The first person Karl-Anthony Towns brought up when asked about his first home game as a Knick on Sunday was his father, and that’s nothing new.

Towns’ parents are Karl-Anthony Towns Sr. and Jackie Cruz Towns has always been an integral part of her story.

His father still serves as a high school coach in New Jersey at the school where his son once played.

Her mother, who died of COVID-19 in 2020, named the court at Kean University after her.

He always thinks about the parents they sacrificed for his basketball career, and if he forgets, he’ll be reminded by the number 32 on Towns’ jersey, the same number his father wore.

This doesn’t change by playing close to home.

What’s different is the number of family members in the stands at Madison Square Garden.

“A lot,” Towns said Sunday. “Too much. Too much. Too much.”

This is the practical reality of a homecoming – family going from before your mind in Minneapolis to before your eyes on Broadway.

“It’s special to be around family more often,” Towns said. “My niece and nephew can join more of my games on my days off and see them grow. It’s really special. Coming home is definitely special.”

towns, He scored 21 points and 15 rebounds with a stunning dunk in his home debut. The Knicks’ win over the Pacers is perhaps the biggest part of the Knicks team trying to find its identity and get to the top of the Eastern Conference at the same time.

He plays for a coach in Tom Thibodeau, who has been with him for more than two years in Minneapolis and has noticed a change from the 23-year-old he last coached in 2018-19.

“Just maturity,” Thibodeau said. “He’s a lot stronger, of course. I coached him a few years ago, and I think all his experiences have helped him. The ups and the downs, the playoffs, going from being the No. 1 player in the draft, to getting to the conference finals (last season) and just playing winning basketball.” To get to the point where they have great expectations. I think these experiences have helped him a lot.

“It just keeps getting better, I think that’s important. You’re never a finished product to keep taking those steps. Just keep learning and growing.”

There was some concern that Towns might clash with Thibodeau after things ended in Minnesota. This did not happen at this early stage.

“Sometimes timing is important, too,” Thibodeau said. “I think you can bring in a player who is young in their career, they want to improve themselves first. I think as they mature and get older they realize that it’s very difficult to do that individually. You have to do it collectively. And I think that’s where most players go. They tend to tend that way.

“When you look at any good team, you realize there are sacrifices that have to be made. There is a focus that has to be made. There is discipline, there is sacrifice, and I think Karl has definitely shown that over the years.”

Asked if Thibodeau had changed, Towns laughed and said he now has a beard.

What about himself?

“Of course,” he said. “Life has definitely changed for me. I grew up as a man. I have grown not only as a man walking this earth, but as a man of faith. It is a very special feeling to feel such a blessing and presence in my life, especially on a Sunday when we talked.”

Being at home is a blessing in itself.

“It feels great to be there (at The Garden) with most of my family,” Towns said. “Especially my father.”