season's Western Conference finalists look lost. Their spacing has been an issue all season, and their ability to control the boards has been drastically reduced. 

For those watching from afar, it's easy to question whether Minnesota was ever really Anthony Edwards' team or if he got the praise for the work Towns was doing in the margins.

New York doesn't have that problem. The fans know what Towns brings to the rotation and understand the symbiotic relationship between him and Brunson. They need each other to thrive. Perhaps that's why the eye test tells us they're one of the best pick-and-roll duos in the NBA. It also helps that Towns is fifth in scoring when operating as the roll man in screening actions and Brunson is sixth when operating as the ball-handler in those same scenarios. 

After years of waiting, the Knicks finally have a star that can thrive in New York. Actually, they have two. Still, the next step will be the hardest: waiting for the rest of the roster to gel and build winning habits. 

A championship might not be in the cards this season, but if Towns and Brunson stay healthy, it won't be long until MSG is welcoming Conference Finals and NBA Finals basketball back to its hardwood.