Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are ready for their first real “test” as Knicks teammates

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Karl-Anthony Towns’ debut is expected to be Sunday.

Tom Thibodeau said he plans to face the starters together, including newcomer Towns, in the preseason opener in Charlotte – giving Knicks fans their first look at one of the league’s best point guard-center tandems with Jalen Brunson admit.

“I’m ready to see where we are,” Brunson said. “Every day is a test and we can see where we are and go from there.”

Thibodeau warned that he must first consult with medical staff and that Sunday’s rotation has not yet been “determined.”

But Towns participated fully in training camp despite his late arrival and is eager to compete in Charlotte, according to Thibodeau.

“I think he wants to play and he’s done his best so far, so we’ll see where he goes (Saturday’s practice),” the coach said.

Asked whether Towns, who underwent knee surgery in March, was suffering from an injury that would require consultation with medical staff, Thibodeau said discussions about health are standard practice for all of his players during training camp.

He added that rotations will not resemble those of the regular season until the Oct. 18 preseason finale against the Wizards.

“Now we’re starting to incorporate the games,” Thibodeau said. “And then you improve every game, until the last game where you really want your rhythm and your rotation. You probably won’t be quite at your minutes and your rotation, but you’ll be close by the last game.”

Towns missed three training camp sessions while waiting for the trade with the Timberwolves to be completed. That deal was held up because one of the key salary-matching players, Duane Washington Jr., also had to negotiate a buyout with a European team.

Towns said Saturday that the missed practices didn’t concern him because of his innate conditioning.

“I train extremely hard in the off-season so I’m ready for whatever this season has in store for me,” he said. “I missed a few days of training camp. It was the work I put in in the offseason that paid off, especially early on.”

Thibodeau indicated that returning forwards Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are slated to be starters. Newcomer Mikal Bridges will take the other spot.

“It’s new for KAT, but it’s also new for a lot of other players,” Brunson said. “We need to get everyone up to speed. It’s a new team, different parts, so we have to make sure we stay focused.”

The possibility of a Brunson Towns pick-and-roll is the most enticing aspect of the new-look Knicks.

Together with Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey from Philadelphia and Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray from Denver, the Knicks are in the race for the top duo at their dual positions.

It was scheduled to begin Sunday, but Brunson warned of a learning curve.

“I just feel like it’s going to be a learning process,” Brunson said. “Every day will be a challenge for us to get better. It won’t be perfect from day one, but as long as we have the right attitude we will continue to improve.”