Karl-Anthony Towns Injury History

Karl-Anthony Towns, widely known by his initials KAT, is a professional basketball player who plays for the New York Knicks as of November 2024. His basketball journey began in Metuchen, New Jersey, where he attended St. Joseph High School and quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional basketball talent. Towns' collegiate career unfolded at the University of Kentucky, where he played under the renowned coach John Calipari during the 2014-15 season. During his sole season in college, he averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. In the 2015 NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Towns as the first overall pick.

The rookie season proved to be a defining period for Towns. He secured the NBA Rookie of the Year award and consistently earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors, establishing himself as a rising star in the league. Over his nine-season tenure with the Timberwolves from 2015 to 2024, Towns emerged as one of the NBA's most versatile and dynamic big men. His professional achievements include three NBA All-Star selections in 2018, 2019, and 2022, highlighting his consistent excellence on the court. In 2022, Towns signed a supermax contract extension worth $220 million as per Spotrac. The 2024 NBA season marked a significant transition in Towns' career, with his trade to the New York Knicks.

Karl-Anthony Towns Injury History

Throughout his NBA career, Karl-Anthony Towns has battled numerous injuries that have significantly impacted his playing time and team performance. Basketball Reference highlights that while most of his injuries caused short-term absences, several critical injuries to his calf, knee, and wrist resulted in extended periods away from the court. These injury setbacks have been particularly challenging, interrupting his otherwise promising career and testing his resilience as a professional athlete.

As per Fox Sports, these are all the injuries Towns sustained in his NBA career:

DATE	INJURY
11/14/24	Knee
10/31/24	Wrist
4/13/24	Meniscus
3/6/24	Knee
2/27/24	Personal
12/29/23	Knee
12/27/23	Knee
12/22/23	Knee
4/13/23	Calf
4/10/23	Calf
4/7/23	Calf
4/3/23	Calf/Illness
4/1/23	Calf
3/30/23	Calf
3/28/23	Calf
3/27/23	Calf
3/25/23	Calf
11/28/22	Calf
12/23/21	Health Protocols
12/7/21	Tailbone
12/1/21	Tailbone
4/12/21	Personal
1/14/21	Health and Safety Protocols
1/10/21	Wrist
12/27/20	Left Wrist
2/12/20	Wrist
12/17/19	Illness
12/7/19	Right Knee
12/5/19	Knee
4/9/19	Right knee inflammation
3/13/19	Right Knee Inflammation
3/9/19	Right Knee
2/22/19	Concussion Protocol
1/11/19	Ankle

Major Injuries Sustained by Karl-Anthony Towns in his NBA Career

Knee Injury (December 2019)

According to USA Today, during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 13, Towns experienced a serious knee injury. According to Basketball Reference, this injury would sideline him for 15 games. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter when he went down hard after a missed dunk attempt while being guarded by Montrezl Harrell. Coach Ryan Saunders initially described the injury as "day-to-day," but the recovery process proved to be more extensive than initially anticipated.

Wrist Injury (February 2020)

The 2019-20 season came to an abrupt end for Towns with a wrist injury sustained in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played his final game on February 10, finishing the shortened season on the bench. Interestingly, the exact moment of injury remained unclear, as there were no immediate indications in the postgame locker room. He only played two games with the post-trade-deadline roster as per the NBA Official website.

Calf Injury (November 2022)

Towns encountered his most significant injury challenge in November 2022, suffering a Grade 3 calf strain that became a major setback in his career. In an interview with The Athletic, he revealed a critical rehabilitation setback in January that forced him to restart his recovery process entirely. This injury proved to be the longest absence of his career, keeping him off the court for 51 games and creating uncertainty about his return timeline, according to CBS Sports.

Knee Injury (March 2024)

As per the NY Post, in March 2024, Towns experienced another knee injury during a game against the Chicago Bulls. After colliding with Zach LaVine and knocking legs, he visibly grimaced in pain but initially continued playing. Ultimately, he was listed as questionable but was then ruled out. This injury resulted in an 18-game absence as per Basketball Reference.