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Karl-Anthony Towns does not like his unflattering nickname

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 8:18 PM ET

Beyond his initials, Karl-Anthony Towns is not a fan of the feline references.

The New York Knicks star big man Towns appeared this week on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. During the appearance, Towns was asked about the many nicknames that he has gotten from fans over the years.

Towns made clear that there is one particular nickname that he does not care for — “Big Purr.” He also said that he does not like the less common moniker of “Big Meow” but added that “Big Purr” is even worse.

Take a look at the full video.

.@KarlTowns reacts to his many infamous nicknames #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/lKw92s8SOj
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) September 22, 2025

The five-time NBA All-Star Towns has been in the league since 2015 and was originally (and still most popularly) nicknamed “KAT” after his initials. But several cat-related offshoots have since sprung up as well, especially since he got traded to the Knicks last year. Ever since the move to New York, Towns has gone viral for his supposedly zesty behavior during games, further fueling the rise of the “Big Purr” nickname.

Now 29 years old, Towns, who put up 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in his debut season for the Knicks last year, is facing even greater expectations now that the Eastern Conference appears to be wide-open next season. But in the meantime, we now know that Towns is one of the many NBA stars who don’t particularly care for the popular nicknames that the Internet has bestowed on them.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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