Seven-footers aren’t supposed to be able to do things like this. There’s just over a minute left in the first quarter of the Knicks’ 114-107 victory over the Nets on Sunday, and Karl-Anthony Towns—who is shooting 52.5 percent on above-the-break 3s this season—is at the top of the key with a clean look at a three. Two Nets defenders close-out: Ziaire Smith, who abandons a cutting OG Anunoby to show on Towns, and Noah Clowney, who hard contests from the elbow out to the three-point line. What’s happening in milliseconds for a scrambling Nets defense plays out in slow motion for Towns. He looks at Smith, who has lost track of Anunoby and has his head turned to the play, then looks at Clowney, who is taking away the three-point with a hand out to contest. Towns freezes Clowney by looking at the rim, suggesting either a jump shot or a drive to the paint. Cue the cameras. It’s Showtime–not at The Apollo, nor at Staples Center–but live and direct from Madison Square Garden, the World’s Most Famous Arena, a KAT’s new stomping grounds. In one seamless motion, Towns chambers the ball in his left pocket, then, with a flick of the wrist, he rifles a 90-mile-an-hour fastball over Clowney’s outstretched hand. The ball rips through the air, right in stride with Anunoby, who finishes uncontested at the rim. By the time Anunoby takes flight, Towns has already completed his full spin, the velocity of his pass carrying him into a pirouette back up the floor on defense. The All-Star seven-footer is known best for his shooting and scoring abilities, but with a pass, for a fleeting moment, he turned Madison Square Garden into Rucker Park. “I don’t know if it was the best no-look,” Towns says later, grinning in front of his locker, “but it looked cool.” *** Most wouldn’t expect Towns to be this good of a passer. His reputation as the league’s best three-point shooting big man precedes him, overshadowing his tendencies as a playmaking five. Yet Towns has emerged as more than just a scorer in his Knicks tenure—he’s been the team’s engine, much to the surprise of Josh Hart, who billed the All-Star big an as more of a shot-taker than creator. “I thought he was just really a shooter-scorer, so he kind of surprised me with his passing,” Hart admitted after Sunday’s win. “And he’s a willing passer, so we like to play through him, try to get some guys some easy shots, Mikal, J.B. [Jalen Brunson]. So definitely [a] better [passer] than I thought.” Already, Towns has scored 30 or more points five times and topped 40 twice in just 12 games as a Knick. He is averaging 2.7 assists per game but has recorded four games with 5 or more assists and logged three or more assists in 7 of his first 12 games as a Knick. Towns has always had the skill. Bridges remembered his passing abilities during their Western Conference wars during his four-and-a-half-year run with the Phoenix Suns. “In Minnesota, the big scout was he always loved to skip corner passes, and he’d whip it all the way across [to the other corner],” Bridges recalled. “So [his passing abilities are] kind of a known thing playing against him in Minnesota a lot.” Much has changed since the yesteryears of Towns’ youth. Thibodeau sees it first-hand, having coached Towns for 204 games as head coach of the Timberwolves from 2016-19. “He wasn’t quite as strong as he is now, and he obviously didn’t have the experience, so he didn’t go through understanding the league, his opponents, the guys he was going against, the guys that were guarding him. Now he has it,” Thibodeau said. “The thing is he’s a student of the game and he keeps at it. I think the passing has really evolved.” *** There are just over three minutes left in a Nov. 12 NBA Cup game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Towns, standing in his domain on the low block, commands the attention of not one, not two, but three defenders. The matchup was almost unfair—6-foot-1 Kyle Lowry tasked with guarding a seven-footer in Towns—but the double-team came quickly, with Jared McCain and Andre Drummond closing in. Towns pauses, surveying the floor like a chess master in mid-match. He locks eyes with the three-point line and faked a pass to OG Anunoby. McCain bit, rotating over in anticipation, only to realize too late it was a feint. That fleeting hesitation opens the smallest of windows, and Towns exploits it with a flick of his wrist. The ball soars behind his head, threading between the defenders, landing perfectly in Bridges’ hands for an easy finish. This wasn’t just a highlight. It was a masterclass in misdirection. Towns didn’t just beat the defense—he manipulated it. “He’s always been unselfish. He’s always been a team-first guy, but now I think he really sees and understands what defenses are trying to do. He knows if there’s over-help,” said Tom Thibodeau. “He’s seeing the whole floor now. Initially, the vision was more narrow. It may have been on one guy. But now he sees more than one guy. He sees the defense, he sees where everyone is, he sees if there’s an over-help, I can fake here and throw there. And that goes a long way.” But where does the flash come from? That unteachable flair for the spectacular? Well, it’s not exactly a coincidence that Towns wears No. 32 in homage to Magic Johnson. Magic, the orchestrator of the Showtime Lakers, redefined basketball with his flashy passing and leadership. Towns grew up idolizing Johnson’s ability to elevate teammates, and he also studied another passing savant, Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis. During a trip to Venezuela as a child, Towns delved into Sabonis’ influence, gleaning insights from those who witnessed his court vision firsthand. “YouTube wasn’t as populated with videos [then] as it is now,” Towns recalled. “But to be able to talk to people overseas and hear the way he passed and the way he affected the game, and kind of be able to be talked through his passing abilities, allowed me to learn and be a better passer.” Towns’ passing often flies under the radar, overshadowed by his elite three-point shooting and scoring. But for those paying attention, it’s a rare gem—particularly when it comes with a dose of swagger. Of course, there are growing pains when incorporating such a unique talent. Sometimes, his creativity borders on overconfidence. “I think he got a couple turnovers because I didn’t think he was going to pass in games before, so just always have it on my radar,” Bridges admitted. “‘Cause I don’t wanna make a pass like that and it’s a turnover ’cause it’s gonna look bad. So even if he does it and it might not be right there, just always be on alert just to keep the possession going just in case.” At The Mecca of Basketball, Towns’ talent for passing feels right at home. So long as the dimes reach their target destination. “He better just make sure those passes connect. That’s all I’m worried about,” Hart said with a laugh. “As long as they get through, they can be as flashy as he wants.”