Karl-Anthony Towns’ late-game heroics in the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Pistons included a crucial fadeaway jumper — a move he credits to off-season work with Kyrie Irving. Towns admits it’s not pretty, but it’s proving to be highly effective when it matters most.
Karl-Anthony Towns was the difference-maker down the stretch in the New York Knicks’ Game 4 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Scoring eight of the team’s final 10 points, Towns delivered under pressure — and one of his biggest shots came from a surprising source of inspiration.
According to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Towns revealed that the clutch fadeaway he hit late in the fourth quarter was a move he developed during summer workouts with NBA superstar Kyrie Irving.
Lessons from One of the Game’s Greats
Towns said Irving taught him the subtle mechanics behind the shot — specifically how to hold the ball, where to position his body, and how to launch it cleanly over a defender.
“It’s something that I never really had,” Towns said.
“And it didn’t look as good. I was able to iron my game out watching a great like him. One of the most talented players the NBA has ever seen and just did it as best I could to add my little flavor to it.”
Towns joked about the aesthetics of the move, admitting:
“It may not look as good as his — I ain’t going to lie, I think it’s pretty damn ugly — but it’s effective when I need it to be.”
The Shot That Changed the Game
Towns’ fadeaway jumper cut Detroit’s lead to just two points, setting up the Knicks’ comeback and eventual 94-93 win. Without that shot — and the deep three-pointer he hit shortly after — New York might not be holding a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Madison Square Garden.
Towns’ willingness to expand his game, even heading into the prime of his career, speaks volumes about his commitment to growth — and it’s paying dividends on the biggest stage.