The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Joe and Jada / Karl-Anthony Towns Episode)

Date: September 25, 2025
Main Guests: Karl-Anthony Towns (NBA star), Joe, Jada, Bucky Brooks

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Herd" features a lively and wide-ranging conversation between NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns and hosts Joe, Jada, and Bucky Brooks. The discussion explores Towns’ basketball journey from his formative years in New Jersey and college stardom at Kentucky to his NBA ascent with Minnesota and, more recently, his transition to the New York Knicks. The hosts also delve into Towns' Dominican heritage, how respect outweighs money in his eyes, the culture of New York basketball, and the championship aspirations for the Knicks. The episode is filled with candid stories, moments of humor, and motivational insights.

Key Discussion Points

1. Dominican Roots and Respect in New York

• Towns and the hosts share personal stories relating to Dominican culture, highlighting the pride and communal ties that run deep.
• Towns expresses how, for him, respect in New York means more than financial rewards:
  • "Money's not fulfilling to me anymore...In New York, I always talk about it, it's the greatest currency you could get in New York. It's respect." – Towns (54:03)

2. College Basketball Glory with Kentucky

• Towns reflects on his single, spectacular season at Kentucky, describing the environment as "special" and reminiscing about the unique bond and energy among a team stacked with talent.
  • "[Calipari] always told us, make sure we enjoy these moments, because you'll never have that much talent in one room for basketball ever again." – Towns (07:00)
• The conversation recalls the celebrity-like status of Kentucky players under Calipari and draws comparisons to legendary college squads.

3. The Minnesota Years and Mentorship from KG

• Towns shares stories from his early NBA years, including mentorship under Kevin Garnett and the adjustment to Minnesota's climate and basketball culture:
  • “One of the things with KG was like calling everyone by their name, understanding the refs' names, treating men like men, not acting like you better than anybody...He taught me a lot.” – Towns (10:26)
• On being drafted number one overall and starting his career in Minnesota:
  • “Drafted number one...the next morning, I was out from Farmingdale, straight to Minnesota.” – Towns (11:38)
• Funny anecdotes about Minnesota’s frigid weather and skyways are shared (12:01).

4. Transition to the New York Knicks

• Towns discusses the rumors and excitement about his move to the Knicks, and what it means to return “home.”
  • "The idea of coming back home, playing for...my favorite team growing up to watch...was well documented.” – Towns (35:00)
• Hosts and Towns highlight the Knicks' resurgence and the high stakes of New York basketball.

5. NBA Culture: Teammates, Coaches, and Knicks Chemistry

• The hosts and Towns discuss personalities influencing locker room chemistry, such as PJ Tucker, Coach Tom Thibodeau, and various Knicks and Wolves players.
  • “Tibbs came to New York, changed the culture, brought New York back to winning culture...that's not just the players. That's a testament to the coaching staff, the work they put in.” – Towns (23:46)
• Lively debate about team roles, international players, and up-and-coming Knicks contributors.

6. Greatness, Mindset, and Sacrifice

• Towns and the hosts draw parallels between the pursuit of greatness in sports and music, emphasizing sacrifice and work ethic:
  • “You can't let anything cloud your mind of the vision you got. And there ain't been a time where you ain't walk in there where—of having championship standards, you know, and obviously last year, we came up short...now, you know, you gotta work even harder to get to the next step.” – Towns (57:28)
• Towns details the grind of being a pro athlete and how fleeting victories are compared to long-lasting losses:
  • “Enjoy these moments and these wins, cause the wins are short-lived and the losses last a long time.” – Towns (48:08)

7. Basketball Philosophy, Skill Development, and Icons

• Joe and Bucky praise Towns as the best three-point shooting big man, to which he responds confidently:
  • "Yes. No, for sure. Without a doubt." – Towns (38:08)
• In-depth discussion on Towns' offensive versatility and adaptability, citing influences from other basketball legends.
• Towns outlines his relentless training, childhood sacrifices, and the luck of having his father as a mentor and gym access:
  • “My dad being a high school coach, I had keys to a hardwood floor...So I had somewhere to work on my craft...” – Towns (42:02)

8. Giving Back and Dominican Pride

• Towns underscores his commitment to philanthropy and supporting the Dominican Republic:
  • “For me, I'm not looking to make money in DR. I'm looking to give money to DR...I want to give them the chance to have the resources.” – Towns (53:21)
• Conversation about community impact, foundation work, and the need for role models.

9. Championship Aspirations and New York’s Energy

• The group discusses what it would mean to win a title for the Knicks, the team’s current mindset, and the unique pressure and energy of Madison Square Garden.
  • “Are we gonna see a championship in New York City called that's the plan?” – Joe (56:28)
  • “I ain't come here to be good. It can't be great all time. You gotta...strive for greatness every day.” – Towns (56:32)
• The iconic status of winning in New York and the unifying effect on the city’s diverse fans.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Kentucky Experience:“We felt like rock stars there...Cal always told us, make sure we enjoy these moments, because you'll never have that much talent in one room for basketball ever again.”
  – Karl-Anthony Towns (06:39–07:00)
• On Respect Over Money:
  “Money’s not fulfilling to me anymore...It's respect. And that's all I look for these days is just respect.” – Towns (54:03)
• On Being a Role Model:
  "I wanna show up every night and play, you know? Cause I know that there's someone there that put extra hours at their job in to spend their hard work money to go and watch us play...And there could be nothing more disappointing than me not playing." – Towns (51:08)
• On Sacrifice and Childhood:
  "I dedicated my childhood to being great at sports and basketball and baseball is my love of basketball. And to have a hardwood court, I feel that that gave me a huge advantage on the competition..." – Towns (43:42)
• On Knicks Championship Aspirations:
  “Are we gonna see a championship in New York City called that's the plan?...I ain't come here to be good...You gotta be striving for greatness every day.” – Joe and Towns (56:28–56:32)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Dominican culture/family stories: 03:46–05:08
• Kentucky basketball experience & Calipari: 05:25–07:14
• NBA draft night & arriving in Minnesota: 11:13–12:28
• KG mentorship & early Wolves years: 16:01–17:19
• Transition to Knicks & Thibodeau’s influence: 21:44–24:47
• Media rumors & returning home to NY: 34:18–35:36
• Three-point shooting & playstyle: 38:00–40:36
• Mamba mentality, sacrifice, and legacy: 42:02–46:58
• Wins vs. losses, playoff reflection: 47:34–49:32
• New York as a basketball mecca: 49:48–51:08
• Community outreach/DR philanthropy: 51:15–53:39
• Money vs. respect: 54:03–55:32
• Championship mindset: 56:28–57:51

Tone & Style

The episode is casual, passionate, sometimes raucous, and deeply rooted in the lived experiences of the hosts and guest. Towns and the hosts go back and forth with jokes, mutual respect, neighborhood stories, and a focus on hard work and community. The language is streetwise, emotionally resonant, and at times motivational, always keeping it authentic to basketball culture and New York.

For Listeners

This episode is a must for basketball fans, especially those attuned to the culture and stakes of New York basketball, and for anyone interested in the journey of Karl-Anthony Towns. With stories of mentorship, sacrifice, and a drive for greatness, it's both entertaining and inspiring, offering a window into what it takes to succeed—and the deeper values that motivate today’s NBA stars.