New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns credited a specific Bible verse as a source of strength as he continues to mourn the loss of his late mother, whose presence he’s felt as he competes in the National Basketball Association Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
In an interview on ESPN’s “Volkswagen Postgame” following the second game of the NBA Finals on Friday, Towns was asked about his grief over his mother as he fights for a shot at the NBA Championship title.
“When you go through something like that, I feel like other than losing a child, there’s nothing worse you could go through,” he responded, referring to losing a parent.
“It builds you up, and it strengthens you beyond measure,” Towns added.
He cited Philippians 4:13 as a source of strength following the death of his mother, noting that it proclaims, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“I didn’t know the significance it would have in my life at when I became an adult. But what I do know is that I truly can do anything when I walk in faith.” he said. “When I walk with the angels beside me, I feel anything’s possible. I feel nothing’s impossible.”
Towns’ mother died in 2020, shortly after she fell into a coma after contracting COVID-19.
Towns highlighted how Philippians 4:13 correlates with his mother’s death date, April 13. The date April 13 is frequently abbreviated as 4/13. Towns said he had the Bible verse and the date tattooed on his neck following his mother’s death.
The athlete indicated that he had admired the verse even before he lost his mother.
“I was strengthened on April 13 when I lost my mother. That’s been my favorite Bible verse my whole entire life since I was little. I didn’t know the significance it would have in my life when I became an adult.”
“But what I do know is that I truly can do anything when I walk in faith. When I walk with the angels beside me, I feel anything’s possible. I feel nothing’s impossible,” he said.
Philippians 4:13 also figures prominently on Towns’ social media accounts. Both his Instagram profile and his X profile list “Philippians 4:13” in their biographies.
In a postgame interview with ESPN immediately after the Knicks’ 105-104 victory over the Spurs on Friday, Towns credited his mother’s intervention with his team’s success.
“I prayed to her strong before that possession,” he recalled. “I take it as a sign my mom was there with me.”
Towns previously discussed feeling his late mother’s presence on the basketball court during an interview with ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” following the first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.
“I don’t know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that, I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” he said of competing in the NBA Finals for the first time.
“In a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands,” he explained. “It was really fun, and it was really comforting.”
Discussing how the first game of the NBA Finals is often cited as a high-pressure event, Towns reiterated that “it felt like a certain presence was here that was very comforting and very loving.”
In a best-of-seven series, the Knicks have won two of three NBA Finals games played so far, with the Spurs winning the third game Monday night.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: [email protected]
