EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 12, 2025

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York Knicks

Semifinal Practice Day

Q. For everyone around Latin America, we are expecting great stuff from you. What can we expect from tomorrow's game?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Shout out to all the fans over there that supported me not only in the NBA but FIBA and everywhere.

I think that tomorrow is going to be a good game for us to show how far we've come in discipline and game plan and execution and our system execution. It's up to us to go out there and be the best version of ourselves. We've had two good days of practice. Expect nothing less from our team to go out there and compete at a high level and give ourselves the best chance to win.

Q. Does Vegas change anything in the environment? Does being here in a neutral zone change anything?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: It's different, obviously, because what you're able to play night in, night out at MSG, the mecca. It's always great when you get to play in front of your fans. But the great thing about our fan base is they travel around the world to support us. Abu Dhabi is an example. I expect our fans to show out here tomorrow in Vegas and do what they have always done for us, which is support us at the highest level.

Q. This will be the fourth time you guys have already faced off with each other. This is an elimination game. They are a team you could theoretically see down the road in the playoffs. Is there any sense that there's a rivalry budding here between the two teams?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: When you have teams like us that, for us, we are on a good path right now of growth and where we want to be as a team, and Orlando has been on the same track as well and they have done an amazing job this year with a great coaching staff and great coach, showing the league and the fans what they could do, and the East, especially.

So like you said, we played them multiple times. We've had great games each time. We are going to step in tomorrow and be the best version of ourselves and give ourselves the best chance to win.

Q. About your teammate, Guerschon, he hasn’t played a lot of minutes. What are your words to him as a vet to keep his head up, and what do you feel he's doing well?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, just every time you get a chance to go into the game, make an impact on winning. I think recently he's done an amazing job of that, and he's impacted our team positively. We all have so much love and respect for him, and we know what he could do as a player. I think the whole world, especially, knows, and if you didn't know back then, now you knew -- you knew in the Olympics what he could do when he's given the chance.

So we know what he could do. No one in this locker room doubts what G brings to the game and what he could do when he's in the game.

So for me, though, it's always been the same advice, come every day, be a professional, work on your game, be as sharp as possible, and when your number is called, go out there and impact the game.

Q. You guys obviously have been on big stages last year as a team, but can this sort of thing, in facing Orlando again, possibly OKC, can this help you as you move forward?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, I think it's a great opportunity for us to be in that kind of playoff atmosphere and understand what's on the line, and go out there and, you know, show ourselves, again, how disciplined you need to be to win these kind of games in the NBA Cup. And also, how important execution is. You know, and for us to reach the goals that we have for our team, you know, discipline and execution is going to be at the forefront of most important things that we need to build consistency at.

Q. Just wanted to get your thoughts on -- been asking coaches and players their thoughts about Las Vegas as a potential NBA town, and what do you think about the host for this particular event?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I mean, Vegas has been an amazing host not only for the Cup but for Summer League for years and years and years. The town loves basketball. Vegas has been great with the hospitality they have shown to many players, including myself, to start our careers. You know, they obviously have the fan base to do it.

So, we'll see. We'll see what the future holds for Vegas and the NBA.

Q. How do you prepare before the game?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: For me, it's always been about just going out there and just impacting the game for winning. It's the same way I felt when I was in the World Cup with the Dominican Republic and just want to provide the best version of yourself for winning, not individual success but the team's success.

I just sit there and game plan: If I'm in certain situations in the game, how can I maximize those opportunities to help our team win. And it's always been the focus. It's always been a focus every single day I step on the court, and it's how can I impact winning for our team and give ourselves the best chance to be the best version of ourselves.

Q. There's been some talk of the NBA Cup moving to various cities. It started in Vegas, been here a few years now. Would you like to see it stay in Vegas or different cities around the country, or just your thoughts?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I think my thoughts are simple. The fans have shown a lot of appreciation and love for the NBA Cup, and I think for us as NBPA and NBA, we want to continue to provide a great product for the fans and for us as players.

We love this. We think this is awesome to have something to fight for so early in the season. To bring the best players and the competition levels being so high, I think it's amazing not only for our league but for the fans.

You know, I don't know anything on that side. I just know that the Cup has been doing really well with the fans. They appreciate it, and we appreciate playing in these games. As long as the fans continue to be interested, we're going to continue to give them the best product.