NBA Champion Makes Stunning Move While Other Stars Betray Jewish Community

Liberty Check

• Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns shows moral clarity by attending Jewish youth fundraiser amid rising NYC antisemitism
• Meanwhile, NBA players Kyrie Irving and Victor Wembanyama endorse radical politician’s calls to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as ‘war criminal’
• Antisemitic hate crimes account for 55-60% of all NYC hate crimes despite Jews making up only 10% of population — Mayor Mamdani’s inflammatory rhetoric blamed by Jewish leaders

New York Knicks NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns attended a fundraiser Monday night for Chazaq, a local New York City Jewish youth education group, according to The Algemeiner. In a climate of escalating antisemitism across the city, Towns’ appearance stands in stark contrast to the disgraceful posturing of other NBA players.

Anthony-Towns told the crowd it was “an honor to be able to play for y’all and represent what this city is.”

The organization gave Anthony-Towns a gift promoting its “speak no evil” anti-bullying campaign. His willingness to stand publicly with the Jewish community deserves recognition, especially when too many prominent athletes remain silent or worse.

The appearance comes in the wake of Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama showing approval of an anti-Israel message by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Both players liked an Instagram video in which Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged federal authorities to arrest him if he enters New York City.

This shameful endorsement of radical anti-Israel rhetoric by high-profile athletes reveals how deeply progressive ideology has infected professional sports. Irving and Wembanyama’s support for inflammatory accusations against America’s strongest Middle Eastern ally demonstrates either profound ignorance or deliberate antagonism toward the Jewish state.

Anthony-Towns’ attendance at the event comes amid alarming levels of antisemitism in the city. According to New York Police Department data for 2026, antisemitic hate crimes in New York City remain devastatingly high, accounting for roughly 55% to 60% of all confirmed hate crimes in the city, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only about 10% of the population.

The NYPD recorded 78 antisemitic cases out of 143 total confirmed hate crimes in the first quarter of 2026 alone. These aren’t just statistics — they represent real Jewish families, children, and elderly community members being targeted, harassed, and attacked in America’s largest city.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced intense criticism from prominent Jewish organizations and elected officials who argue his harsh rhetoric regarding Israel and threats to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contributes to a climate of rising antisemitism within the city. His inflammatory language emboldens the very extremists committing these hate crimes.

When elected officials demonize the Jewish state and celebrity athletes amplify those messages to millions of followers, they create permission structures for hatred. Jewish New Yorkers are paying the price with their safety.

Karl-Anthony Towns deserves credit for taking a principled stand. In an era when moral cowardice and virtue signaling dominate sports culture, showing up for a vulnerable community under siege takes courage. His actions speak louder than the empty social media posturing of his peers.

Our freedoms depend on staying vigilant.