Reigning NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns has opened up about a trade to the Milwaukee Bucks that was more than just a notion.

Although the New York Knicks went on to win their first title in 53 years in June, their journey to the summit wasn't always rosy — even midway through last season. 

Towns revealed that following the Knicks' 114-97 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Jan. 19 — the vibes were so low that he thought he was on his way out.

The fact that trade rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo going to New York were only heating up didn't help.

"We were on Zillow looking at Milwaukee," Towns said, describing his conversations with his wife, Jordyn. He was encouraging her to check out local real estate. "Like, 'Hey babe, I went around town, and it's not that bad. This could be a good spot right here." 

What happened next is history. What would have happened if Towns replaced Giannis on the Bucks, we will never know. Antetokounmpo is now a member of the Miami Heat.

The Knicks got it together after that loss to the Mavericks. After a 2-9 stretch in January — during which Towns' wife said she stopped going to games for a while because of the negativity — New York rattled off a 27-10 run to end the regular season. 

Adversity hit again in the playoffs, when the Knicks fell behind Atlanta 2-1 in the first round — leading to the ultimate turning point. That's when Towns and head coach Mike Brown came together and forged a new way forward.

The duo wasn't always on the same page. But once Brown made Towns the 'hub' of the Knicks' offense — as a scorer and facilitator — New York surged to 13 straight postseason wins, reaching the Finals before winning them in five games against the San Antonio Spurs. 

"Whatever was needed, I was willing to do at the highest level and be a star in my role," Towns said. "I think, in my career, I've always talked about my versatility, and it took that word to get this championship." 

KAT turned in a historic playoff run, recording the best plus-minus total (+259) since the league officially started tracking the statistic 20 years ago.

A true winner isn't defined by how much he can score in order to will his team to victory.

It's more about the intangibles and what you are willing to sacrifice. Giannis knows something about that, and Towns was another perfect example.

KAT averaged 24.4 points per game in his first year with the Knicks — 21.4 in the playoffs en route to an Eastern Conference Finals exit. In Year 2, he tallied 20.1 points per tilt. Towns being an elite scorer and self-proclaimed best shooting big man in history is no secret.

However, his willingness to tweak his role for the betterment of the team is commendable. That's a character trait that would be well received on any team — including the Bucks, who now appear quite far from contention. 

Towns tallied 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists across 19 postseason games in the Knicks' championship run. He added 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. 

A couple of glaring differences: KAT's assists went up from three per game in the regular season that year — and just 1.3 in the last playoffs. Additionally, his defensive commitment and effort skyrocketed. As did his efficiency, shooting a whopping 55.1 percent from the field and 45.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The way Towns was able to adjust and do what needed to be done for the sole purpose of winning is a great reminder to everyone chasing the same goal he was; it's never too late.