Karl-Anthony Towns is no stranger to championship expectations.
Today, the 7-footer is playing some of the best basketball of his career and has the Knicks in the thick of the NBA title race.
Rewind the clock to 2015 and Towns was “ballin’ like the March Madness.” The soon-to-be No. 1 overall pick anchored a Kentucky team that opened its season 38-0 and nearly pulled off one of the most remarkable runs in college sports history until Wisconsin stopped them in the Final Four.
As this year’s NCAA Tournament kicks into gear, we caught up with the six-time NBA All-Star on behalf of AT&T to discuss that memorable Wildcats season, how the college game has changed, the Knicks’ recent success, and how his perspective has evolved throughout his career.
Your Kentucky squad was one of the most dominant units in college basketball history, and you guys came so close to finishing the season undefeated. Looking back now with some distance, how do you reflect on that team?
It’s good to see Wisconsin lose today; that makes me feel better (laughs). All jokes aside, I’m just happy that I had the time I did. It’s crazy to watch these games and say that I had my moment in them. So, it’s really cool—it’s an honor and blessing to know I had my chance.
The college game has already changed a lot since then, given the advent of NIL and the transfer portal. What’s your perspective on how these changes have impacted the game?
It’s made the game different. NIL attracts players, especially high-end players, I think sometimes more than culture and tradition. I think that’s what’s changed – you see players going to more schools than ever. And with social media, entertainment, streaming, and everything, I think it’s opened the game up for more college kids to be noticed and have their chance to showcase their talents to the world.
It seems unlikely, but if Arkansas and Kentucky end up playing in the tournament, how would you decide who to root for?
That’s a crazy one, but I would love to see it—that’s what I would say. That would be one hell of a matchup.
Who is one college player you’ve been watching and are excited to play against at the next level?
I think all these kids, just because they’re athletic as anything now. I thought we were athletic when we came into the league, but these kids are different. They’re built different. I think for me, it’s more about welcoming the next generation of NBA players and making sure they feel welcomed and have all the resources they need to succeed. It’s hard for me to look at it any other way.
When you think back to your own experience coming into the league, is there someone who stands out for how they welcomed you into the NBA?
Yeah, I was blessed to have great vets. I had O.G.s that were with me – to have K.G. (Kevin Garnett) welcome you to the league, Ricky Rubio, Zach (LaVine), Andrew (Wiggins), Andre Miller, Kevin Martin, Tayshaun Prince. I had some amazing vets, people who were really looking out for me.
You’ve been playing some of the best ball of your career lately. What has it been like for you playing for Mike Brown this season?
We’re just trying to continue to evolve as a team and give ourselves the best chance to win every night. I think we’ve grown as a team as we’ve gotten more and more comfortable with the new system, new coaching staff, and I think we’ve done a good job of putting ourselves in position to be ready for that next stage, which is the playoffs.
What do you see as the biggest keys for the Knicks heading into the postseason?
Staying healthy, that’s something we can all ask God for, and we have to do our part, too. Also, just keeping our offensive and defensive standards high—I think we’re top-five in both areas, so we want to continue to stay there and get even better.
You’ve been in the spotlight for a long time, and I’m curious about how your perspective has evolved. How has your personal definition of success evolved from your time as a young player to where you are now in your career?
I think when I was younger, I had great parents that always let me know my success would be gauged by how many people I was able to help with my gift. That’s what makes a legacy. As I’ve gotten older and been blessed to help so many people, I think what makes it great for me is that I took those lessons and wanted to have longevity in my mission. To see the stuff I’ve done in Minnesota and New York now, and the Dominican Republic, it’s been having an impact on those communities not for one moment, but for a decade now. I’m really blessed that I had great parents that showed me the way.
When you think about that—you talk about having an impact on people – who is someone who comes to mind who inspires you in that regard?
I would always say my dad and mom. My mom taught me what it was to be happy in your skin, and my dad taught me the work ethic and what basketball could do for us as a family, what it could do for me with my education. And my sister, who was always there for me, pushing me, being the big sister I needed – I always wanted to make sure the work and effort they put into me, that they’d see the work paying off.
Time for a few rapid-fire questions. What’s been in your headphones lately?
Honestly, I love the new Jack Harlow album. And the new James Blake album – that’s been in my headphones a lot recently, too. If I had to pick one more, I’d say Cousin Stizz, and also The Boy Who Played the Harp by Dave. That Jack Harlow album I play about once a day, the whole album.
Who would you say talks the funniest trash in the league?
The funniest? Ant (Anthony Edwards) is up there, but Josh Hart’s pretty funny.
I had a feeling you might say that. What’s your go-to meal after a game?
Ooh, Joe’s Pizza. If it’s one of those big celebration days or it’s the playoffs, it’s always great to go back to where I’m from. Recently I’ve been doing more Nobu and the pesto pasta chicken.
Finally, what can you tell us about AT&T’s Connection Matters campaign?
It was a lot of fun. I’ll tell you one thing, it was raining hard when we shot that commercial. We really were in the wilderness; it was not CGI. It was fun to be in an AT&T commercial with J.B. (Jalen Brunson) and also two legends of our team – one who I grew up watching, Pat Ewing. I really liked the commercial Donte (DiVincenzo) and the guys did for AT&T, and it was cool to keep the tradition going with J.B.