It was like a wrestling promo interrupted.
Friday night, following New York’s 116-94 thumping of the Milwaukee Bucks, Knicks star Jalen Brunson had his back to his locker and a herd of reporters in his face. The guard was talking about everything New York did right when, between answers, music hit abruptly from the doorway — a song by the late MF Doom, an underground British-American rapper raised in New York. Reporters’ necks naturally turned and in came Karl-Anthony Towns, the four-time All-Star big man who was traded to the Knicks last month.
From Towns’ phone boomed a series of New York rap staples, like “Whoa” by the late Black Rob, and then he had a side conversation about Yonkers native Jadakiss, a favorite of Towns’ who was in attendance for the Knicks’ victory.
Towns is from nearby Edison, N.J., which is less than an hour drive from Manhattan on a good traffic day, and since returning to the city on the biggest stage in his profession, everything about him has been unapologetically New York. He has loudly embraced the city, and his roots — from the music he chooses to share publicly, to his wardrobe, which often features vintage modern or vintage Knicks gear, to his Dominican heritage and obsession with the Yankees. Following Knicks games, whether at home or on the road, Towns was in the locker room, glued in front of a television and watching New York’s most famous baseball team in the World Series.
Playing so close to home holds special appeal.
“My mom’s family … the Dominicans are very excited,” said Towns, who is half Dominican. “My dad, my mom, immigrating over here from the Dominican Republic, Madison Square Garden, to her, was the Mecca. And to our family, it’s always been the Mecca. To be able to play in a place that was so revered by her. Obviously, it strikes a different emotion.”
Since he’s arrived, the New York-centric nicknames “The Big Bodega” and “Bodega KAT” have been tossed around as possible alternative monickers to his typical “KAT,” and he’s fine with either. “I’ll let the people decide,” Towns said.
“I don’t think he really likes being called, ‘Meow,’” Knicks swingman Josh Hart said when asked if he’s learned anything about Towns over the last month. “I learned that. I haven’t called him that in a while.”
Towns is embracing his roots off the floor and, in turn, it’s allowed him to embrace them on the court. There’s both emotion and showmanship following many buckets. There’s nothing more New York than that. He tries to dunk on opponents. Hard. And he’s succeeded a few times. He’s one of the league’s best rebounders through the early part of the season and, per NBA.com, no player has been better at getting rebounds in traffic. No one should question his toughness.
Many players would come into a new situation and be timid to start. Many players joining an already successful team would try to conform to try to fit in. Yet, Towns has come to New York and stood out. He’s been one of the best offensive players in basketball, averaging 24.3 points on 53/56/90 shooting splits. He’s still one of the best big men ever to shoot a basketball.
Towns, in New York, has been, well, Towns.
“The guys in this locker room have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable,” Towns said. “They want me to play my game. Obviously, there are going to be times when we’re going to have to find the cohesiveness because we’re still not used to play with each other, but I think, you know, every single day we’re getting better and every single day we’re working on ourselves and as a team.
“My teammates have been a key part in the transition and the coaching staff has done an amazing job, but it’s the guys in this locker room, with the jerseys, who have made it very easy for (my game) to translate.”
One of those teammates is Brunson, who Towns only ever refers to as “Cap,” which is short for “Captain.” The two are in the early stages of forming a partnership that, with more time, should present of one of the deadliest pick-and-roll/pop combos in hoops. The two are still searching for consistency, that perfect balance, the one where both get to do what makes them special while joining forces and creating something unstoppable. That’ll come with time.
“We can still get a lot better,” Brunson said.
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In getting traded to the Knicks, Towns reunited with his old coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached the big man in Minnesota and helped him reach heights hadn’t yet previously achieved as a player. The rockiness of their relationship back then has been well-documented, but when the opportunity to join forces presented itself just before the start of the regular season, both men were eager to give it another go. After all, both are committed to winning, and Towns was well aware that his first taste of success as a professional, both individually and in a team capacity, came under Thibodeau’s watch. Thibodeau, meanwhile, is more than aware of the special dynamic that Towns can bring to a basketball team offensively.
Thibodeau has as track record of maximizing his centers. Isaiah Hartenstein earned himself a hefty contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer because of how he performed under Thibodeau in New York last season. Thibodeau also has helped turn Mitchell Robinson into one of the more feared rim protectors in basketball. Thibodeau’s success with big men can be traced all the way back to Taj Gibson in Chicago.
During the second go-round with Thibodeau, Towns could very well have the best season of his career. Offensively, the coach has put Towns in positions to get downhill, be a hub at the top of the key and empowered him to unleash his lethal 3-point shot with even more regularity. The Knicks are a better team when Towns shoots more. Prior to this weekend, New York is 3-1 in games where Towns shoots at least five 3s in a game.
“We’re fourth in offensive rating, we’re top five in field-goal percentage, we’re No. 1 in 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage, but we need more,” Thibodeau said. “We need to get the volume up.”
Towns can do that, and with each passing game, he has been.
The 28-year-old big man has adjusted well to life in New York, even if the personal whirlwind of getting traded just before training camp from Minnesota, the only place he’s called home as an adult, took a while to slow down, even if he’s still looking for a physical home.
In New York, Towns is embracing who he is, as both a player and person, and what’s important to him. Part of that embrace is acknowledging those around him while still carrying what makes him special. This is New York after all, where everyone feels like an individual but things can’t get done without everyone working in unison.
The Knicks will be better because of how Towns is approaching this opportunity. It’ll just take time, as all great things tend to do.
(Top photo: Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
