Karl-Anthony Towns became an NBA champion this past season, helping the New York Knicks capture their first title since 1973. 

Throughout the course of his career, Towns has endured personal loss and professional struggles that would've kept a lesser man and player down and out.

2025-26 marked the second season in New York for Towns after a shocking trade in the 2024 offseason. Just days before training camp opened, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. 

Towns was drafted first overall by the Timberwolves in 2015, spending nine seasons with the franchise before the deal.

During his nine season with Minnesota, Towns became one of the most beloved players in franchise history, and looked like he was building something alongside Anthony Edwards, who was taken first overall in 2020.

The team made the Western Conference Finals in 2024, and Towns was traded just months later. 

The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, knocking off the Western Conference Champions in just five games. On their way to the Finals, the Spurs defeated the Timberwolves in the second round in six games. 

Speaking at Fanatics Fest, Edwards revealed how he helped Towns and the Knicks in the Finals. 

“I’d give him tips on which players like to go where and tell him stuff about Wemby. I gave him a cheat code and he passed the test," said Edwards. 

Victor Wembanyama still averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks in the Finals, but was held to 42% shooting from the field and 27% from three. 

Towns struggled on the offensive end in the Finals, averaging just 13 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists after averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the first three rounds of the playoffs. 

He shot 57% from the field and 48% from three as the Knicks went 12-2 through the Eastern Conference, including two straight sweeps of the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round and Eastern Conference Finals. 

In the Finals, he shot 49% from the field and 33% from three. 

Towns may have struggled compared to the rest of the playoffs, but his teammates were able to pick him up, and he wasn't a complete negative like Randle was for the Timberwolves against the Spurs in the second round.