Kyrie Irving Defends Karl-Anthony Towns on Twitch

EDISON, N.J. — Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving went public to support Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during a Twitch stream, calling for an end to mocking comments directed at Towns. Irving expressed his feelings about the backlash Towns has faced regarding his speech patterns and performance this postseason.

“Y’all gotta stop making fun of my brother KAT. I’m done with y’all,” Irving stated. He stressed the importance of understanding Towns’ background, mentioning, “It’s over for that, it’s a f—king wrap… if you repost that sh*t again or meme him up, I’m attacking you. Not like that physically, GTA, but I’m attacking you.”

Towns, a New Jersey native, has faced criticism for perceived code-switching, which is the practice of adjusting one’s speech based on social context. Social media users have highlighted instances where they believe Towns’ tone varied during interviews.

Irving hinted that some of the vitriol aimed at Towns might stem from his inconsistent playoff performance this year. Nevertheless, he emphasized the importance of respecting Towns’ cultural experience, saying, “Y’all gotta leave KAT alone because y’all don’t know what it’s like to grow up in Jersey and have all of these cultures that you’re a part of.”

Towns, who has a Dominican mother and a Black father, was born in Edison and raised in Piscataway. He attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. Irving remarked, “Jersey is literally 130 miles long, it’s a very, very small state… he’s Dominican, he’s Black… you gotta survive out here.”

Towns’ performance in the playoffs, including a minus-17 rating in a critical Game 6 against the Pacers, has led to discussions about his future with the Knicks. While he had notable games, such as during the Eastern Conference Finals, his inconsistency has raised questions about his fit alongside starting guard Jalen Brunson.

Despite the criticism, Towns still received third-team All-NBA honors, averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds this season. His future remains uncertain as the Knicks navigate significant decisions, including the replacement of head coach Tom Thibodeau.