NEW ORLEANS – Karl-Anthony Towns would prefer international status in the new All-Star format – assuming he is invited to LA.
“First of all, I hope I make it,” Towns said. “And secondly, I hope I make the World Team.”
Adam Silver’s latest tweak to the All-Star format is to divide the 24 All-Stars into three teams – two with US players and the other with international players – for a round-robin tournament with shortened matches.
Towns is in a gray area because he was born and raised in the United States but has represented the Dominican Republic in the Olympics and other competitions. Towns’ mother is from the DR
According to an announcement last month from the NBA: “If the All-Star voting does not result in the selection of 16 U.S. players and eight international players (including, if necessary, U.S. players with ties to other countries), then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum.”
In other words, Towns could end up with the US or the world, and that’s hard to predict at this point.
The 30-year-old is a five-time All-Star and a strong candidate to return for the next installment in February.
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are the candidates for the World Team, leaving four spots open after the All-Star voting.
Tyler Kolek was still in college during the 2023-2024 NBA season, when the Knicks overcame significant injuries to Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby to win 50 games with courageous comebacks.
As these Knicks deal with their own injuries — mostly ankle sprains — Kolek sees similarities.
“It kind of reminds me of before I was on the team,” Kolek said. “A lot of times they weren’t good in those fourth quarters. I watched those games and I watched Jalen.” [Brunson] and Donte [DiVincenzo] and all those guys, they just had that fight, that toughness to them. I think it’s reflected a little bit in this team.”
Kolek’s Knicks (22-9) are 4-1 in games where the score was within three points or less in the final two minutes.
Miles McBride is listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Pelicans.
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