New York Knicks NBA All-Star center-forward Karl-Anthony Towns had a tremendous first season with the team after being acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for forward Julius Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo, forward Keita Bates‑Diop, and a 2025 first-round pick. Towns averaged 24.4 points and a career-high 12.8 rebounds per game last season, leading to his selection to the All-NBA Third Team. This impressive start should inspire confidence among Knicks supporters and basketball fans alike.
This season, however, Towns has struggled to maintain last year’s shooting efficiency, averaging a career-worst 33% from beyond the arc, which is a significant drop from his impressive 42% a season ago. First-year Knicks head coach Mike Brown addressed his big man’s shooting slump in recent comments, reminding fans that setbacks are part of growth and improvement.
“I think most of the year, he has got some pretty good looks and he’s a great shooter,” Brown said. “It’s going to come, I agree, it is going to balance out (over the season) if he continues to get the looks that he’s gotten so far.”
Responding to Towns’s earlier struggles, Brown noted his increasing comfort, which was on display later that night when Towns exploded for 37 points, shooting 70% from the field. These moments highlight his ability to bounce back and showcase his talent, inspiring fans to stay optimistic about his progress.
In his best game of the season against the Miami Heat, Towns was unstoppable on his way to scoring 39 points/
“I had thirty-one in the first half (but) I didn’t feel like I really was in the zone,” he said. “I’ve had those days where I really felt like I was on like forty-four in the first half and thirty-two (points) in the third quarter in San Antonio. Like those are the ones I felt like I was in the zone. You just lose perspective on life. You don’t feel [anything]. You shoot the ball, and it goes in. I think I was just being super aggressive in the first half. I got a lot of opportunities, the ball in my hand, and I just wanted to capitalize, and even when I missed, my teammates did a great job getting an offensive rebound, giving it right back to me, trusting me to shoot it. A two-for-one, and I was glad I was repaying that trust with actual makes.”
Despite these breakout performances, Towns struggled again Saturday night in a win against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring only nine points in a 118-109 victory. For the Knicks to reach their full potential, Towns will need to regain his shooting from a season ago.
