After expressing some uncertainty ahead of the regular season about his fit in Mike Brown‘s offense, Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns has gotten off to a shaky start this fall. The big man is shooting just 35.2% from the floor through four games and scored a season-low eight points on 2-of-12 shooting in Tuesday’s loss in Milwaukee.
As Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News writes (subscription required), Towns attempted just one shot in the first half of that loss to the Bucks while playing the way Brown wants him to — making quick decisions and giving up the ball when the defense zeroes in on him. He was a +15 in those first two quarters. In the third quarter, Towns began hunting for his own shot and was a -14 while making just 1-of-9 field goal attempts.
“(Towns’) first half was beautiful. He played the right way. And that’s all you can ask your All-Star guys to do,” Brown said. “If you’ve got an All-Star, and they’re taking him out with a second guy (double team), believe in your teammates, believe in the process. When those guys make plays, eventually they won’t double as much, and you’ll get it back.”
While the Knicks’ first-half success as a team (they were up 71-59 at the break) back up Brown’s comments, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required) argues that it’s “unreasonable” for the new head coach to ask the Knicks’ maximum-salary star to embrace a style that results in him attempting a single shot through two quarters.
Brown is attempting to make the Knicks’ players adjust to his system rather than adjusting his system to the talent on the roster, according to Bondy, who suggests that some tweaks may be necessary to better take advantage of Towns’ elite scoring ability. For his part though, the five-time All-Star continues to try his best to fit into Brown’s scheme.
“I got to do whatever’s needed to win, and first half I played how we needed me to play,” Towns said after Tuesday’s loss, per Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required). “And the game, I felt, switched up and I tried to get going just in case we needed me, and I just didn’t make a shot so I pressed a little bit too much. I have more experience than to do that, but I didn’t do what we needed me to do, and that’s on me and I take full responsibility.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- Miles McBride has rejoined the Knicks after being away from the team for family reasons for two games, according to Bondy. The team’s bench scoring has slipped during McBride’s absence, and Brown is happy to have him back. “He does a lot of things on both ends of the floor,” the Knicks’ coach said. “His energy is contagious, he’s a two-way player. He can play on the ball, he can play off the ball defensively. He can play on the ball or off the ball offensively. Even though he’s a small guard, his athleticism and power obviously make him a good offensive rebounder. He can defensive rebound too. So there’s a lot he can bring to the table besides scoring that you miss when he’s not around.”
- Former NBA sharpshooter Steve Novak, who appeared in 135 regular season games for the Knicks from 2011-13, has joined MSG Networks as a game analyst, per Bondy. The plan is for Novak to work about a dozen games this season when Clyde Frazier is off.
- Veteran forward Mikal Bridges has embraced a mentorship role with younger Knicks players like Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Ariel Hukporti, writes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. “You can see that when he was a younger guy in the league that he had those vets, too,” Kolek said. “They built a culture of brotherhood. You don’t see that every day in the NBA nowadays. (Mikal) was so welcoming and teaching us the little things, and not just the basketball stuff. He shows us how to move, how to be a man and be an actual professional.”
- Speaking of Dadiet, he’s the only player with a 2026/27 rookie scale team option who hasn’t had that option exercised or declined yet. The deadline to pick up that option is the end of the day on Friday, so the Knicks’ decision should be reported in the coming hours.
- In case you missed it, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson went through a full practice on Thursday and is considered a game-time decision for Friday’s game in Chicago. Robinson has yet to play this season due to what the team has referred to as left ankle injury management.
i ‘member steve novak
Towns had a bad shooting day. But there is no way Kuzma should be guarding him. He should of took him to post and abused him. Towns was 4/4 from FT line. And the coach should have run plays for him. System or no system. Knicks offense has to be Towns, Brunson, Bridges first. All three should be over 20 a game. Not really seeing the ball movement consistently. Team defense and rebounding is more important right now.
Yabusele and Clarkson still haven’t made an impact. And the bench is suppose to be the big difference this year. Only Mitch is missing tonight. Knicks need a good team win. Bulls playing well right now. So this is a good test for them. NYK
The Knicks failed another test. The starters were fine but the bench was awful and overall the defense continues to be below last season.
Knicks are not getting anything from Josh Hart this season … and his energy. I know a new coach has to do something different … but not, not playing Hart much. It’s early so we’ll see what develops.
It’s NBA coaches. Why do they always start with trying to fix what isn’t broke? I’m fine with Brown’s quicker/no playbook offense, but why not ease into it starting with a modified version of last year’s offense (which was 4th in the league). Why not make the initial focus getting the team to play defense at a level that doesn’t preclude them from winning a championship? That’s where the cold turkey approach was needed. KAT is only going to care so much about defense in any event, but what are the odds that he’ll focus on it at all when he’s frustrated about shooting 2-12?
CHI tonight and Sunday. These 2 game home and home things usually get split. NYK can get right by sweeping, and then moving confidently into the rest of their first home stand.
Because it is broke – unless you are good with never winning a championship. KAT stands for Knicks will never win it all while he’s their guy. He’s one of many very good players who are not and never will be elite. He’ll just keep blaming coaches and never take accountability for his own weaknesses.
Towns has his faults. Blaming coaches has never been one. Try and get it right. We don’t care about his past. He’s been here one year. And was the starting All Star Center in the East. Statistically had one of his best yrs in his career. Hate all you want. Knicks just have to improve on last year. We will worry about a chip when we get there.
Bottom line this team is not constructed right. The Towns and bridges trades are looking bad. The bridges trade was okay until they traded for towns and cap themselves out. The off-season moves are blowing up in there face. There is a reason why guys are bought out and Clarkson at 32 years old is at the end of his prime and his athletic ability and you can see that he can’t get to the bucket or score fishing enough anymore. Mitch doesn’t even play. This team can not win a championship. Shamet is a 3rd string guard and so is Kolek. Seen enough of Kolek that he is not consistent enough. Without a back up guard and a center that can play night in and night out they are cooked. Everybody thinks high-level basketball NBA oversees is like NBA 2K. It’s really not when guys are in and out of the lineup. It messes with the chemistry and with people’s rhythm and then Knicks had mostly rhythm players. So Mitch missing games here and there is just not good for the team
Towns is very very good when he’s in rhythm. And playing happy. Was an All Star last year. New coach’s job is not to try to change him or how he plays. But that’s what’s happening it seems. Best Knicks year in 25 years and front office changed the coach. Hmm.
I never said Towns is not an all star. He is a good player but he is not a max player and this team will not win with him and Bronson as 1a and 1b. Both have defensive liabilitys and those are facts. Add in the fact that your bench consist of third string players the Knicks are not contenders. This team is worse than last year. Teams have film on this team and are exposing them. Of course a brand new team will play well. Tibs would have had a step back as well this year. Not saying Mike Brown is the best, just saying it’s not all in him. Kat got exposed again on D last night and if his shot is not falling he is just a role player out there
Dude, learn to read and please employ that new skill to a post before responding to it.
An offense that ranked top 4 in the league, and top 2 for most of the year (before their PG got hurt), is NOT broken. Could it be improved, sure. But it’s NOT broken. Got it? Hopefully you do, because it’s not really something that’s up for debate. It’s hard to pay attention to anything other part of your rant while that’s outstanding.
It’s really not Kat fault it’s the team construction and Kats contract. kat for a $0 million player is a really good player. The problem is he is making max money and there are only realistically 5 to 8 NBA players that are Max players in the NBA Kat is not one of them. Team has no money for the bench at all and picking up minimum guys is not going to do it. I love hart but it’s time move one player
“there are only realistically 5 to 8 NBA players that are Max players in the NBA”
You’re completely wrong.
In the 2024-2025 season, 15 players had a cap hit of $50 million or more. The number of players on max contracts averaged about 17.7 per year between 2019 and 2025.
People on this site do not read and just look to tell you’re wrong.
I never said there weren’t max players. What I said was there are only 5-8 player that should be making max money. LeBron, embiid, Kat are not max players. You can not win a championship with them making max money. Knicks will not when a championship with Kat as a max player. He needs to be making 40-45 million. That way money can be spread around. He has too many defensive flaws and not super elite offensive player.
Before you say something he is skilled and can shoot, super elite skill set would be Shaq, Curry, Luka, Kobe, LeBron (in his prime) Kat is not drawing consistent double teams.
I agree lol. The defense and bench is what needed the most fixing. The new offense is suppose to ease the mins on starters. I’m all for a more fluid offense. Just make it work and stop with the talk.
Looks like a loss tonight, NY media and fans are gonna be angered, but in reality, they have too much talent not to figure it out eventually.
Fans and media already losing their minds in NY. I hope Brown can handle it. Cause they will come after the new guy. How can you be worse than last year.
Bulls are playing well. So you think Knicks D would show up. Brown is not pushing D like Thibs would.
Instead trying to get a faster pace offense. Naybe this coach should concentrate on stopping the fast pace Bulls. Bulls with 31 ast. Giddey looked like the Big O last night ……. 38 mins, 32 pts, 9 ast, 10 reb, 12/21 FG.
Giddey’s sure proving all the doubters that said he can’t shoot wrong. And along with the 9 ast was 0 TOs – great game from him.
Al,
Not really Brown’s fault. Doesn’t matter who the coach is. This team is not winning a championship the way they are constructed. They match up well against Cleveland because they have small guards and rely heavily on their front court. But Bronson and Kat can’t play together for defense. They get exposed. And Mitch and Hart can’t be on the floor no offense. Gotta trade Hart. Love the Nova Knicks but it won’t win a chip. Bench is trash. I know you love Kolek seen enough he is a 3rd string point guard. Shamet is a 3rd string shooting guard. GY just doesn’t look good.(I’ll give him more time) Clarkson is cooked. ( I’ve said this before players get bought out for a reason) So you really have no bench player at all.
Team is actually worse than last year, because teams have film to study. They are just exposing this team via film. Could break that down but would be a long post.
It’s 5 gms. There is nothing to see yet. Knicks haven’t even been 100% there yet. With players missing gms. Their only bad gm was Heat game. Bucks was lost in last mins. Bulls just beat them.
Only thing film got is 51 wins.
The bench hasn’t shown up yet. The offense is still a work in progress. Give them 20-25 gms before you trade the whole team.
Towns offense is a concern. Team rebounding and assists need to be up. We will be alright. Imo the Mitch thing will have to be addressed.
I never said trade the whole team but they have the same team with added bench piece. They are being exposed. I love the Knicks but I have been real and consistent with all my takes. They have no shot at a championship. Clarkson and GY have been a dud and
Clarkson is washed. I don’t need anymore games to see that.
Shamet is a 3rd string guard,
Kolek ( I know you love) is a 3rd string guard and is 24 so I don’t see much more he can give. He is who he is. He can get better but a jump in production is most likely not happening.
Kat-is who he is good offensive player not great. Great shooting big and pretty good rebounder. Problem is if his shot is not falling he doesn’t punch switches and his defense is a liability along with Bronson. You can not have them on the court at the same time team are attacking both players.
McBride – has been great but his contract is so small you can use for an upgrade
Mitchell- is not a starting center for the fact he doesn’t play. Why is he being load managed. Make zero sense. If he is not hurt have him play 15-20 minutes. I’m and out of the line up hurt chemistry.
Hart- offensively can not play with Mitch. He is the glue and hart and soul, however He realistically is the only option to trade for an upgrade. Not saying trade him now but I’m just saying if you have to make a tweak I see he’s the only person to tweak with
Hulk- good back up center keep developing.
OG- of course you’re needing to keep him nothing to add.