The Early Nod for the MVP Candidate of the 2026 NBA Finals Goes To Karl-Anthony Towns

In the photo displayed above, Karl-Anthony Towns holds his hands up to the sky, talking to his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, who passed away April 13, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19.

She would be proud of him because if the series ended today, our nod for the MVP of the 2026 NBA Finals would go to none other than Karl-Anthony Towns. He's been playing lights out averaging 19.5 points per game with 12.5 rebounds. He's also shooting 55.6% from the field, while also shooting 42.9% from 3 point range. 

New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns dunking on San Antonio Spurs’ Center Victor Wembanyama in the 2nd quarter of last nights NBA Finals Game 2.

Along with the numbers, his impact for the @knicks has been huge. In both games 1 & 2, Towns scored a lot of his points of both games in the quarters the #spurs were making big runs in.

In game one the Spurs opened a 14 point deficit for the Knicks to soak in, and in that quarter, Towns scored 14 of his 18 points to keep the Knicks in the game and helping to tie the game 76-76 going into the 4th quarter. 

In game last night's games 2, Towns scored 17 of his 21 points for the game at the halfway for the Knicks. What's even more impressive is that he scored 12 of those 17 points in the 2nd quarter when the Spurs were making a run and had the a 12 point lead against the Knicks at one point.

Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates after scoring a bucket over Victor Wembanyama.

Because of his aggression and timely 3's he made (2 out of 3 of his total made 3's came in that stretch), the Knicks were able to battle back and take a 56-52, 4 point lead heading into halftime instead of being down by at least 12 points or more. 

Jalen Brunson has carried the Knicks in the 4th quarter of both games 1 & 2 but its fair to say that without Town's contributions in the 3rd & 2nd quarters of games 1 & 2, the Knicks may be down 0-2 in the series instead of going home to Madison Square Garden up 2-0.

Kar-Anthony Towns is our early nod for MVP in the 2026 NBA Finals so far.

If you agree or disagree with us, let us know by voicing your opinion in the comments section. View highlights of Towns in the link provided below.