The New York Knicks are one win away from hoisting the first NBA Cup in franchise history, and Karl-Anthony Towns is embracing the moment like a veteran who knows how rare these opportunities can be.
Ahead of Tuesday’s championship matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, Towns spoke candidly about what it would mean to walk away with a trophy-any trophy. “It would mean a lot,” Towns said.
“I think it’ll give us some good energy, good mojo. When you get that feeling of winning a championship in any sort of tournament, the NBA Finals, that feeling is something you chase.
To get a taste of winning, I think it would [mean] a lot for us.”
That mindset isn’t just talk. Towns has been a driving force behind the Knicks’ strong start this season, and if New York is going to take down a young, talented Spurs squad in the final, they’ll need their All-Star big man to keep doing what he’s done all year.
Through 24 games, Towns is putting up 22.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game-strong numbers that speak to his versatility and consistency. He’s playing just over 33 minutes a night and doing it efficiently, shooting 47.4% from the field, 36% from deep, and an elite 88.2% from the free-throw line. That kind of production from a frontcourt player is the backbone of any championship-caliber team, and the Knicks are reaping the benefits.
Towns, now in his 11th NBA season, came into the league as the No. 1 overall pick back in 2015. After spending the bulk of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was traded to New York in a blockbuster move before the 2024-25 season-one that raised eyebrows across the league.
But so far, the fit has been seamless. Towns has brought a steadying presence to a Knicks team that’s long been searching for a legitimate star to anchor their frontcourt.
And the results speak for themselves. New York enters the NBA Cup final with an 18-7 record, sitting second in the Eastern Conference standings behind only the Detroit Pistons.
That’s not just a hot start-it’s a statement. The Knicks are winning with defense, ball movement, and a balanced offensive attack led by Towns, who’s proving he can be the centerpiece of a winning team in a high-pressure market.
The NBA Cup may not carry the same historical weight as the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but make no mistake-players want this. Teams want this. And for a franchise like the Knicks, who haven’t tasted real postseason success in decades, a win on Tuesday could be the spark that ignites something bigger.
For Towns, it’s about more than just the hardware. It’s about building a culture of winning, about giving his team the confidence that they can compete-and beat-anyone.
And if he keeps playing at this level, the Knicks might just walk away with more than a midseason title. They might walk away with belief.