KAT Father’s – Karl-Anthony Towns shared an easy, trophy-filled Father’s Day remark tied to Rick Brunson, his Knicks run, and the lessons he says he carried from his late mother and his father — whose pride has been on full display since New York ended its 53-year title drou
When Karl-Anthony Towns walked onto a late-night stage with New York’s Larry O’Brien Trophy still fresh on his mind. the conversation turned—briefly and perfectly—to the holiday that’s coming up this weekend. Jimmy Fallon reminded him Father’s Day was on the calendar. Towns didn’t hesitate with his own punchline.
“I think we good, we got them a trophy,” said the six-time All-Star, responding to Fallon’s reminder: “Father’s Day is this weekend.” The exchange was captured by the NBA on June 16, 2026.
It was a small moment, but it fit the larger one Towns has been trying to write for years. For a long stretch of his career, he was tagged with negative labels. After helping the New York Knicks win the championship. he has “finally silenced the naysayers. ” including among fellow players. with the title acting as a response that didn’t need an argument.
Towns’ message carried emotion beyond the grin. In a separate, heartfelt note, he thanked his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, for guiding him through his journey. Cruz-Towns passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.
And even as he wears the title like a new chapter. Towns has kept one key part of his story rooted at home: his relationship with his father. Karl Towns Sr. The elder Towns was his first coach growing up in New Jersey. and Towns has said he is a self-confessed mama’s boy while also being close with his dad.
That closeness became visible after the Knicks did what they had not done in 53 years. The elder Towns was beaming with pride when the Knicks and his son won the championship in Game 5.
In a scene that looked like it belonged to a celebration more than a sports segment, Karl Towns Sr. even posed for a picture with Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson—both of them holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Knicks’ run was full of swings. and the championship series against the San Antonio Spurs carried its own particular weight. New York ended a 53-year title drought after beating the Spurs in five games. Game 4 featured a historic 29-point comeback, and Game 5 delivered a gutsy performance in crunch time.
Towns’ role in that arc began with strength and then tightened late. He had a strong start to the series but tapered off in the last three games. Still, he was instrumental against San Antonio, averaging 13.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks while making life difficult for Victor Wembanyama.
The week’s late-night appearance. the trophy photo. and the Father’s Day joke all land in the same place: Towns sharing the moment with the people who shaped his basketball path. His late mother’s guidance is written into his gratitude. His father’s presence is written into the celebration. And his quip on Father’s Day—dropping “we got them a trophy” like it was the only answer that mattered—was the kind of confidence only a champion can afford.
Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks Father’s Day Rick Brunson Jimmy Fallon Larry O’Brien Trophy San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama Game 5 Jacqueline Cruz-Towns Karl Towns Sr.