NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns is singing his finacée, Jordyn Woods‘, praises after his team’s electrifying win over the San Antonio Spurs. During the post-game press conference, Anthony Towns, often referred to as KAT, opened up about the key role Woods played in his life after the loss of his mother in April 2020.

Karl-Anthony Towns Goes On And On About His Fiancée, Jordyn Woods, Following Electrifying Win Over San Antonio Spurs

Anthony Towns, 28, was all smiles on Saturday, June 13, after his team (New York Knicks) won the 2026 NBA Finals. During the post-game conference, the 7-foot elite athlete praised his partner, Woods, and credited her for holding him down after the loss of his mother in April 2020.

“Her presence is always felt in my life,” Anthony Towns said about his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, who died in 2020 from complications with COVID-19.

According to Anthony Towns, although the loss was challenging, his relationship with Woods kept him steady. “You always pray you’re going to pick the right woman for you, and I know I did in my fiancée,” he said.

“It’s crazy, when she passed, there was so much turmoil in my life. Funny enough, my fiancée was the one who was a friend at the time, was the only person I got to call before I had to go out there and say bye to her at the hospital,” he continued.

Karl-Anthony Towns Says His ‘Bond’ With Fiancée, Woods, Goes Beyond What People Can See

Anthony Towns continued boasting about his connection with Woods, telling the media that their “bond … goes deeper than just physical features and everything like that.” The University of Kentucky alum went on to say that their relationship began after years of “true friendship.”

Regarding his late mother, Anthony Towns said that he attempts to connect with her in other ways. “In moments of true pressure and a lot of things going on, I always feel this calming come to me, and it’s always her,” he said, adding that it’s “great” to “always feel her arms around me and always to feel her love in my life, in so many different ways.”

Anthony Towns added that he didn’t feel that kind of love in his life following her death until he connected with Woods. “It really means a lot that, in a way —without sounding weird—Jackie Jr. was able to be here celebrating this moment with me,” he said.

Woods Said Her Relationship With Karl-Anthony Towns Was Built On ‘Friendship’

According to a previous report from The Blast, Woods opened up about her relationship with Anthony Towns, revealing that it was built on two things: friendship and trust.

The influencer and TV personality said that the pair started as besties before things eventually progressed between them. “We’ve been through a lot together,” she said. “We’ve seen each other at all different ways, times, and phases, so I think we have a very strong foundation.”

In December 2025, the pair made headlines after posting about their engagement on social media. Major celebrities, including Angel Reese, Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Simone Biles, congratulated the superstar couple on their special moment.

Jalen Brunson Was Emotional Following The Knicks’ Win Over San Antonio

Anthony Towns wasn’t the only Knicks player to get emotional following their thrilling win on Saturday. According to PEOPLE, Jalen Brunson was also overcome with emotion, especially after seeing his dad, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

“I was good. [After] the final buzzer, I walked right to half court, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around. My dad was there,” he said. “I just remember Josh [Hart] talking into my ear and him just saying, like, ‘We did it. We did it,’ and then I was emotional for a good like 5, 10 minutes.”

Brunson Said Josh Hart Sent Him And His Teammate A Special Text Following Knicks’ Win

And the emotions didn’t stop there. Brunson spoke with “The Today Show” after their win and told the hosts that Hart sent him and his teammate, Mikal Bridges, a special text the day after becoming NBA champions.

“He said, ‘I don’t know if I can say this in person because I may be emotional, but I really love you guys, and it really means the most to me to know you guys are here doing this with me.’ We have a special bond,” Brunson said.

Brunson, Bridges, and Hart all played together at Villanova, winning an NCAA championship together in 2016.

“When we were younger, we all had a goal of obviously trying to make the NBA,” Brunson added. “In that long-term goal, we were able to achieve something great in college.”

Brunson continued, boasting about their “awesome” connection. He said, “We all have love for each other.”