The Nuggets and Nikola Jokic might officially have a Karl-Anthony Towns problem. KAT has had great success guarding the Joker for the past several years with the Timberwolves and played a key role in helping Minnesota bounce Denver from the playoffs last season.
Now, Towns is in the Big Apple, and while his role on the Knicks has changed quite a bit from his role on the T-Wolves, Nikola has still had two rough games against KAT this season; two losses with Jokic averaging just 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.
On Wednesday night, the Knicks took down the Nuggets, 122-112 in Madison Square Garden. Jokic was hampered by early foul trouble and played just 33 minutes, but he was never able to get in a good rhythm, largely in part due to the defense of Towns.
In a bit of a surprise move from out of left field, Draymond Green sent out a tweet towards the end of the game - and just an hour before his own team, the Warriors, tipped off - questioning Town’s pride and claiming he doesn’t have the respect of his opponent because he was fronting Jokic instead of playing him straight up.
KAT in a full front on Joker… even if you win the game it don’t matter. You will never hold the respect from an opponent to win at the highest level… pride must make you sit down and guard, even if you give up 40… Winning is a mindset, and in order to win a championship…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) January 30, 2025
You have to win the mental edge… that’s why only a few guys per era win all the championships… They understand that Thing.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) January 30, 2025
Draymond’s comments reeked of pettiness and jealousy
The comments were extremely dumb and it comes off like Green has some personal problem with Towns. The numbers back it up, Towns has defended Jokic better than anyone in the NBA over the past few seasons and the proof is in the pudding with the win/loss results.
Towns has been more effective than anyone at stifling the best offensive player of the generation; the fact he is able to do it by fronting him is grounds for extra respect if anything. Saying that the results don’t matter because winning is a mindset is just a ridiculously stupid statement.
Winning is winning, and Towns has accomplished that consistently against the Joker. The goal should be to win by any means; I’m not sure why one would force themselves to guard a different way that is purposely harmful to the team, and for what? To prove some weird point and earn the respect of Draymond Green?
That’s just as dumb as it sounds and Green is only saying this because he’s jealous of Towns. Green did a good job slowing down Jokic a few seasons ago in the playoffs and he misses the spotlight and credit now that the Warriors and Green have become an afterthought in terms of title contention.
Rather than applauding and embracing the creative way Towns is playing and lauding his success, Draymond would rather tear him down, make fun of him, and take cheap shots at his pride. It’s a pathetic thing to say, a bad look for Green, and he’s rightfully getting killed for the take across all corners of the internet.