Karl-Anthony Towns Breaks Down His Best Fits and Reflects on His Welcome-to-New-York Moment

Karl-Anthony Towns lives a life centered around three core pillars of the modern millennial male: hooping, dressing, and gaming. Luckily, he's figured out a way to make all of those passions converge.

In his first year as the starting New York Knicks center, Towns earned an All-Star bid, becoming one of the main forces behind the team securing a playoff spot in the East. He's also regularly one of the best-dressed big men in the league, effortlessly putting together elite-level looks at the same rate he's putting up double-doubles. Recently, he also partnered with Assassin's Creed Shadows, further cementing his reputation as one of the most dedicated gamers in the NBA.

And...it all makes sense. If you know anything about KAT, you know Assassin's Creed is one of his go to games, going even back to when he would play Valhallaon on Twitch.

Released last week, the latest Assassin's Creed is the 14th installment in the series and brings a fresh new world, where players can explore 16th-century Japan as a samurai. (The main character options include Fujibayashi Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai.)

KAT is all in on the lore, too. During the offseason, he visited Japan, drawing style inspiration from the culture out there. And, to celebrate the release, he wore a one-of-one Shadows-inspired outfit designed by Lionel Nichols and styled by Alexander-Julian Gibbson before a game against the San Antonio Spurs—yet another example of the way he gets fits off.

A couple of months ago, before the game's release, we had the chance to catch up with KAT. We talked about some of his most iconic looks, his trip to Japan, his first season with the Knicks, and more.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Can you tell me about your Assassin’s Creed fit? 

The Fit has a lot of Japanese culture. The Fit has a lot of culture embedded in it. My love for oversized, baggy clothes as well, but all of it comes from the fact of being able to see a Black Samurai in this game. It's too fire. So I’m kind of trying to match the swag he got going on. 

This summer I went to Japan. I was in Tokyo and Kyoto. I'm tremendously honored to be part of that culture for the time I was given. And to be able to live in that culture—I felt very welcome there. And to be able to have people who I love dearly with me to experience it with me, it meant a lot. I was appreciative and can't wait to go back. 

Did you get any style inspo out there? 

I mean, how can you go to Japan and not get inspo about life? I went to Japan and just learned so much more about the culture. I learned about myself. I learned about my interests even more and what I love to do. It was a trip that really helped me be a better man and I'm forever grateful. 

What’s the story of this fit?

That was the first day in Japan. This fit was really fire. We kind of had a little denim moment. I believe that's a Margiela full fit, top and bottom. I love the open leg designs. My feet too big to be having something hemed, so I try to hide the size 20 feet a little bit as much as possible. 

Honestly, I've had that fit for a while. I've actually worn it. So it wasn't too much planning. I like to just let my fashion and my vibes at that moment speak for itself. 

One of my favorite moments is when you wore the Malik Sealy jersey last year.

That Jersey is special. That's a real Malik Sealy jersey. We was in the playoffs, Western conference finals. And to be even allowed and honored by the Minnesota family to wear that Sealy jersey means a lot to me. A legend in Minnesota, someone that we all miss tremendously. And to be able to see someone who not only affected the community so much, but also was a source of inspiration from my vet—Kevin Garnett—it meant a lot to be able to even walk in with that jersey. 

I thought it was so fire because he's obviously a Minnesota legend, but also a New York legend. 

Yeah, yeah. It's so fire to be even [part of that] that. One day I'm representing him in Minnesota and the next day I'm representing where he's from—St. John's, Madsion Square Garden, where he's played games. So it means a lot.

What’s the story of you in this Scarface jacket?

This year I've all been about the vintage. And to be able to wear a vintage leather jacket like that—a jacket with arguably one of my favorite movies of all time, Scarface—it meant a lot. So again, just kind of keeping it simple, letting a lot of times my jacket speak volumes and the pants and the shoes really keep it clean and simple.

Is this your first time ever having a Scarface inspired fit? 

I think for basketball, yes. I don't think off the court. But I will say that I got to New York and done it twice now. One in Miami and one in this photo. So Scarface seems to have a lot of inspiration right now for me. 

Do you typically repeat outfits?

Nah, I really don't. And I've realized that by the amount of clothes I've had. So I'm trying to do a little better with kind of not doing the one time wear and never wear it again type vibe. 

What's your perfect kind of gaming set-up?

I get to play 'em a lot when I'm in the season, so that's really when this is the best time to be able to play. So games like this coming out during the season is tremendously helpful for me. This is when I really get my video game playing in. And in the off season I play a little bit too. But I grew up in a different area, so I like to get outside. I like to get active playing golf or hanging out with friends that I haven't been able to see in so long because of the basketball season or traveling. So yeah, video games during the season is the best time for me. 

You've been obviously in New York a couple of months. Tell me your "welcome to New York moment." 

I think for me, truthfully, it was getting introduced to MSG. I'm from this area, so being able to see my family and stuff was great, but it wasn't new. And to be introduced to MSG was my welcome to New York moment. I've always been on the other side getting introduced to New York and being booed and this was the first time I got cheered for. 

Going back to fashion, I'm curious,  give me a fashion trend that you love and then one that you find kind wish was better. 

I love all fashion. I think there's not anything for me to judge because fashion's not meant to be judged. It's meant to be appreciated. It's like art. So I may not be qualified to wear certain things that people could pull off. There's certain things I just personally don't want to wear, but it doesn't mean that I don't like it. It just doesn't work for me. And that's okay. And not everything's supposed to work for everybody, but I appreciate when people go out there and take chances and they're willing to express themselves in their fashion.