NBA Finals: Towns Explains Knicks' Comeback vs. Spurs: "It's Something About This City"

Karl-Anthony Towns placed the character of the New York Knicks at the center of the narrative following their victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The center highlighted the team's unity, New York's energy, defensive work on Victor Wembanyama, and Jalen Brunson's composure in sealing a triumph that, according to him, was very much a battle.

Q. The coach mentioned the emotions of the game. From the outside looking in, what is it about the character of this team that allows you to maintain those open conversations during the game to balance those emotions?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: This team has unity. It has camaraderie. It was something special, something that I think we already showed the world last year. That took us far in the playoffs last season and we've simply grown from that since last year, having another year together, even more familiarity. Last year there were a lot of changes with my arrival to the team and Mikal's, and obviously with a lot of pieces in motion.

I think it's something that has been built and more trust has been generated over time. It's simply something that has worked tremendously well for us.

Q. What's your approach defending Wembanyama?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Just try to make it difficult for him. He's an incredible player, a unique player in this NBA, one of those that the league had never seen before, and you just try to make it as difficult as possible for him.

Q. Last year you were down 20 twice against Boston. You were down 22 against the Cavs in Game 1 of the Conference Finals and today you were down 14. What does this team have when you're way behind that makes you not give up and maintain that confidence, no matter how big the deficit?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: There's something about this city. You feel that energy in the city; the toughness, the effort, the hard work you have to put in to get ahead in this city. I think we reflect all our fans and their lifestyles, and what it takes to make your way in New York when we step on the court wearing a Knicks jersey.

Q. You had a nine-point advantage in second-chance points and won by ten. How important was that work on the offensive glass? And Mike had talked about the obligation to take advantage when Wembanyama isn't in the paint. What's your approach then?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I mean, we have to execute our game plan at all times, regardless of what the situation is. Be disciplined in our approach. I think today we did a good job having a disciplined focus on defense.

On offense we didn't shoot the best way, but I said it on the court: the difference between this first game here and the first game in Cleveland against the Cavaliers was that there our offense didn't show up and our defense didn't show up either, and that time we simply had to make a miraculous comeback to get back in the game.

But today our offense didn't show up until late and our defense was there from the beginning, and that's what saved us. If we continue… if we can find a way to get our offense going and continue improving our defense, not just maintain it where it was tonight, but improve it, we'll give ourselves a chance to win every night.

Q. You were especially aggressive attacking with Wembanyama defending you, especially early in the game. What kind of mental persistence does it take to keep going at a player who has that level as a defender and shot-blocker over and over again, and find success?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: You just trust your work and trust your decision-making, and I always talk about being aggressive in playmaking. It might not be to shoot myself, but to get a shot for someone else or to generate the secondary assist.

When I go out there, I try to be aggressive in playmaking. Early in the game, you never really know what the defense is going to give you. You don't know what's going to happen, but I just wanted to be aggressive, especially early in the game, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and try to bring that energy to our team.

Q. You had to expect this would be a very physical game. We also saw Josh had foul trouble early. How do you think you handled that physicality and how do you balance being aggressive while maintaining discipline?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: It's all about executing offensively, about not putting your hands where they can foul you, and also being aggressive without committing silly fouls.

So, in my case, I think within my aggressiveness today I committed, I'd say, probably about two fouls that I wish I hadn't committed.

But at the end of the day, like you said, I think everyone in the building knew the game was going to be physical. It was going to be a lot of energy. Their fans were there. But we knew we had to execute and maintain discipline throughout the game because it was going to be a very fought battle, and it certainly was.

Q. You've seen it already over two years, but you see Jalen limping toward the locker room, coming back, heroic in the fourth quarter. Was there any doubt in your mind, first, that he was going to come back, and second, that if you put the ball in his hands he was going to do what he did?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: No, with the ball in his hands, I'm never surprised. I'll tell you something, that last shot, I think it was a little floater, it was crazy. I'm not going to lie.

When we all saw him limping away, we were worried not just because it's Jalen Brunson, but more because he's our brother and we're a family in our locker room. We wanted… we were just worried about his health. But when we were on the court and I saw him come back walking toward the bench, it was a feeling of relief, just knowing he was okay. That was really, at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered to us: his safety.

Q. I think I heard you say as you were coming off the court that this had been like a title fight. If so, do you think this was just the first round? And what does it mean for the tone of the rest of the series?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: There's a lot of basketball left to play. But, like I told you and the media that have followed us on our path here, every game has to be approached as if it's 0-0. You have to come out with the same energy, intensity, and desperation, as if it were the first game of any playoff series.

We have 48 hours to rest, recover, and do it all over again, and even at a higher level.