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In an effort to add depth to head coach Mike Brown’s roster, the New York Knicks are expected to shop two of their big men in trade rumors.
The New York Knicks hit the All-Star break with a 35-20 record, sitting third in the Eastern Conference standings. Both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns earned All-Star selections and headed west to Los Angeles for the weekend.
Saturday night brought the Shooting Stars Challenge at Intuit Dome. Brunson and Towns teamed with Knicks legend Allan Houston to compete for the title. New York’s trio won, finishing with the weekend’s championship trophy. The competition gave Brunson and Towns a chance to build chemistry outside of the regular season.
When media asked Brunson about sharing All-Star Weekend with Towns, he delivered a quote that showed how comfortable the two stars have become playing together.
Brunson Jokes About Towns’ Defense
Sunday’s All-Star Game featured a new format with three teams competing. Brunson played for USA Stripes. Towns represented Team World because of his Dominican Republic heritage. That setup created a moment where the Knicks teammates matched up directly.
During the third game, Brunson and Towns began guarding one another. Towns knocked down a long-range three. Brunson then found himself defended by his teammate on the next possession.
Reporters asked Brunson about that matchup after the game ended. His response showed the comfort level between New York’s stars.
“I knew no matter what shot I shot, the ball was going in,” Brunson said. “Whenever KAT’s guarding me, I know what’s gonna happen.”
The quote carried playful confidence. The two franchise stars got the chance to compete together and against each other on one of basketball’s biggest stages. New York will hope it strengthens the partnership that will carry New York through the season’s second half.
Towns Praises Brunson at All-Star Weekend
Karl-Anthony Towns also addressed what it meant to experience All-Star Weekend alongside Jalen Brunson during his media session in Los Angeles.
“It’s a blessing to have a teammate with me at All-Star weekend, someone so greatly talented like Jalen Brunson,” Towns said. “It’s really cool to be able to know that after All-Star we’re gonna go be teammates.”
The quote reflected appreciation. Towns acknowledged Brunson’s abilities and expressed enthusiasm about continuing their partnership once the break ended.
Brunson and Towns arrived in New York through different paths. Towns came via trade from Minnesota before the season started. Brunson signed as a free agent after his tenure in Dallas concluded. Both now lead the franchise’s push toward a championship.
All-Star Weekend reinforced their connection. They won the Shooting Stars Challenge as teammates. They faced each other in Sunday’s All-Star Game on opposing teams. Every interaction builds the foundation for what comes next in the regular season.
GettyThe New York Knicks Duo.
Towns Interrupts Edwards’ Postgame Interview
Karl-Anthony Towns displayed his personality throughout All-Star Weekend in ways that extended beyond his on-court performance.
After the final game, Anthony Edwards sat for a postgame interview following his MVP performance.
As the interview was underway, Towns walked across the court and interrupted to congratulate Edwards on his performance. Towns made a point to acknowledge his former Minnesota teammate’s success. The moment fit Towns’ reputation. Ant appreciated the gesture.
KAT walks across the court & interrupts Ant’s NBA TV interview to congratulate him on the MVP
Final Word for the Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson represented New York at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. They won the Shooting Stars Challenge. They competed against each other in Sunday’s All-Star Game with Towns on Team World and Brunson on USA Stripes.
Towns praised Brunson’s talent and called sharing the experience a blessing. Brunson joked about knowing what happens when Towns guards him. The playful confidence reflected comfort between two stars who understand each other’s games.
The best partnerships feature genuine respect and enjoyment playing together. Towns and Brunson demonstrated both in Los Angeles. They celebrated winning together. They competed against each other. And they showed mutual appreciation publicly.
New York stands third in the East at 35-20. The Knicks have built a foundation between their two stars. The second half determines whether it translates to playoff success.
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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