We Ask Karl-Anthony Towns: Will the New York Knicks Win Back-to-Back Titles? | The Interview

I'm right next to him. I was going to I. was going to dunk it. I was going to. dunk it in. >> I was going to dunk it. I I see an OG. flying in the sky and I'm like, "All. right, well, if he if he tries to tip. the ball back in and goes off the front. ring, I'm I'm going to dunk it back in. [music]. How. >> you doing?". >> Thank you. I love you. I'm David Marquesy and today I'm talking. to NBA champion Carl Anthony Towns. The. 7- foot tall center for the New York. Knicks helped the team secure its first.

title in 53 years. Lighting up the. court, the city, and the country. [cheering]. Towns, who also goes by Cat, grew up in. New Jersey, so joining the Knicks in. 2024 was something of a homecoming. His. mother died of complications from COVID. in 2020 and he has said her memory. fueled him through this year's playoffs. >> My mom taught me really well how to uh. be passionate about the game and and how. to love playing the game at highest. level.

>> So, what's it like making New Yorkers. the happiest they've been [cheering]. maybe ever. >> Here's my conversation with Carl Anthony. Towns. >> Carl Anthony, thank you for being here. >> I appreciate you having me. Um, you. know, even just on the way into the. studio, Yeah. >> there were people uh congratulating you, wanting to shake your hand. Yeah. And. when I've been talking to Nick's fans, something people will say is, "I can't. believe that happened." You know, almost.

like, "I still can't believe it.". >> Well, I was going to say, how does it. how does it feel to you now, like about. a month after it happened? It still is u. something hard to believe, you know, 53. years, me as a Knicks fan growing up, just seeing uh the Knicks not be able to. win the championship and to uh be in a. Knicks jersey and be the one to do it. with the Knicks. Uh it's an honor. It's. a blessing. I I still can't fathom that. we've done it. And I keep now being. hearing people call me champ and I'm. like, I don't know why they keep calling. me that, but uh it's something that I.

I've I've earned and it's something that. we've earned and the city's earned. and. the right to be calling ourselves. champions. >> All right, I want to do some pure like. relive the magic fan service with you. right now. So, I think game four of the. finals, >> okay, >> is the game that people are going to. >> I don't know what happened that game. [laughter]. >> No one knows what happened that game. Uh, but that's the game that people are. going to be talking about years from. now. >> And so, >> first half of that game, >> you guys are getting your butts kicked. You know, you're down. >> I feel like that was all playoffs. It.

was the whole It was the whole finals. But but talk to me about what you were. thinking and feeling, >> you know, like late in the first half. when you're down almost 30. Like I I. know you're gonna say, you know, we're. just need to hit singles, stay in it. But there was there a moment where like, oh, this is just not our night or. they're kicking our our butts tonight. >> I mean, I'll put the words for you cuz I. know you don't want to say we was. getting our ass kicked for sure. And um. in doing that, you know, they're hitting. shots. We're not hitting many shots. U. they're executing at a higher level. We. weren't. um they were bringing more.

physicality to the game than us and we. weren't. So, we had to uh take our game. to another level and amplify ourselves. And in the in the face of adversity, we. found ourselves finding our best version. in the second half. And um last year we. had the same situation in Boston, game. one and game two, and we found ourselves. winning down 20 plus. And um you know, at halftime, I just told the guys and. everyone, you know, we have experience. coming back from these moments, especially in the playoffs. just trust. our experience, trust each other, and if.

anything, let's go out there and and. let's swing for the fences, you know, at. least give ourselves a chance, you know, and and if not, at least we'll have a. different standard walking into the next. game. We build off of this game, get. ready for game um, you know, for game uh. five. But this team, man, they're. special. Have no quit in them, and we. went out there in the second half, and. we found a way to get the job done. And. then when in the second half do you. really think. all right this this might happen? Is it.

is it you know I think it's early in the. fourth you hit the three falling down. >> Oh yeah. Step back. >> Yeah. Yeah. But when did you really. foul? Oh no I'm just playing with you. >> Yeah I know you were trying. Don't. answer that. Don't answer that. Don't. answer that. Um I thought we had a good. chance of winning. >> when I walked in the building. >> Oh felt I felt really good. [laughter] I. told my wife, I told everybody, I felt. really, really good about the game. Um, obviously, as the first half was going. on, I was like, man, maybe I was wrong. First half didn't give me the best.

feelings, but, uh, second half, I think. as soon as we got it into like that. 15-point range, I felt really good about. our team, uh, finding a way to win. >> And do you feel in that moment when. you're starting to claw back and getting. closer, do you feel the Spurs tightening. up? Like what is your analysis of what's. happening on the other side? I think I. think sometimes when you're a young. team, you you look to not lose the game. and we were looking to win the game and. that was what made us bring such an. aggression to the game and um I think.

they were trying to protect the lead, you know, and um you know, if you looked. at our playoff [clears throat] our. playoff run, you seen us get a lead and. instead of protecting the lead, we're. trying to build the lead. I think there. was also one stretch too where maybe. they took something like nine. three-pointers in a row and you feel. like maybe a maybe a more mature team. takes a different approach. >> You know, it's so weird because when. you're in the game, that's why a lot of. times I know reporters hate when we say. was I got to watch the game to like. actually give you an honest answer on. the situation you're asking, but cuz in. the game I didn't realize and this is my.

first time hearing that they took nine. threes at one point in the game. I mean, even it was six, seven, eight. We. weren't aware of that because we're so. locked into the game just trying to find. a way to get a stop, go back down the. court, and make a bucket. You're not. really thinking about what type of shots. they're shooting. You're just I just. need to get a stop at all costs, whatever it takes. Um, whatever threes. they hit, they hit two big threes. Uh, what De'Aran Fox hit leftwing three and. then Victor hit a pull up two-pointer. Um they hit some shots at the end, but.

we did such a great job as a team just. sticking with it, finding ways to make. that one bucket, get that one stop. And. of course, the right hand of God came. through of OG getting the tip in. >> All right, you need to tell me about. OG's play. What like where are you on. the court? What is your sense of. >> I'm right next to him. I was I was going. to dunk it. I was going to dunk it in. >> I [laughter] was going to dunk it. I I. seen an OG flying in the sky and I'm. like, "All right, well, if he if he. tries to tip the ball back in and it. doesn't um it goes long and it goes off.

the front rim, I'm I'm going to dunk it. back in." OG made it. It was it was. something special. You know, the play. was the play was designed to go to me. and then two people guarded me, inbounder and the person defending me. And we fin we got the ball to JB and JB. took a quick uh pullup three and uh OG. who was inbounding the ball found. himself with uh no one on him and he. crashed to the board and got offensive. rebound which was the tip in and found a. way to make the bucket. I mean it's. going to go down as one of the greatest. plays in New York history, one of the.

greatest plays in NBA Finals history. >> And then when you see that ball go. through the hoop, >> what is the feeling that goes through. your body at that moment? Or are you. even having thoughts? >> No. But when you see me in the game, you. see me telling everybody, "It's so. loud." I didn't hear the whistle. So, I. just see people running on the court. So, my first reaction is to tell. everyone, "Get off the court right now.". And like, "Let's like, let's stay. focused on the game." But then I realize. I look back and I see the ref grabbing. the ball. And I'm like, "Oh, it's a. timeout." I see OG and OG is very uh you.

know OG how he doesn't everyone this is. New York Times. I mean, New York all. knows how OG is. And um I just saw him. and it was one of those things, you. know, you want to hype him up and stuff, but I have such a close friendship with. OG's, one of my best friends. I was I. was like, "Nah, you go get a hug for. this one. This is this is a career. changing bucket for all of us at one. time." And uh you know, and then he gave. us a chance. We still had to get a stop. and he gave us a chance to get that. stop. Um blessed and God is good to us. I was able to get a hand on the.

basketball too on the inbound inbound. for Ste for for Castle. Did OG ever have. more to say about that play in the. locker room or was it Did [laughter] he. do the same? >> No. OG went to the locker room, you. know, he did the usual OG. Has no. reaction, no emotion on his face. whatsoever. And he was just like, "Yeah, I guess I made it. I guess [laughter]. you know OG OG's too funny, man.". >> Um, let me There's another moment from. the series I want to ask you about. I. think you had just scored against Webby. and maybe it was a a timeout, a TV.

timeout and you're coming off the court. and you know we're not supposed to curse. here but I'm going to say but you the. cameras caught you saying something like. >> oh uh something like uh. >> he can't uh fudge with me. maybe what you said but in that like did. you feel like you had um understood. something about how to play against him. or what like what was that in response? I was just being competitive. That's all. respect to the opponents and stuff. I. just uh was being competitive and I have.

tremendous confidence in my ability and. what I do and the work I put in. So, >> um. >> you know, it was the moment. It's the. NBA finals and you're on the biggest. stage against one of the best players in. the world and uh I wanted to prove again. after all these years to prove again. where I stand in the NBA. >> Yeah. Because you had to take it a. little personally just as a competitor, right? to hear. >> No, I mean I just. >> Well, to hear how much people are. talking about WBY before. >> I I don't I'm glad he deserves it. He's. a generational player. He's uh 75, 74,

whatever you want to say. He's extremely. tall and he's and he's god gifted with. intangibles that none of us were able to. get. I mean, I'm 7 foot, thank God, but. 7'4 would have been cool, too. And um he. deserved it. But, you know, I I've I've. earned my stripes in this league, too. And uh I'm a competitor and I wanted to. go against I always say I want to go out. there and play against the best and I. was out there with one of the best and. >> uh we just wanted to compete at a high. level. >> And when when you talk about being a.

competitor. >> I think [clears throat] you're known for. being a nice guy, sweet guy. Even just. talking to you now like you know you. smile easily. You have [laughter] a nice. disposition. You're joking around you in. in the uh in the green room. But I can. imagine that being, you know, a. professional basketball player, you. know, sort of. pushes you towards a kind of, you know, aggression or hardness. And is that. something that. >> came naturally or did you feel like you. had to develop that side of who you. were? >> I was definitely more aggressive and.

when I was younger. And. >> when you were younger, you were more I I. just had a mean streak to me cuz I. understood what it was to uh be the. young kid playing with the older kids. playing basketball. there there's no. respect given to the young kid, especially to the younger brother. So, uh I had to go earn it. And uh every day. I learned how to earn it when I was, you. know, 13 playing U16 basketball, U7. basketball. Um going out there and. competing against the best of the best. at age groups way higher than mine. And. you know, [snorts] when you doing that,

you understand, you know, you got to. bring that kind of aggression to the. game. Especially for me at the time, I. wasn't physically mature yet to dominate. or or out physicality these older older. uh kids. So, you learn how to get crafty. with it. You learn how to get a little. finesse with the game. And then as I got. older, I had the finesse. I learned the. physical attributes, you know, to. playing against older kids. I I actually. got my, you know, my strength. I got my. my my maturity going. So, um while doing. that, I also learned, you know, how to.

maintain it. My mom taught me really. well how to uh take that aggression and. and utilize it to my advantage and also. be passionate about the game and and how. to love playing the game at a highest. level. >> You spoke very movingly. I think it was. after game one, right, about your mom in. an encore interview where, you know, you. lost her during COVID and you talked. about how, you know, she was kind of. there with you and it it's. >> it seemed clear that sort of this this. idea that.

>> in a way you were playing for her Yeah. was motivating. Is is that actually what. was going on? Like do you did you think. during the playoffs like I I am here. >> trying to sort of commemorate my mother. in a way? >> Um. >> like what were you thinking about in. terms of. >> For me for me I think about the finals. and I say you know I I've dedicated my. life to this game. I've I've dedicated. my my my. time with her and and precious time I. could have been hanging out with her, enjoying life with her. I I spent it in.

the gym working on my game, working on. my craft, playing basketball games. Um, you know, getting treatment on my body, getting ready for the next game, you. know, mentally, not maybe always being. 100% present cuz I'm thinking about that. opponent. I'm thinking about that team. that has coming up. We got that big game. coming up. So, I've I've sacrificed so. much for this game. Um, it would be a. disservice to her if I didn't try to. capitalize on this opportunity as much. as possible. So, I wanted to make uh.

make her proud and I wanted to uh. maximize this opportunity because I've. worked my whole life for it. >> And did you find yourself thinking about. her at moments during the games? >> I mean, I think about her all the time. >> It's not just basketball. My life. doesn't revolve around basketball. It's. just my job. >> I still have a whole life outside that. um revolves not around basketball. And. uh I think about her with the basketball. in hand and not. >> And who who after you guys won, who was. most meaningful for you to celebrate.

with in terms of sort of remembering. your mom and and having. >> remembering my mom? Uh my wife. >> Yeah. >> You know, with being with Jordan, I. think was great. You know, the next. closest woman in my life was there and. able to uh you know, celebrate that. moment with me and seeing all the trials. and tribulations it took to get there. you know, trading from Minnesota to New. York, coming up short last year this. year, all the rumors and everything, trade rumors and stuff, and then to. still find yourself in the spot, winning. the championship is uh, you know,

testament to her love she's given me all. and the support she's given me, and to. my father as well, who has been with me. every step of the journey since birth. And, um, it was really special. I think. the most meaningful. one after I spoke on was Patrick Euing. just to see all that. >> just all that years of misery and and. and and it's just that exhale he had you. know I could tell he just had the weight. of the world on his shoulders and for. finally for the first time he could like. breathe and he could see the end goal. for the Knicks. We had talked about this.

moment since I got here and um you know. I've leaned on his experience, his. wisdom and not only that he's been. become a really really great friend of. mine and someone I love to just pick up. the phone and just talk with and and. have a good time. And I know while he. may have been disappointed that he was. not the one in the jersey bringing it. home, he is the Knicks culture. He is. the Knicks team, you know, he's the most. recognized Nick of all time. and for him. to um especially in my life that I've. been able to recognize and see. So um.

he's played against my dad too and and. just to see that moment happened um and. to see him finally get that moment to. hold the trophy. I knew how much it. actually meant to him on the side as. well. >> Yeah. What did what did you guys say to. each other after you won? No, it just. simply it was this was something that he. needed to see in life and uh I'm just. honored I was able to make it happen and. help him uh help his team make it happen. for him. And I think the the way that. you know in press conferences and and.

you know in um on the court interviews. after the game, the way that you're. willing to show your emotion. >> and and be vulnerable in those moments, be yourself and be yourself is is not. something that um. >> I don't know that it's something that we. necessarily encourage in in professional. athletes. Is that something that like. you consciously decided you. >> were going to be willing to put yourself. out there in that way? >> You just can't be any other way. >> I just I'm just myself, not trying to be.

anybody. I'm just trying to answer the. questions as honestly as I can. And and. and in doing that, I'm just. >> I guess my personality shows itself. sometimes. And uh I'm not going to say. sorry for any of it because that's how. my mother raised me. She told me to be. comfortable in my skin. I've always been. comfortable in my skin and uh to never. diminish my light and my value to uh um. help other people's narratives and. opinions uh get amplified. >> Have you learned anything from Jordan. Woods about how to be a public figure?

Cuz you know, she's obviously an. influencer, an actress. What What has. >> It's weird. It's it's a it's it's I. guess you could say a relationship in. Hollywood hasn't lasted as long as ours. like usual. It doesn't do it. That's. just kind of not the norm. And then we. found ourselves uh finding each other at. the foundational level of just being. friends for years. And um now we're. here, wedding bells uh incoming soon. So. um I just uh I think for her, she's just. taught me so much about um. about myself and and things I had to.

work on myself that I maybe I wasn't. willing to work on or I didn't. recognize. And she makes me better all. around, you know, and and and also just. made me better with patience as well. and her uh handbag of course became. [laughter] sort of like a lucky charm. for the team. >> Yeah, the one that won us the chip for. show. >> Even I think it was at the Guggenheim. for a while. >> It is. It's been at the Guggenheim. I. still It's still there. >> Is it? >> It's still there. >> So, do you know where it's going to be. in your house? Do you have a a. >> Well, this week it'll be leaving the. Guggenheim because it's going to. Fanatics Festival, Michael Rubin and.

everybody. So, uh it's going to be. really cool to have all the fans and New. York fans be able to get close to the. bag and see it in a sports environment. Um, after that I think I think she needs. to retire. It's a she. So yeah, the bag. is a she. So I think she needs to. retire. I think she needs to go to uh. our house and just live it live its days. with the sun in his face and just. enjoying what it's been able to. accomplish. >> I also want to ask some some questions. about the kind of internal dynamics of. of the team. Um, you know, one of the.

the big changes obviously between last. year and this year was the coaching. change and something that people pointed. to in terms of like key differences. between Tibs and Mike Brown is um, you. know, certain flexibility or or like uh, Coach Brown's willingness to have back. and forth with players or change. dynamics. >> Yeah, the both the coaches did an. amazing job. One took us to the Eastern. Conference Finals and we just came up. short. the other took the same team that. Tibs did an amazing job with, was able.

to watch from afar and see what he could. do from his coaching style, his. personality traits to help us. Um, and. we found a way to win a championship, but that's not a testament to Tibs not. being the guy or um, Tibs not being good. enough. He's always been good enough. He. has a championship to show for as well. Tibs is an amazing coach, an amazing guy. person, too. And and to see his growth. as a person from when I was with him in. Minnesota to the when I got here to the. Knicks has been amazing. and and it's. made us u even closer and um man Tib.

Tibs gets a lot of credit for this man. >> But you know I'm not this I'm not trying. to uh subtly you know throw shade on. coach Tibs or anything but just like. from your perspective what was the. biggest change that coach Brown brought. to the team to help you guys get to that. next step. >> I mean he just he he he built off of. what you know on an amazing foundation. that Tibet had set and then he built off. of that and added his own um his own. swag and flavor to it. So, um, util, you. know, I think he did a great job of of.

finding the right combinations that. worked. You know, Landry Shamut was huge. in the playoffs and shout out to Ariel. Haporti, too, man. He had some big. moments when we really, really needed. him. And Mitchell Robinson and um, Jos. Alvarado, you know, and you could go. down the list. Muhammad Diawara, all. these people had an amazing impact on. the game, especially Tyler Kolic during. the year when JB got hurt. Played some. amazing basketball. So, I think Mike did. a great job of just finding at the right. time in the right place where he needed. to put, you know, certain players into. the game and not put them in the game.

Shout out to him. Um, amazing uh chess. game he played. >> And and so in uh the first round of the. playoffs, right, you're down 2-1 to the. Hawks and then there is this it seems. like there's this uh strategic decision. made [clears throat] to change where. sort of you're playing on the court to. run more of the offense through you. You're sort of standing basically at the. top of the the top of the key album. >> Top of the key hub. >> Um, and just talk to me about like from. a from a strategic basketball.

perspective and then also from a Carl. Anthony Town psychologically. perspective, what was the importance of. that change? Like what did it unlock? Uh, I mean for us as a team being the. hub, it it drew out the, you know, their. fiveman or their fourman and it and it. put us in a great spot where the fourman. if he was guarding me was guarding, you. know, their fiveman would have to guard. OG or Josh, which, you know, with that. speed advantage and that and and that. kind of advantage, I was able to utilize. my passing ability to get guys easy. buckets, easy passes, easy um, plays to.

be made. Whether if it was me getting an. assist or me making the pass that led to. the assist, you know, it was making it. easier on our offense. It took so much. pressure off of JB having to dribble. dribble dribble and figure out like. what's going to happen. So, and it put. it made it easier for him to score, you. know, less energy expended. It gave us. more energy to do other things. And for. me as a as a as a competitor, as a. player, uh something I asked for all. year, you know, and it was finally uh. time to uh utilize that that talk. And.

um you know, my teammates trusted me, Mike trusted me, the coaching staff. trusted me, and a vital point of our uh. of our season, probably the most vital. point. And um I was I'm just glad I was. able to repay their trust with some uh. amazing games. >> So, you'd had that idea earlier in the. season. >> I had I wanted to uh I wanted to. maximize what we could do all year and. uh we we've done a great job getting to. the point and and finally pulling out. our our chest, another chess piece of. ours. And were there other players on. other teams who you had seen do.

something similar? >> We've seen Jokic, right? They do Jokic a. [clears throat] bunch and u you see uh. Alpoon and Goon do it a bunch and the. Monta Sabonis as well. So um you know it. it it's a brand new team, new system. There's a bunch of things we want to try. to learn throughout this the year, but. in learning throughout the year, we were. finding ourselves still winning. Does. unlocking that feel like something that. you're going to then bring into the. upcoming season? >> We'll see. We'll see. The opponents will. have to see. >> They have to figure it out. [clears throat and snorts].

>> I mean, my [laughter] my advice would be. do that. >> It seemed like it worked pretty well. >> I think the way we did it this year. worked as well. [laughter]. >> Um, you know, there obviously as a as a. professional player, you can only. control what you can control. But you. you did you had the experience in. Minnesota of you know playing with the. same team for you were there nine years. >> I was there nine years. >> and then getting traded and I think you. know lots of people. >> in life you know they we can't.

necessarily control every aspect of our. jobs but the but the idea of. >> somebody just you know tapping you on. the shoulder one day and saying hey. you're you got to go work in some other. city is not your choice. That's kind of. a wild thing. I know. >> What is most challenging about that. experience of just being waking up one. day and having somebody say, "Hey, you. don't work here, you work there.". >> It's it's just kind of like your world. changes, you know? It's not like an away. game becomes a home game all of a. sudden. And um. >> I think personally just tough, you know, you're living a whole different. lifestyle. You go from living in a big.

house and having, you know, six, seven, six years dedicated in that house, built. a life there. you know, you know, every. little thing is that, you know, this. whole house like the back of your hand. and all of a sudden you're getting. traded and you're in an apartment, much. less space. You know, got to adjust. You're in a city now. You're not in the. outskirts in in um in a suburban town, you know. So, it's it's totally. different and a different way of living, too. But, uh this is the life we chose. and there ain't no crying at all about.

it. I I'm super honored that I was able. to uh. you know, getting traded is it sucks. is. never good. But um to get traded back. home to a team I rooted for my whole. entire life and when I was younger and. for a team that uh gave my father his. only chance in the NBA. I mean. couldn't have went to a better situation. for me and my family. So um it's a it's. a big honor and um on top of that Jordan. always wanted to live in New York and. she loves New York before we got traded. here. So uh the wife was happy, the.

family was happy, I was happy. It's a. great situation. >> But so when you when you get the call. that you're traded, what's. >> I didn't get a call. >> Oh, you got told. >> You got told. So when you. >> I got told. >> So when [snorts] you get told that. you're traded like what's the first call. that you have to make? Are you like, "Oh, I got to call a mover." Do you. think I got to call. >> um. >> my family? What's like the very first. thing? >> I remember having to call Jordan in. Paris and she was having a good time and. I said, "No, take me off speaker right.

now.". >> Oh no. I I think that was uh one of the. first calls I made. And then the second. was uh I didn't have to call my dad. He. was there. He heard the news as I heard. it too. And he was shocked and I was. shocked. And uh second was calling my. agent and um having that, you know, conversation about what I was just told. cuz even she didn't know at the time. So. >> did uh Kevin Garnett talk to you after. you were traded? >> I talked to KG all the time. That's my. vet. That's my mentor. So. >> uh we've been talked a bunch. >> Yeah. I interviewed him a few years ago.

Yeah. Yeah. And just his intensity just. in. >> conversation Lord a lot or no [laughter]. >> I heard some other words that I'm not. allowed to say uh setting but um uh he. was sort of a mentor to you. >> Yeah, he was. >> Yeah. What's some Can you talk about. some of the advice that he. >> Yeah, I mean just just. >> in in familyfriendly language. >> Well, I can't speak that. [laughter] I'm. just playing with you. Um, I just, you. know, I I I think, you know, just. >> I think he was so big about routine.

>> Yeah. >> And I was already huge about a routine. Like routine was everything to me. So me. and him got along so well about that cuz. our routines, you know, were were. sinking with each other. Like coming in. the lift, coming owning a sauna, getting. a workout in on the court, you know, it. it was kind of we were we were kind of. like, you know, I was the young I was. the young fella and he was my OG. He was. my vet. So, I was just under his wing, just learning how he became a Hall of. Famer, one of the best forwards of the. game ever. And um taking those lessons.

and those teachings, especially the. fundamental aspect that he was so big. about um just taking that in my every. not only in basketball, but my everyday. life and just about, you know, getting. the fundamentals right. >> He must have given you a hard time about. defense though, right? >> I mean, I was guarding him well when. [laughter] he was there. Um, [snorts]. but he's just uh he's a competitor and. you know me and him are are really. fierce competitors. So, we don't like. losing or even having giving opponents a.

chance to win. So, uh we had a bunch of. fun in practices and just I guess you. want to say talking smack to each other. a lot. It was it was fun. >> Wait, but but Carly Anthony, I want to. say this with love. Okay, I'm saying. this with love. Sometimes, and this is. the reason I bring up the defense thing. Sometimes I'm watching you on defense. and you do those like 30 foot away from. the basket fouls. I think you're always. like near the uh top of the uh league. leader for fouls per game every year. >> That means I'm being physical. >> But is there And it's just so different.

than your offensive game, which to me. always feels like so. >> finessy. >> Finessy, controlled, precise. Um. >> it's all it's all reaction. >> So explain explain to me the difference. >> I'm a jersey boy like Kyrie. It's all. reaction. >> So, you're just swiping. >> I'm reacting a lot. Oh, and offense. >> On defense. On defense. >> Uh I mean, I'm getting a lot of steals. I get a lot for us. It gets a lot of. defense. What were we in defense this. year? Uh we were like a top three. defense this year. >> Yeah. >> There you go. And what's And what's And.

what's number number one thing done in. in NBA right now? >> It's probably ISOs and what P&Rs, pick. and rolls. So, I'm involved in all of. them. So, >> we did pretty good pretty damn good job. at it this year. >> All right. All right. That's my That's. my my one constructive criticism. Less. reaching. >> Less reaching. >> Less reaching. >> No [laughter] one said that. >> You've never said it in the in the. playoffs when we was working. >> Uh my my wife, she was watching a lot of. the games with me and she said, >> uh she would watch you do interviews and.

then watch Jaylen Brunson do interviews. >> We're totally different. >> And she said, "Oh, [laughter] Jaylen's. the dad of the team and Cat is like the. mom of the team.". >> Uh is that funny? Actually, that's. actually pretty cool. I never heard of. it like that. That's You're sort of more. uh openly emotional, a little bit more. expressive. He's kind of more, you know, button down. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I. >> Is that how it plays out? >> That's funny. I've never heard of that. I've never heard of it like that. That's. intriguing. I'm I'm going to say that to. JB. That's actually pretty funny. >> Does that seem accurate? What do you. think of that description?

>> I don't think it's too far off. I don't. think it's too far off. I mean, I think. I think he he in a way, aren't we both. like our parents in a way? I feel like. he gives more of like Rick energy and I. give more of like Jacqueline energy, you. know, and that's beautiful. That shows. great parenting, too, you know, and that. shows uh our parents have gotten us to. this point. So, shout out to, you know, Rick and and JB's mom and shout out to. my mom and my dad for getting it done. for us and and and leading us to be uh.

one men that people respect is the most. important thing as a parent. You want to. build care, you want to have kids that. people respect more than anything. Um, and two, you know, um, giving us, I. guess you could say, those personalities. has gotten us this far. >> And you, your dad coached you a little. bit, right? He did. Was there ever any. question? >> He was better than me. [laughter]. >> Oh, my bad. My bad. My bad. >> We know the answer. >> Was there ever, >> he knows the answer. [laughter]. >> Was there ever any question in your mind. about whether you wanted to be a.

professional basketball player? Was that. No. So, from as young as you could. remember? >> No. I was I was really really good at. basketball. It was natural. >> But is it what you wanted to do? >> No, I wanted to be MLB player. I want to. play for the Yankees. I wanted to put. the pinstripes on and uh the true. Dominican in me. And uh I wanted to be. like Robinson Canó. I wanted to be like. uh Alex Rodriguez. I wanted to be like. the great Yankees, you know, for me too, Albert Pool Halls and um these great. Dominican players have come before me. And uh and I I just it just wasn't in my.

cards. At one point I made the last. minute decision when I was really. looking to take this professionally. Um. I wanted to go back to basketball and uh. I've been playing basketball my whole. life and I went back to basketball and. uh got back on the scene and um never. looked back since. >> And what was the inflection point there? Like why did you make the decision not. baseball? >> Honestly, it was my childhood friends. >> Oh, >> it really was my childhood friends uh.

Vic Singh and Greg Davis um back from. Piscataway. It just was like, "We miss. playing with you, man. You haven't been. around. You know, I know you're playing. a bunch of AU baseball and travel. baseball and stuff, and I know you said. you quit basketball, but like you don't. have to play like full-time." Like, and. I'm always a person like I I get. obsessive like if I do uh if I give my. attention to something, I want to go. 110% at it and be the best of the best. at it. So, um, they asked me to do it. and they kept, you know, we went to the. park one day playing basketball in.

Jersey and, um, day park and Piscatoaway. and I just was like, you know what, I do. miss hanging out with y'all playing. basketball a little bit. I'll come just. to play one tournament and play. And so, uh, they brought me back to basketball. and, uh, it's funny now that I, uh, Greg. was with me on the court at, uh, at San. Antonio after game five with the finals. trophies and everything. And um Vic is. still one of my closest friends like my. those are like my brothers and um. they've been to my games and it's really. crazy that now they're seeing me in. these NBA games and before I told them I.

never even wanted to touch basketball. again. >> And so when you do finally get to the. league, >> is there is there a game or a moment or. a play where you you really think I. belong here? >> I'll tell you actually wasn't even in. the league. I remember when I played uh. before my freshman year, I played Team. USA with Kobe and LeBron, a Dream Team. V2. And uh I remember, you know, it was. a big game and everyone was telling, you.

know, Dominican Republic versus Team. USA. And I understood uh the situation. and got myself a nice little super cut. cut across the street before before. going to Thomas and Mack. And uh I got. the job done. And I I when I was out. there, I felt like I could I I could I. could be in the NBA. I I could belong. And I knew I had more years to go and I. had to still grow um you know, as a. player physically, mentally, but to. already go out there and feel very. confident and feel good about my game.

already there. And I said, man, the. league's in trouble in a couple years. when I like get even more figured out. and right, I'm going to be I'm going to. be a problem. And uh I damn sure it. became a problem. [laughter]. >> Let me ask you some some league. questions. Okay. You know the East this. year. Yeah. Right. The Giannis went to. the Heat. >> Kawawaii looks like he's going to go to. the Raptors. I know it's a little up up. in the air right now. Um Jaylen Brown. went to the Sixers. >> Who [clears throat] are you most worried.

about? >> The Knicks. That's all I need to worry about. Do you. get why Jaylen Brown is now on the. Sixers of all the teams for him to end. up on? The fact they trade him to like. one of their biggest rivals. >> Pretty fun. >> It's It's pretty fun. I mean, uh, like I. said, control the controllables. If I. worried about all the uncontrollables in. my life and professionally, I'd be lost. in the sauce. >> Um, but of course, your buddy Mitch. Robinson now on the on the. >> That's tough. That was a tough one. >> The question I have about that, I have. two questions about that. is could the I.

mean in in in good conscience. >> could the team do Hakamich if you were. playing the Celtics that'd be. heartbreaking if you guys did that I. don't know how that I don't even know if. I could look at Mitch with a Celtics. jersey on after everything so um. I I don't even know I don't even know if. I could I I I'll just have to start. laughing at at Mitch when we see each. other owes me a pickup truck now I'm. talking about that for what. >> I don't know I just want a pickup.

[laughter]. You just say to him, "You owe me a. pickup truck.". >> I just I just You owe me a pickup truck. >> Um but you know, watching him shoot free. throws as a fan is the most like. emotional roller coaster experience. [laughter] because you just want. >> emotional roller coaster watching a man. shoot free throws. >> Oh, it is cuz you want him to succeed so. badly. >> That's not like that's not like walking. up to a woman at a bar and saying she. all she could say worse is no. [laughter]. >> That's easier than watching. free throw. But uh cuz you you know it's. like you know he struggles.

>> she laughed at that. I like how you. laughed at that too. [laughter]. >> You know he struggles with the free. throws. You want him to shoot them so. well and then you know it it ends up. still being a struggle. What is the. experience for the for the teammates. when you're watching Mitch go through. >> Oh, we love it. We love going to see him. shoot free throws. >> What do you love about it? >> Just one, it gets a foul. Puts us closer. to the bonus. It gets closer for me and. uh for all of us like whether it's me, Jaylen, anybody, we get closer, you. know, getting that foul, getting to the. free throw line. Two, every time you.

know it happens, you know, it gives us. breaks. It gives us a break to kind of. reset, think about what we want to do. next. And three, we believe in Mitch. Like I said, we believe everyone on that. team 1 through 15. We know we we see. each other get to put the work in and. everything. So when he goes up there, we're excited cuz we can't wait to uh. talk junk if when he makes it. So, um, we're always excited when we get to see. Mitch go up there. >> And, you know, we're almost, uh, at the. end of our time, but you, you know, when.

you leave the building, you're going to. have the a similar experience. >> They know I'm here as when you when you. came up. Can Can you just I mean to to. just just be able to to like represent. >> joy for people in the city of New York. Seems like such a a privilege. And it's. going to it's going to be that way for. the rest of your time on the Knicks. Probably for the rest of your life, it'll be for the rest of their life. Talk about what that means to you. Yeah, I I I talked about it after the game if. we're talking about, you know, the. impact of this win, you know, um you. talking about I leave and everyone, you.

know, congratulates and says champ, the. word champ, which is still crazy. We. started this interview talking about how. surreal it still is to have have a. championship. um to bring so much joy to families. Um. for them uh especially those families. that have previous generations of Knicks. fans who have been just begging for a. chance to be in the NBA finals, let. alone winning the NBA finals after 53. years and then last time being 27 years. ago against the Spurs, too. Ironically,

um I feel like a Love Island character. getting back my phone after the playoffs. and seeing these um these reels and. these videos and these and these. Instagram posts about the the. grandfather celebrating it with his. son's kid and and passing that kind of. Nicks fandom down to the kid or the. father who grew up watching the. disappointment of 1999 or families and. those people who have uh those lost. loved ones and and going to the cemetery.

to celebrate the Knicks win with them. And I know how special it is cuz I saw. people in Brooklyn sharing and they got. their own NBA team. So that's kind of. that's kind of crazy to do. But it just. shows, you know, New York's so unified. with each other when you give them. something to be unified for and for us. to reach the mountain top and give so. many people something to cheer for and. so many people to have hope for cuz. inspiring hope is is one of the hardest. things to do and for us to be able to do. that is is is something truly special. So just the last question. So the the.

margins in professional sports between. winning and losing are very slim. >> So slim. You know, it's like. >> one one small decision changes. everything. >> One small decision changes everything. Last year, you know, you guys are are up. big against the Pacers in a fourth. quarter. They they pull off a comeback. against you. This year, OG tips it a. shot that if he missed that 999 times. out of a thousand. >> I am dunking that. I know you were. saying he would have dunked it, but you. know it's a. >> I'm dunking. I'm telling you I'm dunking.

it in. >> But but it's you know no one would have. blamed him if he missed that. That was. an sort of a miraculous shot of course. and and and then just the level of. intensity and and focus that it takes. and you know it it seems almost. unbelievable that you can win once. Does it then seem even more daunting. >> to have to have to think can we come. back and win it again back to back? Well, my competitive spirit says, you. know, that's what we're planning to do. And now, you know, I know we were always. the underdogs in every series. We got to.

be ready to always be looked at as the. favorites, and that's not something we. uh we like a lot. So, we're going to. have to go out there and then continue. to have that underdog mentality, that. mindset, and just we're going to have to be even. a better version of ourselves. Even. though a lot of y'all say we were one of. the best ever in the playoffs, we got to. find another level because people are. going to be ready for us this year and. they're not going to get caught slipping. anymore. So, >> all right, I'm going to say it back to. back. >> We're going back. >> I I ain't going to say that. I'm going.

to say [laughter] we're going to do our. best. >> All right. Thanks, Jam. >> Appreciate. >> Appreciate it. I'm Lulu Garcia Navaro. >> And I'm David [music] Marquesy. >> And we're the hosts of the Interview, an. audio and video podcast from the New. York Times. >> Every week we interview fascinating and. influential people from all walks of. life. [music]. >> Subscribe to our YouTube channel so. you'll never miss an episode.