Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns is unapologetically New York

It was like a wrestling promo was interrupted.

Friday night, after thumping the Milwaukee Bucks in New York 116-94, Knicks star Jalen Brunson stood with his back to his locker and a herd of reporters in his face. The security guard was talking about all the things New York did right when, between answers, music abruptly sounded from the doorway: a song by the late MF Doom, an underground British-American rapper who grew up in New York. Naturally, the reporters' necks turned and in came Karl-Anthony Towns, the four-time All-Star big man who was traded to the Knicks last month.

Towns' phone played a series of New York rap songs, like the late Black Rob's “Whoa,” and then he had a conversation about Yonkers native Jadakiss, a favorite of Towns who was present for the Knicks' win.

Towns hails from nearby Edison, NJ, which is less than an hour's drive from Manhattan on a good traffic day, and since returning to the city on the biggest stage in his profession, everything about him has been unapologetically New York. He has loudly embraced the city and his roots — from the music he shares publicly, to his wardrobe, which often includes vintage modern or vintage Knicks gear, to his Dominican heritage and obsession with the Yankees. After Knicks games, both home and away, Towns sat in the locker room, glued to a television and watching New York's most famous baseball team in the World Series.

Playing so close to home has a special appeal.

“My mother's family… the Dominicans are very excited,” said Towns, who is half Dominican. “My father, my mother, who immigrated here from the Dominican Republic, Madison Square Garden, it was Mecca. And for our family it has always been the Mecca. To be able to play in a place that she so revered. It clearly evokes a different emotion.”

Since he arrived, the New York-centric nicknames “The Big Bodega” and “Bodega KAT” have been tossed around as possible alternate names for his signature “KAT,” and he's fine with both. “I'll let the people decide,” Towns said.

“I don't think he really likes being called 'Meow,'” Knicks swingman Josh Hart said when asked if he'd learned anything about Towns in the past month. “I learned that. I haven't called him that in a while.”

Towns embraces his roots from the ground up and in turn, he gets to embrace them on the field. There is both emotion and showmanship after many buckets. There's nothing more New York than that. He tries to dunk opponents. Difficult. And he has succeeded a few times. He is one of the best rebounders in the league early in the season, and according to NBA.com, no player is better at grabbing rebounds in traffic. No one should doubt his toughness.

Many players would find themselves in a new situation and start hesitantly. Many players who join an already successful team would try to conform to fit in. Still, Towns came to New York and stood out. He has been one of the best offensive players in basketball, averaging 24.3 points on 53/56/90 shooting splits. He's still one of the best big men to ever shoot a basketball.

Towns in New York was, well, Towns.

“The guys in this locker room welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable,” Towns said. “They want me to play my game. Obviously there will be moments where we will have to find cohesion because we are still not used to playing with each other, but I think we are improving every day and getting better every day. Every day we work on ourselves and as a team.

“My teammates have played a key role in the transition and the coaching staff has done a great job, but it's the guys in this locker room, with the jerseys, who have made it very easy for (my game) to translate.”

One of those teammates is Brunson, who Towns only calls “Cap,” which is short for “Captain.” The two are in the early stages of forming a partnership that, with more time, should result in one of the deadliest pick-and-roll/pop combos in hoops. The two are still searching for consistency, that perfect balance, the one where they can both do what makes them special while joining forces and creating something unstoppable. That will come with time.

“We can still get a lot better,” Brunson said.

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By being traded to the Knicks, Towns reunited with his old coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached the big man in Minnesota and helped him reach heights he had never reached before as a player. The rockiness of their relationship at the time is well documented, but when the opportunity to join forces presented itself just before the start of the regular season, both men were eager to give it another try. After all, both are determined to win, and Towns was well aware that his first taste of success as a professional, both individually and as a team, came under Thibodeau's tutelage. Thibodeau is now more than aware of the special dynamic that Towns can bring to a basketball team offensively.

Thibodeau has a track record of maximizing his centers. Isaiah Hartenstein earned a big contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer because of the way he performed under Thibodeau in New York last season. Thibodeau has also helped make Mitchell Robinson one of the most feared rim protectors in basketball. Thibodeau's success with big men can be traced all the way back to Taj Gibson in Chicago.

In the second round with Thibodeau, Towns could very well have the best season of his career. Offensively, the coach has put Towns in positions to go downhill, be a pivot at the top of the key and allowed him to hit his deadly three-point shot with even more regularity. The Knicks are a better team when Towns shoots more. Prior to this weekend, New York was 3-1 in games in which Towns shot at least five threes in a game.

“We're fourth in offensive class, we're top five in field goal percentage, we're No. 1 in 3-point percentage and free throw percentage, but we need more,” Thibodeau said. “We need to get the volume up.”

Cities can do that, and with every passing game he has been.

The 28-year-old big man has adjusted well to life in New York, even if it took some time to overcome the personal whirlwind of moving from Minnesota, the only place he calls home as an adult, just before training camp. slowed down. if he is still looking for a physical home.

In New York, Towns embraces who he is, as a player and as a person, and what is important to him. Part of that embrace is acknowledging those around him while still carrying what makes him special. This is New York, after all, where everyone feels like an individual, but things can't get done without everyone working together.

The Knicks will be better because of the way Towns approaches this opportunity. It will just take time, as all great things do.

(Top photo: Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)