Karl-Anthony Towns Shows He’s the Biggest Assassin’s Creed Fan with Pregame Tunnel Fit

Despite his best efforts to blend in, we saw right through Karl-Anthony Towns’ disguise.

Standing at seven feet and 248 pounds, Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the largest players in the NBA. However, his pregame outfit on Wednesday night showcased his status as the ultimate Assassin’s Creed fan.

The open-world stealth video game franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is set to release on Thursday, March 20. This new edition allows players to immerse themselves in feudal Japan, taking on the roles of either a samurai (Yasuke) or a shinobi (Naoe). Towns, however, has already experienced this dream for longtime fans, without needing to step into The Animus.

What dream, you ask? Before his New York Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs, Towns made a grand entrance in a modernized version of the iconic Assassin robes, custom-designed for his impressive size.

If the Assassins a) were real and b) still existed today, this is undoubtedly a look they would sport. The series’ characters often incorporate their secret society logo into their disguises. Despite the popular belief that a hood and sunglasses can conceal identity, it’s hard to hide when you’re a seven-footer, limiting the pool of potential impostors.

Before this, Jaren Jackson Jr. was the only other fan of the series who could rival Towns in stature. He joined Towns at Ubisoft’s headquarters for an early game trial during NBA All-Star Weekend:

However, Jackson stands at just 6’10 and 242 pounds, so while he might be a formidable rim protector, he lacks the Assassin robes for a pregame tunnel fit, giving Towns the edge in the fan department. Given that the NBA features many of the tallest individuals globally, it’s challenging to imagine a larger Assassin’s Creed enthusiast than Towns.

Karl-Anthony Towns: A Lifelong Assassin’s Creed Fan

Towns revealed to ESPN that he’s been playing the series since its inception in 2007 — making him a gamer at just 12 years old. His passion was solidified with the release of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, where he enjoyed multiplayer sessions with his Kentucky teammates:

“Brotherhood solidified my love and passion for Assassin’s Creed,” Towns stated. “I was in college and able to play with my teammates — Willie Cauley-Stein and Derek Willis — for the first time and experience the world with them.”

(For context, Cauley-Stein was listed as eight pounds lighter than Towns in his last NBA season, solidifying KAT’s title as the world’s biggest AC fan.)

Since being drafted first overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Towns has continued playing the games in his downtime, including a memorable reaction to realizing the power of Eivor/Odin’s kicks in the 2022 expansion of AC: Valhalla:

Shadows is generating plenty of excitement, with stunning visuals and positive reviews, including those from Polygon and The Verge, highlighting the detailed scenery that immerses players in Japan’s rich history.

Towns dressing up as an Assassin in New York City may prompt new fans to search for the series online. Fueled by his newfound Brotherhood status, Towns scored the Knicks’ first nine points in the game:

Unfortunately, Towns and the Knicks struggled to maintain their momentum. He faced a setback in the third quarter with an apparent hand injury, a concerning issue with only 14 games left before the NBA playoffs.

Fortunately, Towns received some healing and was able to return in the fourth quarter, although he couldn’t save the Knicks from a 120-105 loss. At least he avoided a serious hand injury, allowing him to slip on his hidden blade and play Shadows that night to unwind.