Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a strong performance against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, but he nearly missed the game due to a family emergency.
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The veteran New York Knicks player revealed during his postgame interview that his father had a medical issue. Towns almost skipped the game, but he played at his father's insistence.
"Shoutout to my pops," Towns said, per the team's X account. "He told me to come play today. Super excited. I was questionable, and I didn't think I was gonna play, but shoutout to my pops, man. My pops told me to come out here and play. He wanted to watch.
"I damn sure know he didn't want to see me do those two free throws like that. We'll talk about it later, but I know you watching pops, love you, know you recovering. I'm going to be back with you in a sec."
Sending good vibes to KAT and his family. 💙🧡
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) March 21, 2026
Towns entered the day with a questionable tag, creating concerns about his availability. He ultimately suited up and contributed significantly.
He scored 26 points and 15 rebounds, which helped the Knicks narrowly defeat the Nets 93-92. This marked the 14th consecutive Knicks win over the Nets, which extended the longest winning streak for either team in this rivalry.
"I've had a very long day," Towns added. "I had a long day yesterday, I've had a very long day today. I wasn't with the team, I was taking care of my family. I showed up just to play. I showed up just to play. I wanted to play for my teammates. I wanted to play, I wanted to be there for them."
Towns, the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, is currently in his second season with the New York Knicks. He started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and earned four trips to the All-Star Weekend in nine seasons. He also won Rookie of the Year.
The two-time All-NBA player headed to the Knicks ahead of the 2024-25 season and made an immediate impact. He earned another All-NBA nod and another All-Star trip.
