Fixing the flaws without stifling the stars.
Mike Brown arrives in New York with a reputation for discipline, defensive structure, and adaptability. Now, he faces his biggest challenge yet: making the Knicks’ All-Star duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns not just spectacular, but sustainable.
The offensive upside of the Brunson–Towns tandem is undeniable. Together, they generate a scorching 120.48 offensive rating, fueled by strong spacing, efficient two-point scoring, and a versatile blend of interior touches and pick‑and‑pop action. When Towns pulls opposing bigs to the perimeter and Brunson attacks downhill, defenses face impossible choices. They can either collapse and risk the kick-out, or stay home and watch Brunson carve them up in the lane.
Here are Karl and Jalen’s 2024-25 On-Off stats from PBPStats:
As we saw last season, the issue isn’t talent. It’s fit.
When Brunson and Towns share the floor, the Knicks allow 118 points per 100 possessions, with opponents shooting nearly 56% on twos and 39% from three. By contrast, lineups with only Towns post a strong +9.19 net rating, while Brunson-only units hover around break-even. Brunson, though an elite offensive engine, is undersized and regularly targeted on defense. Towns, while mobile, has never been consistent as a backline anchor. Together, they form a vulnerable core that opponents exploited. As we saw in their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Pacers.
Here are Karl and Jalen’s 2024-25 stats from Dunks and Threes:
These metrics highlight just how potent, and precarious, this pairing can be. Offensively, both players rank in the top 5% leaguewide in Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), with Brunson at +4.5 and Towns at +2.3. Brunson averages 37.2 points per 100 possessions on 59% true shooting, drawing nearly 10 free throws and hitting 37% from downtown. Towns brings elite spacing for a big (knocking down nearly 38% of his threes) and pulls down 12.9 defensive rebounds per 100 possessions, ranking in the 98th percentile.
But the defensive gaps are glaring. Brunson’s –1.7 defensive EPM is among the league’s worst for starting guards. Towns, though slightly positive at +0.4, still lacks the rim protection and presence expected of a seven-footer. They are a dynamic offensive tandem that will require a carefully designed defensive system to succeed across the regular and post-seasons.
That responsibility falls onto the broad shoulders of Mr. Michael Burton Brown. To maximize his stars, the veteran coach must cocoon them with defenders (OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride) while simplifying coverage responsibilities. His schemes must hide their defensive weaknesses without dimming their offensive radiance.
Brown has experience building around imperfect defensive stars. As Steve Kerr’s assistant, he saw firsthand how to protect Steph Curry with switchable wings and reliable interior help. In Sacramento, Brown crafted creative defensive schemes tailored to his roster (De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk can be sieves, for instance). The skipper will likely bring that same tactical flexibility to New York, incorporating drop coverage, weak-side help, and improved perimeter containment.
Maybe most importantly, Brown knows how to hold stars accountable without limiting their offensive freedom. The statistics support the notion that he squeezed the best out of Fox, Monk, and Domantas Sabonis on the purple beam team. If Brown can strike that balance with Brunson and Towns, the Knicks may finally become a complete team.
No pressure, Mike . . . but the stakes are high.
Brunson is entering his prime. Towns is on a hefty contract. The Knicks are deep in a win-now window. If one benchmark of Brown’s success will be whether he leads the team back to the Eastern Conference Finals, another will be how effectively he balances his stars’ offensive gifts with their defensive shortcomings. If he can extract even league-average defense from the duo, New York has the firepower to dominate a weakened conference. If not, we’ll see how patient team owner James Dolan will be.
Go Knicks.