Karl-Anthony Towns made a high-profile move to the New York Knicks this offseason following a WCF appearance with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, Towns helped the Knicks reach the ECF. However, his hopes of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy were once again crushed after a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Towns played a key role in the Knicks’ offensive game plan throughout the season. Yet, despite his impact on offense, there were growing concerns within the organization about his defensive approach. According to a report from The Athletic, both Knicks players and coaches expressed disappointment behind closed doors with Towns’ defensive awareness and consistency.
“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns’ defensive habits, less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end. Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn’t grasp the importance of the matter,” the report read.
Knicks players and coaches were reportedly frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive habits, per @TheAthletic
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 1, 2025
“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies. Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed… pic.twitter.com/S0Y3wM8OxG
CBS Sports reported that the team’s defense improved when Towns was off the court. Specifically, the Knicks allowed 2.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when he was on the bench during the regular season.
Nevertheless, Towns gave a solid performance in Game 6, scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. He went 8-for-19 from the field, although he missed all four of his three-point attempts and shot 6-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Karl-Anthony Towns Praises Jalen Brunson After Season-Ending Loss
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Despite the season ending in disappointment, Karl-Anthony Towns shared heartfelt praise for teammate Jalen Brunson during the postgame interview. Towns reflected on their time together.
“Honestly, it’s a blessing, and it’s an honor that I get to play with Jalen Brunson, you know, and to be in my career to be able to say that, you know, I’ve been honored to play with a lot of great teammates, but JB’s, he’s one of the top of the list for me, you know, best teammates, best basketball players I’ve ever got to play with,” Towns said.
Given the frustrations around his defensive performance, there may be speculation about whether the Knicks will explore trade options for Towns again. But regardless of what lies ahead, his chemistry with Brunson was one of the season’s brightest highlights.
Also Read: Kendrick Perkins Blasts Jalen Brunson Over Risky Playmaking As Turnover Concerns Mount On Knicks
