Following Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence in the Knicks’ loss to the Golden State Warriors on March 4, many questioned why he wasn’t playing. Towns and his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, later revealed they had lost a close friend. Knicks star Josh Hart was one of the first to defend Towns.
Josh Hart Supports KAT Following Loss of Friend
NBA players, like all professional athletes, face intense public scrutiny. Yes, they play a game for a living. Yes, they make millions doing it. But at the end of the day, they’re still human. They deal with personal struggles that fans never see. While it’s easy to criticize a player, most people have no idea what they’re going through behind the scenes.
Josh Hart on Karl-Anthony Towns having to power through a difficult week:
“It's tough. A lot of you guys forget we're humans. Or you guys look at us like we're animals in a petting zoo or a parlay and y'all forget that we're actual people, that we have real life problems and… pic.twitter.com/WK0CFCmpK6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 8, 2025
Hart, one of the most respected teammates in the league, stepped up to support Towns during his difficult week.
“It’s tough. A lot of you guys forget we’re humans. Or you guys look at us like we’re animals in a petting zoo or a parlay and y’all forget that we’re actual people, that we have real-life problems and traumas and things like that that we have to navigate.”
Hart’s point is something all fans should consider — not just in the NBA, but in all sports. While many might not have reacted the way they did if they had known the full situation, it’s a reminder that athletes face personal challenges beyond the game.
I get what he’s saying people do dehumanize athletes but don’t victimize yourself either you get paid millions to play a game
— David (@David_bets789) March 8, 2025
As usual, reactions on X were mixed. Some, like @davidbets_789, wrote:
“I get what he’s saying people do dehumanize athletes but don’t victimize yourself either You get paid millions to play a game.”
Others defended Towns, offering condolences and support.
The KAT ducking Butler rumors were ridiculous… Draymond’s interview was sinister.
— AO (@worldofao) March 8, 2025
User @worldofao was among those vocal in their defense of Towns, writing:
“The KAT ducking Butler rumors were ridiculous … Draymond’s interview was sinister.”
This was a reference to Draymond Green, who previously speculated that Towns’ absence may have been to avoid playing against Jimmy Butler. Towns and Butler had a rocky history in Minnesota, including a well-known practice session where Butler and a group of non-starters dominated the starters in a scrimmage.