Anthony Edwards Issues Playful Warning to Knicks Over Karl-Anthony Towns After Eye Injury
At All-Star Weekend, Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards made a pointedly playful promise: if anyone messes with Karl-Anthony Towns, Edwards will personally handle it. The exchange came days after Towns suffered a deep cut to his right eye that required 16 stitches during a Feb. 4 game (ET) at Madison Square Garden.
Edwards' All-Star Weekend message
The interaction unfolded during festivities around the All-Star break when Edwards approached New York’s guard Jalen Brunson with a clear, protective message. In his trademark blend of humor and intensity, Edwards warned the Knicks to look after Towns after the eye injury, saying he would "come out there and beat somebody up about KAT. " The line landed as both a joke and a reminder of how close the two players remain despite Towns' move to New York.
The exchange underscored the chemistry Edwards and Towns built as teammates, a relationship Edwards has described as brotherly. That rapport has persisted even after the blockbuster trade that sent Towns to the Knicks, and Edwards' comments at All-Star Weekend read as a public show of loyalty. Fans and teammates alike saw the remark as emblematic of how players carry personal relationships across rosters and rivalries.
Context: Towns' injury and personal background
Towns suffered the eye laceration during New York’s 134-127 double-overtime victory over Denver on Feb. 4 (ET) at Madison Square Garden. The cut on his right eye required 16 stitches, an injury that briefly overshadowed the win and drew concern from across the league. Despite the scare, Towns remained committed to competition and to representing his new team on a big stage.
Off the court, Towns' roots and identity have been a frequent part of the conversation around him. He has strong ties to the Dominican Republic through his late mother and has represented the country in international play. That international connection played into All-Star selection conversations this season, with Towns appearing on the World team as part of the league’s new format. The personal history gives added weight to the support he receives from friends and former teammates when injuries or emotional moments surface.
What Edwards' warning means for the teams
At its core, Edwards' on-court warning was lighthearted, but it also highlighted a deeper reality in the NBA: player relationships often transcend team boundaries. For the Knicks, the message is a reminder that Towns arrives in New York with a network of allies who will watch his back. For the Timberwolves and their fans, Edwards' quip reaffirmed an internal culture that values loyalty and solidarity.
From a competitive standpoint, the remark is unlikely to change much on the court. Teams handle injuries and personnel issues through medical staff and coaching decisions; physical retaliation has no place in playoff races or league conduct. Still, the exchange is a humanizing moment in a league frequently dominated by business talk and trade speculation. Edwards' promise — and the affection behind it — offered a brief, vivid snapshot of why personal bonds matter in a sport of transient rosters.
Whether delivered with a smile or a warning tone, Edwards' message was clear: he’s still watching out for Towns. That loyalty resonated with teammates and fans alike, prompting plenty of reaction in locker rooms and social channels where supporters typed out variations of the nickname, often writing 'kat' in the replies. In a season where narratives matter as much as box scores, the moment added one more chapter to the ongoing story of two former teammates still connected despite new addresses and new uniforms.
