CHARLESTON, S.C. — Karl-Anthony Towns was “flabbergasted” when told he was being traded.

He had spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, an eternity in the NBA that represented his entire professional career until this week.

But if Towns was forced to relocate, the Knicks are certainly a comfortable landing spot.

The center is from the New York area, with a deep and emotional connection to MSG, courtesy of his mother.

His former agent, Leon Rose, runs the front office. Another top executive, William Wesley, had close ties to the Kentucky Wildcats program during Towns’ stint there and remains a family friend.

Then there’s the coach, Tom Thibodeau, who guided Towns during 2 ½ seasons in Minnesota, a partnership that turned turbulent at the end but was subsequently mended.

Both sides seem excited about a reunion of two men sharing a common goal.

“I think over time you just learn a lot about each other and mature,” Towns said Thursday in his first comments since being traded. “Obviously our relationship has been good. I think that for us, we just want to win. I think none of you all doubt Thibs putting the work in and wanting to win. So our conversations are all about winning and doing the best we can do every single day.”

Following Thibodeau’s ouster in Minnesota in 2019, there was a telling comment from Towns that the replacement coach, Ryan Saunders, created a friendlier environment and Thibodeau’s treatment of young players was “a slap in the face to their development.”

Whatever else might’ve been happening behind the scenes, Towns revealed last season he and Thibodeau “squashed” their beef years ago in a one-on-one conversation.

A source said Thibodeau was fully behind acquiring Towns, who arrived in a swap for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, a protected first-round pick and two future second-round picks.

Together in Minnesota, Thibodeau and Towns maxed out with a first-round playoff exit.

In New York, the expectation is at least the conference finals — the same place Towns reached last season alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

“He’s a lot more experienced,” Thibodeau said of Towns. “I think all those experiences teaches you a lot. He’s been through a lot of different things now, so he’s bringing all those experiences here.

“I think as with most players, now he’s had experience being deep in the playoffs. He knows what that’s like. As much as you try to prepare for it, until you go through it, you don’t fully understand what it is and I think his understanding is much further along now than it was his second year in the league, and his skill set is so unique. I think he fits well with everybody.”

Towns, who was forced to miss the opening sessions of training camp while the trade was finalized, said his familiarity with Thibodeau should be an advantage.

He understood, for instance, what a Thibodeau practice feels like before it happened again Thursday.

“It was great,” Towns said with a smile. “A Thibs practice.”

“I think it gives us a little bit of a head start,” Towns added. “I know the offense that he runs, I know the way that he likes to play defense and I know what he expects from his players. I just think it gives us a little bit of a head start.”

With Towns’ addition, the Knicks are title contenders if they can somehow get past Boston.

It’s the reality they’re ignoring in public statements, choosing instead to adopt the “magic is in the work” mantra that has also defined the Thibodeau era.

Towns fell in line in Day 1, a sign that he and coach are in harmony.

“I think most importantly to get to a position like [the conference finals], it starts now,” Towns said. “It’s not during the season. It’s not, you start turning up in the second half of the season or after All-Star break. It starts now. You’ve got to put the work in now. You’ve got to get your body, your mind prepared to play basketball that deep into the season. So just staying focused, working on our discipline, working on our habits. I’m just here to amplify everybody as much as possible.”