Karl-Anthony Towns Breaks Down the Honor of Representing New York City

The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, searching for the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973.

New York City is buzzing with excitement as the Knicks prepare for the championship series. And on Monday, All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns explained what it means to represent the historic NBA organization and the city itself.

“It’s been an honor to be a part of this team, be a part of this organization that’s bringing the word ‘hope’ back to the city,” Towns said.

“The greatest currency you can earn in New York City is not money, but it’s respect,” he added. “To have the respect of the fans in the city, we are rich beyond belief here in the city.”

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Towns and the Knicks rolled through the Eastern Conference en route to the NBA Finals, winning 11 straight games dating back to their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. The team notched back-to-back series sweeps over the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, punching their ticket to the championship series.

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The Knicks will face off against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, who just took down the reigning NBA-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals series.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET from San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center on Wednesday.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:18 AM.