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Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are riding a wave of momentum.
New York improved to 31-18 on Saturday night with a 112-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden. The victory extended the Knicks’ winning streak to six games and reinforced their position as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the glass and posted a team-high plus-23 performance.
The win came during a stretch where Towns has been mentioned in trade rumors, particularly as speculation around Giannis Antetokounmpo has intensified across the league. But Sunday night brought a different kind of headline.
Towns received news that quieted some of the noise surrounding his name.
What Towns Learned on Sunday
Karl-Anthony Towns has been selected to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
The announcement arrived during the NBA on NBC pregame show Sunday night. Towns earned a spot as an Eastern Conference reserve, joining Jalen Brunson for the second year in a row. This is Towns’ sixth career All-Star nod.
Towns will join Donovan Mitchell, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and first-time selections Jalen Duren, Norman Powell, and Jalen Johnson as the East’s reserves. The game takes place February 15 in Los Angeles.
The honor arrives during a season where Towns has absorbed criticism. His scoring is down from previous campaigns, and trade chatter has trailed him through January. But the coaches who voted saw past the surface numbers.
Towns leads the NBA in rebounding. And that matters.
Making his 6th NBA All-Star appearance… Karl-Anthony Towns of the @nyknicks.
Drafted as the 1st pick in 2015 out of Kentucky, @KarlTowns is averaging 20.0 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 2.9 APG for the Knicks this season.
Historic Stretch for the Knicks
New York now has two All-Stars for the third straight season.
That may not immediately register as significant, but the history tells a different story. You have to go back to the early 1970s to find the last time the Knicks sent multiple players to the All-Star Game in three consecutive years. Back then, Clyde Frazier and Willis Reed represented New York.
Brunson and Towns will not share the floor during the game itself. The league’s format keeps teammates separated. But the recognition still carries weight.
Brunson is putting up 27.6 points and 6.0 assists per game this season while establishing himself among the league’s top point guards. Towns supplies the interior size and perimeter shooting that allows New York’s offense to operate with balance.
Combined, they have pushed the Knicks to 31 wins through 49 games and kept New York a legitimate factor in the Eastern Conference.
GettyThe New York Knicks Duo is on the verge of making team history.
What Towns Has Brought Despite the Struggles
Towns is enduring his worst offensive campaign in years.
His scoring average of 20.0 points per game matches his rookie season output from 2015-16. His shooting percentages have fallen to career lows, 46.1 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep. He has struggled to find any offensive rhythm in certain games, and his league-leading total in offensive fouls reflects that disconnect.
But he has compensated in other areas.
Towns sits atop the NBA rebounding leaderboard at 11.8 boards per game. Against the Lakers, he attacked the glass from the opening tip and controlled the boards during the decisive second half, posting a double-double.
Final Word for the Knicks
Trade rumors have clung to Karl-Anthony Towns all month, amplified by league-wide speculation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For now, KAT is headed to Los Angeles for the All-Star Game.
Brunson and Towns will both represent New York on February 15. Three consecutive seasons with two All-Stars, a run the franchise has not matched since the early 1970s.
Trade rumors will persist. The deadline hits February 5, just ahead of the All-Star break. For now, Towns has earned the validation his work deserves.
And in the meantime, the Knicks head to Washington on Tuesday to meet the Wizards.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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