Karl-Anthony Towns is writing his name in the New York Knicks’ history after leading his team to a thrilling 105-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 at the Frost Bank Center.
Towns’ dominant night against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs prompted NBA legend Charles Barkley to offer the highest praise for the Knicks center.
Charles Barkley Makes Bold MVP Claim for Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns’ offensive arsenal has become a big problem for the Spurs, and he has reinforced that reputation with another phenomenal performance in Game 2 of the series.
Towns was the best player for New York on Friday, impacting the game and making life difficult for San Antonio on both ends of the floor.
Shooting 8-of-12 from the field (66.7%) and knocking down 3-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc, he finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
He became the first Knicks player since Dave DeBusschere in 1973 to record a 20-point double-double in a road Finals game.
After back-to-back standout performances, Barkley delivered a strong MVP endorsement for the Knicks star.
“He’s been criticized in Minnesota, he’s been criticized in New York. The MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns,” Barkley said. “He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. He was great in Game 1, he was great in Game 2. That man earned his flowers.”
Towns faced intense scrutiny throughout his career and was frequently labeled “soft” by analysts during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After being traded to New York, the spotlight intensified, but his current Finals surge has shifted the outlook.
The criticism around Towns dates back to 2018, when Jimmy Butler’s comments after a heated practice reportedly fueled perceptions about his toughness.
Years later, KAT now sits just two wins away from a championship.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have performed phenomenally throughout the Finals, overcoming a 14-point deficit in Game 1 and a 12-point deficit in Game 2, marking the first time since 1975 that a team has produced double-digit comebacks in the first two games of the Finals.
They have now won 13 straight postseason games and joined the 2016–17 Golden State Warriors in accomplishing the feat.
New York’s current eight-game road winning streak also ties them with 2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest such streak in a single playoff run.
With the momentum on their side, the Knicks very well possess the quality to get over the line and clinch their first championship in 53 years.
