Something has changed this year for the New York Knicks. HC Tom Thibodeau’s teams often do not make it near the top in assists or cutting metrics. But with Karl-Anthony Towns by his side, the Knicks are flying high this season. The duo of Towns and Jalen Brunson have been breathing fire while on the court. Just to put Karl’s impact on the Knicks, the Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll is the third-most in the sport with the 99th percentile as far as efficiency is concerned. The Nicks’ HC also believes that Karl has always been unselfish. “He’s always been a team-first guy. But now, I think he really sees things. He understands what the defense is trying to do.” Thibodeau added.

But just as the Knicks gear up to face a high-flying Lakers squad at Crypto Arena, there’s a growing concern—will Karl-Anthony Towns be available for the Lakers game? While there are no official words about why KAT may not be available for the Lakers clash, the latest update has fans holding their breath.

Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t on the floor Tuesday night, and his absence wasn’t just felt—it was painfully obvious. The Knicks, missing their most dominant big man, crumbled late against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, scoring just 21 points in the fourth quarter as they fell 114-102. But why Towns did not play against the Dubs has nothing to do with any injury but something personal. He was not dealing with load management. He was simply… gone. No explanation, just “personal reasons.”

When asked if Karl would be available to face LeBron James and Luka Doncic, HC Thibodeau said to leave the Nicks star to leave alone for some time. “When he’s ready to come back, obviously we want him back. But he needs some time right now.” But this was not concerning until Ant’s girlfriend and influencer Jordyn Woods left a cryptic message just a day before one of the most-anticipated games for the Knicks.

Taking to X, Woods just wrote “F*** cancer.” Two words. No context. And suddenly, the game, the loss, the standings—none of it felt like the biggest story anymore. But while it seemed like Towns may not travel to Los Angeles, the Knicks fans can relax after the most recent update.

Is Towns back? Seems so. Amidst all the speculations, the 29-year-old is ready for the Thursday night against the Lakers. Ian Begley of SNY TV confirmed the big news on X.

There’s no sugarcoating it; the Knicks have a challenging time without Towns. For the Warriors game, they looked lost without him, and they’re 3-4 without him this season. New York didn’t have his inside-out scoring and floor spacing to combat the offense, which collapsed when it mattered most.

Towns is rounding into form just in time for a taxing five-game West Coast trip averaging 24.5 points and 13.4 rebounds per game this season. Already banged up in the front court, the Knicks are without Ariel Hukporti because of a torn meniscus and Mitchell Robinson is figuring out his way after missing 10 months. New York desperately needs towns to stabilize everything.

But while his return solves basketball problems, it doesn’t answer the question still lingering in fans’ minds: What was going on off the court?

Jordyn Woods’ Message Hits Deep

Karl-Anthony Towns has seen life try his game in ways that the sport itself rarely does. In 2020, he lost his mother Jacqueline Cruz-Towns to COVID-19. He has shown up, still considers himself a fighter, still able to play, despite the weight of the personal loss.

He needed some time Tuesday night. Whatever was happening, it required the step away. Just days later, he is back.

His return also means more wins for the Knicks, a better offense, and a stronger push toward the playoffs. However, for those who have followed his path — those who have witnessed the battles, and courage he has exhibited — it’s a simple fact that Karl-Anthony Towns is more than just a basketball player. He’s human. Sometimes life means you need to step away, even when the whole world is watching.

Thursday night, he’s back. But his impact? That never left.