Knicks Player Recalls Jeremy Lin Fandom Before Joining Team

Karl-Anthony Towns said Jeremy Lin's February 2012 performance with the Knicks made him a fan of the team and sent him to a Modell's store looking for a Lin jersey. Towns spoke to reporters over the weekend and gave Lin a direct mention. "I want to give a shoutout to Jeremy Lin," Towns said.

"Because he really made me a Knicks fan and had me at Modell's, going crazy trying to find his jersey. … I have so much love for Jeremy Lin. He's one of my favorite Knicks of all time, one of my favorite players of all time. " Towns said the gesture was notable given the earlier influence Lin had on his own Knicks fandom.

Towns was a high-school player in New Jersey when Lin's run occurred. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected him first overall in the 2015 NBA draft. The Knicks acquired Towns in a 2024 trade.

Towns was born and raised in New Jersey and attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. After the trade, some Knicks fans initially reacted negatively to the move, and Towns himself expressed reservations at the time. Since joining the team, Towns has stated that he has embraced the franchise he once followed as a fan.