Zero Faith in Michael Jordan as Karl-Anthony Towns Chooses Anthony Davis and More Against Bulls Legend

It seems Karl-Anthony Towns and Michael Jordan have developed an interesting relationship in recent years. MJ went viral after throwing a rather blunt “f*ck you” towards KAT during the 2022 All-Star Weekend. And now, KAT has added fuel to the fire by rejecting the idea of choosing MJ—or other legendary players like James Worthy and Vince Carter—over his own alma mater. His reasoning? Well, it’s got a lot to do with loyalty.

The 4x All-Star recently joined Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, and while the conversation started with stories about his NBA career, it quickly took an interesting turn. Sharpe introduced a segment where he pitted players from different universities against each other, asking KAT to pick who’d win. “I’m going to take some Kentucky alums, some Duke alums, and some North Carolina alums,” Sharpe explained. So, who were the names on this list?

Sharpe rattled off a powerhouse roster: Kentucky had the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, John Wall, and De’Aaron Fox. Duke boasted Jason Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Zion Williamson, while North Carolina’s lineup included Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Vince Carter. With such a stacked lineup, you’d think Towns would hesitate. But, when it came time to choose, KAT didn’t blink.

Without missing a beat, Towns interrupted Sharpe and repeatedly declared, “Kentucky.” Sharpe was left shocked, and asked, “Y’all beating Jordan and Worthy?” Towns’ loyalty to his alma mater was unwavering. “I’m picking Kentucky regardless. I don’t think you understand. Big Blue Nation bleeds blue, bro,” he said in the podcast, making it clear his decision was about more than just talent—it’s about loyalty.

For Towns, this loyalty runs deep. He played for Kentucky during the 2014-2015 season and despite his nine seasons in the NBA, his most painful defeat remains the Wildcats’ loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Final Four. “That game still hurts. I still haven’t watched it, I can’t,” Towns admitted.

Coming back to the MJ-KAT relation, interestingly on the same podcast, KAT again ignored His Airness while choosing the GOAT of basketball.

Karl-Anthony Towns picks LeBron James over Michael Jordan

When asked about the GOAT debate on Club Shay Shay, Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t hesitate to pick LeBron James over Michael Jordan. “That man Bron is different. He’s something special,” KAT said, pointing to his decade-long experience in the NBA. “I’ve been in the league for 10 years now. I feel LeBron’s the best player we’ve ever seen talent-wise.”

However, Towns did acknowledge the classic argument over championships. “If you wanna get caught up in chips and rings and all that stuff, that’s up to people to debate,” he added. But for KAT, that’s not the defining factor in choosing the greatest player.

Some might think Towns’ pick of LeBron is influenced by the infamous moment at the NBA’s 75th-anniversary celebration, where Michael Jordan bluntly said, “Fu*k you” to him. But for Towns, it’s LeBron’s numbers that have left a lasting impression on him.

As per KAT, LeBron’s 3-point shooting, for example, has dramatically improved. Last season, LeBron shot 41% from beyond the arc, up from 32% the previous year. That kind of growth, according to Towns, is why he believes “King James” is the GOAT.