Knicks Star Clowns All-Star for Missing Eagles Game: ‘Fake Fan’

New York Knicks star Josh Hart is known for his banter on social media and often calls out his own teammates. On September 4, he was stunned to see Karl-Anthony Towns, a self-professed Philadelphia Eagles fan, attend the U.S. Open instead of his NFL team’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Hart jokingly made the comment when Towns was shown on television enjoying the Aryna Sabalenka versus Jessica Pegula U.S Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

In response, Towns revealed that he was watching the Eagles versus Cowboys game on his mobile phone. The All-Star center captioned the image, “Go Eagles.”

This isn’t the first instance of Hart clowning his teammate on social media.

In April, Hart poked fun at Towns for claiming that his first love was baseball, and that he was forced to switch to basketball due to his 7-foot frame.

Knicks Co-Favorites to Represent East

All the fun and games aside, Hart and Towns walk into the 2025-26 season under immense pressure, as the Knicks are the co-betting favorites to represent the East in the 2026 NBA Finals. According to ESPN Bet, the Knicks (+800) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+800) are favored to win the East and compete for the NBA title.

Expectations were already high when the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025 for the first time in the 21st century, and further skyrocketed when Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) and Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) suffered devastating Achilles injuries during the 2025 NBA playoffs. As a result, both superstar will miss the 2025-26 season, taking their respective teams out of title contention.

ESPN’s Summer Forecast predicts the Knicks will finish with a 54-28 record in the 2025-26 season, which will be their best regular-season record of the century.

Can Knicks Win It All?

The Knicks bolstered their chances of winning the NBA title by strengthening their bench this offseason with the additions of Jordan Clarkson, a former Sixth Man of the Year, and Guerschon Yabusele. Furthermore, they are rumored to add former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons to strengthen their second unit further.

Most of all, the Knicks have a new head coach, Mike Brown, who is expected to utilize all his resources, unlike his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau. Towns, for one, is excited to play for Brown, who enjoyed great success in his stints in Sacramento and Golden State.

“We have a chance to win a championship and that’s only going to happen if everyone’s connected to each other, and our goals,” Towns told the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast.

“We did a lot last year when people said we didn’t have a bench, and still made it to the [Eastern Conference Finals]. Our locker room is very good.”

” [When] you have locker rooms that are that connected, you can’t be bothered by any of the outside noise and stuff, that’s when you have a championship team,” he said.

“Because at the end of the day, people will talk. [But] as long as everyone in that locker room believes in each other and this goal we have, ain’t none of that sh*t matters on the outside.”

Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury Opens Up on ‘Big Hype Train for Ole Bill’ Croksey-Merritt

The Washington Post/Getty

ASHBURN, VA - AUGUST 2: Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (32) during training camp in Ashburn, VA on August 2, 2025. (Photo by John McDonnell/ for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“Yeah, it’s been interesting,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said about RB Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt on Thursday. “He’s a guy who I have a ton of respect for his journey, there’s no doubt.”

Croskey-Merritt captured the hearts of NFL fans across the globe over the summer. The seventh-round rookie out of Arizona steadily climbed the depth chart over the course of training camp, culminating in a breakout primetime preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, during which he had 11 carries for 46 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run.

Going by Bill and with a swagger and determination that’s endeared him to millions, Croskey-Merritt is sure to be a factor for the Commanders this year. In fact, Washington traded away starting RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers a few weeks ago, paving the way for Croskey-Merritt to see the field.

Kliff Kingsbury on Bill Croskey-Merritt’s Work Ethic and Drive

Greg Fiume/GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: Jacory Croskey-Merritt #32 of the Washington Commanders rushes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on August 18, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Croskey-Merritt has a fascinating story. Originally a small-time high school recruit, he committed to Alabama State, where he played as a freshman in 2019. An injury wiped out his sophomore year, causing him to redshirt, but he played again in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to New Mexico in 2023.

That season, he had 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, adding seven receptions for 72 yards and another score through the air. He was a big-time transfer to Arizona in 2024 and dominated in their opener, with 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.

However, the NCAA ruled him ineligible before Week 2 last year. During his redshirt year in 2020, his number at Alabama State had been reassigned to another player who the NCAA had footage of, and they did not believe Croskey-Merritt nor the Alabama State coaching staff when they told him he didn’t play.

As a result, Croskey-Merritt was forced to miss the rest of the season, but he never wavered in his commitment to the team. “To stay at Arizona and just rep on practice squad every day when you’re in college, like I wouldn’t have done that,” Kingsbury said. “I would’ve gotten a job or done something else. I don’t like football as much as [Croskey-Merritt] does, apparently,” he said with a chuckle.

“So for him to do that, go to an All-Star game, and then just kinda earn the reps, like he can’t get enough. He wants to know about it, wants to practice, he’s always trying to get to the front of the line, and so that’s been really cool to see. We’ll see how it all goes, but yeah it’s a big hype train for ol’ Bill.”

The Washington Commanders’ Depth Chart at Running Back

Those strong words from Kingsbury are a positive sign for Croskey-Merritt, but even with Robinson no longer on the roster, it’s a crowded depth chart in Washington. Chris Rodriguez and Austin Ekeler are sure to be factors as well, and it might take some time for Croskey-Merritt to earn a featured role. But clearly, the coaching staff loves him.