The father of NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns is keeping receipts.
Karl Towns Sr, known as “Big Karl,” opened up recently about his son’s ups and downs in the NBA, especially his clashes with Jimmy Butler during the pair’s time in Minnesota.
“It only hurt me as a father to hear people saying stuff that was negative that wasn’t true to bring him down,” Towns Sr. told The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
“But in the end, it all paid up. Jimmy ain’t got no championship. Karl bypassed him.”
Towns and Butler didn’t jell on the Timberwolves for several reasons.
Butler didn’t like Towns’ goofiness in postgame comments, and when Towns was extended before Butler, he requested a trade and went scorched earth, berating team executives and coaches and criticizing younger players on team flights.
It all culminated with Butler calling Towns a loser upon his exit from the team.
Towns refused to get involved in Butler’s tirades, even though some around the team were quietly hoping he would do so.
“I just was never going to change who I was, even when the world was asking me to change who I am, so I could be the character in their story. I just was going to continue to be me,” Towns said.
Towns braved the storm in Minnesota and was there after Butler and Tom Thibodeau departed.
He helped the Timberwolves reach the 2024 Western Conference finals, which marked just the second time they ever moved past the first round of the playoffs.
Since his chaotic tenure in Minnesota concluded with his November 2018 trade to Miami, Butler made two NBA Finals appearances with the Heat before another uncomfortable exit led him to his current stop with the Warriors.
Meanwhile, as the 2026-27 season approaches, KAT and his Knicks look to defend their championship.
