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Charles Barkley Couldn’t Hold Back After Watching Karl-Anthony Towns Take Over Against Victor Wembanyama

The New York Knicks have seized full control of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Behind another outstanding performance from Karl-Anthony Towns, New York secured a dramatic 105-104 victory in Game 2 on Friday, extending its series lead to 2-0 over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Charles Barkley’s Savage Victor Wembanyama Comment Goes Viral After Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dominant Performance

Towns once again emerged as one of the biggest storylines in the Knicks’ surge by delivering another dominant display on both ends of the floor on Friday. His performance drew high praise from former NBA star Charles Barkley, who also took a subtle jab at Wembanyama while highlighting Towns’ impact.

“Wemby’s in shock right now,” Barkley said. “It’s probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this. Wemby’s spinning. He’s 22. He’s gonna own the league soon. But right now, big KAT is just taking his ass to the woodshed. Plain and simple.”

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Charles Barkley Couldn’t Hold Back After Watching Karl-Anthony Towns Take Over Against Victor Wembanyama (Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

The Hall of Famer continued his praise by arguing that Towns has been the most valuable player of the Finals so far.

“He was criticized in Minnesota,” he said. “He was criticized in New York. But the MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. He played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. That man earned his flowers.”

Towns finished Game 2 with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 13 rebounds and four assists. With the performance, he became the first Knicks player since Dave DeBusschere in 1973 to record a 20-point double-double in a road NBA Finals game.

Victor Wembanyama Makes Frank Admission After Another Tough Battle With Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks and Towns have thrived this season by playing an unselfish brand of basketball, and that approach has continued throughout the Finals. After helping limit Wembanyama in Game 1, Towns once again made life difficult for the Spurs superstar in Game 2. After the loss, Wembanyama acknowledged the challenges presented by Towns and the Knicks,

“It’s very different from previous series,” Wembanyama said. “It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players, he’s a good player. We need to figure it out.

New York’s victory further cemented its place in playoff history. The Knicks are now riding the second-longest single-season postseason winning streak in NBA history and have won eight consecutive road playoff games. They also became the first team since the 2017 Golden State Warriors to win 13 straight playoff games, a season that ended with a championship for Golden State.

The Knicks are now just two victories away from capturing their first NBA title in 53 years. Their eighth consecutive road playoff win also ties the mark set by the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest road winning streak in a single postseason.

New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns Deserves to Win Finals MVP, Claims 2 NBA Legends

The New York Knicks secured a 105-104 Game 2 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ two-way play is one of the reasons why his team is up 2-0 in the NBA Finals.

Towns produced 21 points (team-high), 13 rebounds, and four assists on 8-for-12 shooting from the field in 34 minutes. After the game, the New York Knicks center received some Finals MVP endorsements from Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.

“He’s been criticized in Minnesota,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA. “He’s been criticized in New York. The MVP of the Finals is going to be Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. He was great in Game 1. He was great in Game 2. That man earned his flowers.”

“He’s playing with pace. He’s playing smart. He’s playing inside. He’s outside. He’s controlling the offense with the pass sometimes. And listen, he is just playing unbelievable basketball right now. And I agree with you. If it ended today, he would definitely be the Most Valuable Player,” O’Neal continued.

Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) look for the ball in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) look for the ball in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

New York Knicks News: Karl-Anthony Towns downplays big performances vs. San Antonio Spurs

Karl-Anthony Towns has been invaluable to the New York Knicks this postseason due to his production and interior presence. Even if he’s not getting all the recognition, the six-time All-Star doesn’t mind because he is just happy to help his team win games.

“For me, I’m just happy to be finding ways to win,” Towns told the New York Post. “I’m just worried about the team result, which is winning. This team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here.”

“That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more,” he continued.

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