What Knicks’ Patrick Ewing texted Karl-Anthony Towns after emotional NBA championship moment

Long before the New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Championship with Karl-Anthony Towns as their starting center, another legendary center had come real close. The Knicks went all the way to the NBA Finals back in 1994 with Patrick Ewing as their star man, eventually losing to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets 4-3.

For that reason alone, KAT and Jalen Brunson leading New York to end the 53-year-old draught also ‘healed’ something for Ewing. And well, KAT even sought out Ewing after winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals for an embrace, with the latter texting the 30-year-old a few days later, per The Athletic.

“I’m still pinching myself,” the message read. “I really appreciate you searching me out because that made it more special for me.”

KAT, who recently married long-term partner Jordyn Woods, also had his then-fiance in attendance for support. Woods revealed that Ewing’s own daughters were in attendance during Game 5, who revealed exactly how huge the moment was for her father as well.

“She was crying, and she told me that this healed something inside of her dad,” she said.

There is little doubt that the moment meant a lot for a range of former stars as well. Ewing is seen as one of the most legendary players in Knicks history, and finished his career as an 11-time All-Star.

He spent 15 seasons in New York, and eventually played for the likes of the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic as well. However, while he came agonizingly close to winning the championship in New York, Ewing finished his career without a ring, a draught that then extended to 53 years before KAT and company were able to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in five games last season.

Needless to say, Ewing not only valued the moment, but was also delighted with the way Towns sought him out after the championship landed.