David Marchese writes: When the New York Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024, it was in the hope that the star center would help the team get over the hump from good to great. Well, that worked out nicely. Towns, a native New Jerseyan who grew up rooting for the Knicks, was a crucial contributor to the team’s glorious, joy-inducing NBA championship run this past spring, and arguably its most important player not named Jalen Brunson. If there’s one area in which Towns, who is engaged to the actress and influencer Jordyn Woods, is unequaled among his teammates, it’s his willingness to display his emotion both on and off the court. The eloquence and honesty with which he spoke during the finals about being motivated by the loss of his mother, and also his naked displays of elation and frustration as he dueled against the San Antonio Spurs’ phenom Victor Wembanyama, further endeared him to fans. We spoke about that, as well as his path to the N.B.A., the team’s interpersonal dynamics and what it means to win a championship for the long-suffering Knicks faithful. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/magazine/karl-anthony-towns-interview.html [01:08] The surreal feeling of winning the NBA Finals [02:07] Game 4: the historic comeback [06:12] OG's miraculous game-winner [08:24] Competing against Wemby and aggression [11:42] Playing for his mother's memory [13:05] Celebrating with family and Patrick Ewing [15:28] Showing emotion and vulnerability [16:26] Jordyn Woods and her lucky bag [17:54] Coaches Tom Thibodeau, Mike Brown and team strategy [22:44] The challenge of being traded [27:07] KAT’s defensive style [29:44] From baseball to basketball [33:13] League changes and Mitchell Robinson [35:55] Bringing joy to New York fans “The Interview” features conversations with the world’s most fascinating people. Each week, co-hosts David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro talk to compelling, influential figures in culture, politics, business, sports and beyond — illuminating who they are, why they do what they do and how they impact the rest of us. Subscribe to “The Interview”: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterviewpodcast Download the New York Times app: https://bit.ly/4gZdoip #theinterview #karlanthonytowns #knicks