NEW YORK (AP) — New York center Karl-Anthony Towns was held out of the Knicks' game Friday night against the Chicago Bulls because of a right elbow impingement.
Towns was in a good mood as he participated in pregame warmups and took a couple of shots. However, he stood in front of the visitor’s bench and grabbed his elbow before he walked off the court toward the home locker room.
The All-Star center is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. He was replaced by Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup.
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New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) handles the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives against Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A pair of NBA head coaches defended Memphis and its culture Friday following criticism by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James that the Grizzlies should just relocate to Nashville.
Current Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo and Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, an assistant in Memphis before taking over as head coach of Toronto, said their experiences did not match the comments by James in a "Bob Does Sports” YouTube video earlier this week.
James criticized Memphis and indicated the NBA would be better off if the Grizzlies moved 200 miles east to Nashville where Tennessee's capital city has Vanderbilt University, NASCAR and even the NHL's Predators. He even said he might have opted to say he wouldn't play in Memphis if the Grizzlies had the first pick in the 2003 draft.
“I can say from my own perspective that I have the complete opposite — 180-degree perspective on that,” Iisalo said. “The Memphis where we have arrived less than two years ago has been very warm. Very welcoming.”
Rajakovic added: “I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. I love the people of Memphis. I love the food. I love every single time I come over here.”
James' criticism included NBA players having nothing to do when teams arrive in Memphis for games.
“In Memphis on a (expletive) random (expletive) Thursday," James said. "I’m not even the first guy to talk about it in the NBA, like, ‘You guys have to move. Go over to Nashville.’”
The Raptors arrived in Memphis a day before Friday night's game and visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which treats childhood cancer patients at no charge to families. Rajakovic called the visit inspiring with his players thanking him for taking them to the hospital to meet patients.
The coaches of the Grizzlies and Raptors have short ties to Memphis with Iisalo in just his second season and first as head coach. Iisalo said Memphis features one of the NBA's most passionate fan bases with the city rallying behind its team.
"All I can say is Memphis is the right place for the Grizzlies,” Iisalo said.
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Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic directs his team against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to guard Bronny James during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo watches play against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
