Karl-Anthony Towns Explains Why He Skipped Knicks Game Amid Draymond Green’s ‘Ducking’ Accusations

In Los Angeles, Karl-Anthony Towns faced accusations from Draymond Green about avoiding a match against his former teammate Jimmy Butler. But Towns set the record straight, explaining he missed the game against the Knicks to support his family following the death of a close family friend, Sarah Holtzman.

Towns shared, “I had to be there for my family and for the kids who lost someone special.” He returned to play against the Lakers on Thursday, although his team suffered a 113-109 loss in overtime.

According to an online obituary, Holtzman passed away after battling breast cancer, a loss that deeply affected those close to her. She had a special bond with Towns’ longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, who expressed her grief on social media by saying, “F–k cancer.”

Towns has endured significant losses recently, having lost his mother and other family members to COVID-19. He reflected on these experiences, saying, “All the losses I’ve had have taught me to appreciate life and find joy in my work. I know I’m fortunate to play basketball for a living.”

He emphasized that the struggles he has faced have helped him grow as a person. Losing a parent is particularly tough, but it has made him stronger and more focused.

Despite his heartfelt reasons, Draymond Green speculated on his podcast that Towns may have pretended to be hurt to avoid playing against Butler. Green admitted he had no solid proof to back up his claims. He mentioned their past rivalry, citing an infamous practice incident during their time together on the Timberwolves.

Towns was officially absent due to “personal reasons,” not an injury. When Green learned he was mistaken, he apologized and clarified that he was simply repeating what he had heard.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Green said. “We all deal with loss eventually. My comments were based on what I heard from others.” He concluded by promoting his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” despite the seriousness of the topic.

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