Karl-Anthony Towns is still enjoying the Knicks’ title run, and he made sure Kenny Atkinson’s playoff analytics line didn’t get forgotten.
At the ESPY Awards, Towns was asked about his case for the Knicks being the best team in sports this year, and he pointed to the length of the run, the pressure of the moment, and the fact that New York was never supposed to be the favorite.
"This city hasn't seen this in 53 years, hasn't seen the Finals in 27 years. A team that wasn't picked to be favorites, underdog in every series we played... 49 days we didn't lose, that's my pitch for Best Team. You can pick up all the analytics and statistics, analytically, we should win this one," Towns said as he was asked about his argument to be seen as the best team in sports this year.
That last line was the wink. It was a clear nod to Atkinson’s comment during the 2026 Playoffs, when the Cavaliers were getting pushed around by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Cleveland coach said they were ahead based on the analytics despite losing the games. The quote spread fast for all the wrong reasons.
Cleveland had already survived a rough path just to get there, grinding through their first two playoff series before reaching the East finals after being bounced in the second round the year before. But the Knicks shut the door on them completely, winning every game in the series and moving on to a championship run that ended with Towns playing a massive role.
The Knicks stayed quiet during the postseason, but the celebration has clearly started now. Towns isn’t the only one poking fun at the analytics angle, either - Josh Hart has already joined in on the jokes.
It’s harmless enough, but it also says plenty about how this group operates. They remember what gets said. And once they win, they’re more than happy to throw it back.
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