Report: Knicks Players, Coaches Frustrated With Karl-Anthony Towns’ Defensive Habits

According to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic, New York Knicks players and coaches were frustrated with Karl-Anthony Towns‘ defensive habits this season. 

The Knicks acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the season started. 

“Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies,” Edwards III and Katz wrote. “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 Knicks made the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000. They lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. 

In his first season with the Knicks, Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field, 42.0% from beyond the arc and 82.9% from the free-throw line. 

In the 2025 playoffs, Towns put up 21.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game against the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and Pacers. 

A five-time All-Star, Towns will make $53,142,264 next season and $57,078,728 in 2026-27. He has a player option worth $61,015,192 for the 2027-28 season. 

Towns has career averages of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He turns 30 next season.