Karl-Anthony Towns Questions New All-Star Format, Focused on Winning with Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t exactly sold on the NBA’s latest All-Star shake-up.
With the league rolling out a new format for the 2026 All-Star Game - a USA vs. World round-robin tournament featuring two American squads and one international team - the New York Knicks star made it clear he has his doubts. And in typical KAT fashion, his response was laid-back but pointed.
“I go back to when the rookie game became USA vs. World,” Towns said during a recent press conference. “I don’t know how I ended up on Team USA... we’ll talk to Adam on that part.”
Towns, who represents the Dominican Republic internationally, has always worn his heritage with pride. So when he’s slotted onto a Team USA roster in a format that’s supposed to highlight international talent, it raises some eyebrows - his included. His comment may have been delivered with a smile, but the message was there: the format might need a second look.
And he’s not the only one raising questions.
Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams also weighed in, suggesting that the revamped All-Star setup needs to be more about the basketball and less about the spectacle. His main critique? Keep it shorter, keep it tighter, and cut back on the outside noise.
That echoes what fans felt after the 2025 All-Star Game, which leaned heavily into commercials and off-court theatrics while offering very little actual basketball. The four-team tournament that year was ambitious, but it left many fans - and clearly some players - wanting more substance and less sizzle.
But while Towns may be skeptical about the All-Star format, he’s locked in when it comes to what really matters: winning.
The Knicks just punched their ticket to the NBA Cup final after a hard-fought win over the Orlando Magic in the semifinal, and Towns was front and center with a 29-point performance. After the game, he talked about what lifting a trophy - any trophy - means to him.
“No matter if it’s the Cup, NBA Finals - winning anything, when you get that feeling of winning it’s addictive,” Towns said. “I want us to have that mindset where we’re addicted to the next championship.”
That mindset is exactly what the Knicks need as they gear up for their showdown against the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas. The NBA Cup might not carry the same weight as the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but for a team trying to build a winning culture, every title counts.
Towns is clearly embracing that culture shift in New York. He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s setting a tone. And with the Knicks one win away from Cup glory, his focus is exactly where it needs to be.
The All-Star Game can wait. Right now, Towns has his eyes on something real.