What happened: Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks stayed locked in during the franchise's championship run, tuned out to Victor Wembanyama's reaction along the way. The retrospective moment surfaces as New York works through the 2026-27 NBA preseason.

Why it matters: New York transitions from celebrating its title run to defending the crown under Mike Brown's plans for an expanded playmaker role for Towns. With contract extension talks paused until later in the 2026-27 season, the front office is balancing roster crunches while Towns remains eligible for a $276 million deal.

What to watch: The Knicks continue 2026-27 preseason preparations ahead of the regular season and the NBA Cup start on Oct. 30.