Reporter Taking Heat For 'Distasteful' Exchange With Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns is just one win away from bringing the New York Knicks back to the Eastern Conference Finals and plenty of people want to pick his brain about his emotions heading into Game 4 vs. the 76ers. But one reporter may have gone a little too far with a somewhat distasteful question about his mindset.

Game 4 will be on Mother's Day, and Towns lost his mother in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a devastating time in Towns' life.

That didn't stop one reporter from trying to ask what it's like for Towns to play on Mother's Day. To his credit, Towns took the question in stride, calling it "just work" and a chance to do what he loves.

"It's work. Just work to me. I'm glad we got a game on Mother's Day, it gets me doing what I love and it gets me off of everything off the court," Towns responded.

"Very Poor Taste"

NBA fans were not at all amused by the reporter's efforts to get some kind of emotional response out of Towns with that question. Many took to the comments and declared that the reporter deserves to lose his job for asking him that.

"The reporter who asked this doesn't need to cover the rest of the playoffs I'm sorry," one user replied. "Saying this to Karl-Anthony Towns knowing everything he's been through is so disrespectful."

"Terrible human being for even asking that question like wtf," wrote another.

"Not sure that was necessary, Kat is very open about his mother and their relationship, he can bring it up when he feels like it. Love him," a third wrote.

"Give credit to the players for not cursing people out for asking stupid questions."

Some fans believe that thinking about his mom might inspire Towns to have the game of his life on Mother's Day. He might have to if the Knicks plan to close out the series in four.

Starting forward OG Anunoby suffered a hamstring injury in Game 3 and is currently questionable for the game. The 76ers will be at home and are currently narrow favorites.

The game will be played on ABC.

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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 2:41 PM.