Karl-Anthony Towns admits that he almost did not play for the Knicks on Friday

Karl-Anthony Towns was dealing with a big personal issue this week, as his father had a medical emergency. Considering Towns has had a tumultuous history with his family, he wanted to be there for his father during a tough time.

Despite the emergency, Towns' father made sure to give his son his blessing to play the game. The New York Knicks center wanted to step away from the team, but KAT's father made him play the game. It was an important decision because the Knicks needed him and his double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds.

The Knicks almost did not have Karl-Anthony Towns against the Nets

The Knicks almost lost to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, 93-92. It was one of the most disappointing performances of the 2025-26 season for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson did not have the best performance, as he only scored 17 points on an inefficient 7-for-19 from the field. 

Thankfully, Towns filled in as the star for the night with his big-time double-double. If he were not present, the Knicks could have easily lost the game, especially with the slow start they had, which made head coach Mike Brown show his frustration after the game.

MORE: Coach Brown spoke about his team's worrying slow starts in the games during this season

Towns had an inspired performance, which is a bit rare this season. Most people see Brunson as the superstar, while Towns is a distant secondary star. That was not the case in the 2024-25 season when he was a true co-star.

However, it seems the Knicks have made him settle for a smaller role. Thankfully, he can still step up when he is needed, even if it is during a tough time in his personal life.

"I wasn't going to play. Pops was adamant that he wanted me to play. I said I would show up for the game, I will head right back out. I'm gonna be with him again on the road to recovery," Towns said after the Knicks' close win against the Nets.

This is a significant result for the Knicks because it is an eye-opener. Relying on Towns during a tough time in his life can inspire the team to perform much better in future games. They might not have Towns in some games, and they should learn from him to step up when Brunson has an off night.

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