Karl-Anthony Towns has taken a long route to the biggest achievement of his NBA career. The No. 1 pick in 2015 spent his first nine seasons in Minnesota before joining the New York Knicks and finally reaching the top of the league.
That championship changed the way his career is viewed. Towns now has six All-Star selections, three All-NBA teams and an NBA title, giving his résumé a different shape than it had a year ago.
That new chapter was enough for DeMarcus Cousins to make a striking comparison on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. The former All-Star said he would take Karl-Anthony Towns’ career over those of Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
The players in Cousins’ comparison have much stronger individual award records than Towns. Chris Paul made 12 All-Star teams and 11 All-NBA teams during his career.
Damian Lillard earned nine All-Star selections and seven All-NBA honors. Paul George also made nine All-Star teams and earned six All-NBA selections, while Jimmy Butler made six All-Star teams and five All-NBA selections.
Dec 23, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) dribbles the ball past New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Russell Westbrook adds even more individual success to the group. He retired as a nine-time All-Star, a former MVP and the NBA’s career leader with 209 triple-doubles.
However, Towns has achieved something none of those five players did. He helped New York win the 2026 NBA title, ending the Knicks’ 53-year championship wait.
That title makes Cousins’ opinion harder to judge through individual awards alone. The comparison depends on how much value a championship adds to a player’s career.
Towns’ numbers show that he played an important role in the championship run. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds during the regular season, then added 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs.
Cousins’ latest comments also stand out because he has criticized Towns before. Earlier this year, he called Towns’ play unacceptable after Russell Westbrook held him up in the post and said he was disappointed in the big man.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) react after a play in the second half during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Cousins is not praising Towns without considering his weaknesses. He challenged Towns during New York’s season but now ranks his career above five players who have more individual awards in several areas.
The numbers do not provide a clear answer. Towns has fewer All-Star and All-NBA selections than several players in the comparison, but he is only 30, remains active and has won a championship.
Cousins is judging Towns by more than individual awards. His view gives extra value to the championship that changed how Towns’ career is judged.
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