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Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods capped off Christmas Day with news far bigger than the final score. Hours after the New York Knicks edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 126–124 at Madison Square Garden, the longtime couple announced their engagement, marking a major milestone after five years together.
The announcement came via a joint Instagram post on Dec. 25, where Towns dropped to one knee at Overstory, a high-rise rooftop overlooking Manhattan, per People. The caption said it all, “Marry Christmas 🎄❤️💍.” Woods appeared in a white fuzzy coat layered over a white dress, while Towns wore a suede coat with black pants, turning a holiday win into a personal life moment that quickly spread across social media.
The timing felt intentional. Towns had just helped the Knicks secure a tight Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the proposal followed shortly after, blending basketball, celebration, and a relationship that has steadily grown away from the spotlight.
From Longtime Friends to Life Partners
Towns and Woods built their relationship long before romance entered the picture. The two knew each other for years through mutual connections and developed a close friendship before their relationship turned romantic in May 2020. They went public a few months later, confirming their relationship on Instagram that September.
During a 2021 appearance on Woods’ Instagram series Regular-ish, Towns explained how their bond evolved naturally. He shared that their friendship deepened into something more, especially during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when life slowed down and forced clarity about where they were headed together. Both chose to explore a deeper connection rather than remain just friends.
Woods echoed that perspective, emphasizing how dating someone who already knew her strengths and flaws helped anchor the relationship. She spoke about knowing each other on both good days and difficult ones, and how weathering those moments together created trust that went beyond surface-level chemistry.
That foundation continued to show publicly. In May 2024, the couple celebrated their fourth anniversary, and Woods marked the occasion by writing a song titled “Be with You,” a personal gesture that underscored how intertwined their creative and emotional lives had become.
A Relationship Built on Trust and Support
In a November 2023 interview with People, Woods credited friendship and trust as the backbone of their relationship. She explained that starting as close friends gave them the space to truly understand each other before dating, something she felt many couples skip. That slow build, she said, allowed them to see each other through different phases of life and grow stronger together.
Towns has shared similar sentiments. In a February 2024 People interview, he described Woods’ daily support as something he deeply values, both in his basketball career and beyond it. He referenced the influence of strong women in his life and said that background helped him fully appreciate what Woods brings to their relationship.
Years earlier, Towns even hinted at this moment. In March 2021, he addressed critics on social media by writing that the same voices doubting them would still be around when he eventually put a ring on her finger. Four years later, that prediction became reality.
Now engaged, Towns and Woods enter a new chapter that blends high-profile careers with a relationship rooted in friendship, patience, and shared growth, all sealed on Christmas Day in New York City.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
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