Karl-Anthony Towns is preparing for his second season with the New York Knicks, and expectations are sky-high. After a debut campaign where he averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on highly efficient shooting splits, the All-Star big man has been hailed as a cornerstone of Mike Brown’s system. Yet, not everyone is convinced Towns is ready to lead New York to an NBA championship.
On a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins singled out Towns as one of the league’s players under the most pressure heading into the 2025–26 season. Perkins praised Towns’ offensive talent but raised concerns about his conditioning and defensive consistency.
“KAT is a walking bucket. He’s one of one. Arguably the best shooting big we’ve ever seen,” Perkins said. “But that’s not what he needs to correct. He needs to improve his ability to move up and down the floor, to defend in space, because last year, he was getting cooked in the big role.”
Offense vs. Defense
Towns’ elite shooting ability makes him a rare offensive weapon, yet his defensive lapses have fueled ongoing debate about his role in a single-big lineup. The Knicks’ struggles to keep Mitchell Robinson healthy limited experimentation with a Towns-Robinson frontcourt, but advanced metrics suggest promise: per Cleaning the Glass, New York outscored opponents by +19 points per 100 possessions in the limited minutes Towns played at power forward alongside a rim protector.
Such a setup could allow Towns to focus on scoring while benefiting from Robinson’s defensive presence in the paint. Head coach Mike Brown may look to test those rotations early in the season.
Coaching Boost on Offense
The Knicks have also bolstered their staff by hiring T.J. Saint, formerly the head coach of the Pelicans’ G League team. Known as a bright offensive strategist, Saint’s arrival is expected to enhance New York’s schemes and help maximize Towns’ partnership with Jalen Brunson.
With a refined offensive system, the possible double-big experiment, and growing external pressure, Towns finds himself at a pivotal point in his Knicks career. If he can elevate his defensive play while maintaining elite scoring, New York’s path to the NBA Finals becomes much clearer.