Karl-Anthony Towns’ first season with the New York Knicks ended with the moment his father had long wanted to see. After New York captured its first NBA championship in 53 years, Karl Towns Sr. used the occasion to address the criticism that followed his son throughout his career.
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Speaking to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, Towns Sr. directly referenced Jimmy Butler, who was Towns’ teammate in Minnesota from 2017 to 2018
“It only hurt me as a father to hear people saying stuff that was negative, that wasn’t true, to bring him down. But in the end, it all paid up. Jimmy ain’t got no championship. Karl bypassed him.”
The comments came after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, winning Game 5 by a 94-90 score. The result ended New York’s 53-year wait for an NBA title.
Towns Stayed in New York and Changed the Story
Towns’ road to that moment included a stretch when his future with the Knicks became uncertain. New York went through a 2-9 stretch in January, and Towns’ name surfaced in discussions connected to a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade involving Milwaukee.
The situation became so uncertain that Towns revealed he and Jordyn Woods had even started looking at homes in Milwaukee.
“We were on Zillow looking at Milwaukee. Hey babe, this could be a good spot…” Towns said.
The trade discussions never resulted in Towns leaving New York. Instead, he remained with the Knicks and became an important part of a playoff run that saw the team go 16-3 in the postseason.
Towns averaged 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the playoffs while shooting 55.1% from the field. His contribution extended beyond scoring, with his rebounding, passing and defensive work becoming important parts of New York’s postseason success.
His role became particularly important during the Finals, where he faced Victor Wembanyama while continuing to contribute on the glass and offensively. Towns averaged 13 points per game in the Finals and played a key role in New York’s 4-1 series victory.
The title also came after Towns had spent years dealing with questions about his ability to win at the highest level. He entered the NBA as the No. 1 pick in 2015 and spent his first nine seasons with Minnesota before joining the Knicks.
For Towns Sr., the championship provided an answer to the criticism his son had faced throughout his career.
“Everybody that tried to doubt him, I don’t hear them. Why aren’t you on the internet saying s— now?” he said.
Towns’ championship season therefore carried significance beyond the final result. He stayed with New York despite the January struggles and trade speculation, adapted to what the team needed during the playoffs and helped the Knicks reach a milestone the franchise had been waiting more than five decades to achieve.
For his father, the result also gave him the opportunity to revisit the old comparison with Butler, pointing to the championship as the clearest difference between the two careers at this moment.