The New York Knicks are winning games again, but Karl-Anthony Towns has watched crucial fourth-quarter stretches from the bench during the three-game streak. The five-time All-Star’s diminished role raises serious questions about his fit with the organization just months after the franchise acquired him as a championship centerpiece.
New York defeated the Sacramento Kings 103-87 on Tuesday after controlling Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Towns wasn’t on the floor when the Knicks gained control in either victory, highlighting a troubling pattern for the team’s highest-profile offseason acquisition.
Mike Brown substituted Towns out with 6:51 remaining Tuesday despite holding just a four-point lead. Brown deployed Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson to close the game on a 21-9 run with smothering defense and clutch shot-making.
Towns finished with 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting and 11 rebounds while posting a team-worst minus-3 rating. He watched from the sideline as his teammates sealed another victory without him during winning time.
“(Mike Brown) saw what he saw,” Towns said. “We’ve got to win. That’s the most important thing. That’s all I care about, New York cares about, this team cares about – is wins.”
The statement rings true, but the Knicks need a different version of Towns than they’ve received or potentially someone else entirely. His efficiency across all statistical categories has dropped to career-low levels as he struggles finding rhythm under Brown’s system.
More than halfway through the season, Towns simply isn’t putting the ball in the basket at his expected level. The performance makes it increasingly difficult to justify him finishing games or maximizing this roster’s championship potential.
Brown’s closing lineup proved perfect for Brunson on Tuesday. The All-NBA point guard was surrounded by four defenders ranging from capable to excellent who accept secondary offensive roles. Covering one limited defender proves easier than concealing two, and pairing Brunson with Towns creates defensive challenges.
The Brunson-McBride-Bridges-Anunoby-Robinson lineup had played just over 20 minutes together this season before Tuesday while posting a 23.7 net rating. Substituting Josh Hart for McBride creates a five-man unit with 27 minutes played and a 26.6 net rating. The sample sizes remain small but suggest Brunson surrounded by quality defenders represents a winning formula.
The Knicks also played their best basketball in the third quarter against Philadelphia when foul trouble forced Towns to sit. The pattern has become too consistent to ignore as New York seeks championship contention.
“During the flow of the game, you find a group of players that you feel are playing well together, and you roll with it as long as you can,” Brown said Tuesday. “It was a tight ballgame, so I just rolled with that group until the end of the game.”
New York holds championship aspirations this season and Jobs could be lost or major roster changes could follow if the Knicks fall short of Finals appearance that ownership expects at minimum. As days pass, it becomes increasingly difficult to envision either outcome with this version of Towns.
Perhaps Towns rediscovers his form and renders current concerns irrelevant. However, his inconsistency has persisted for extended periods. This isn’t a momentary slump but a fundamental issue requiring serious evaluation.
The trade deadline approaches rapidly. New York’s decision-makers may fear breaking up a core that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season or depending more heavily on Robinson’s injury-prone ankles and less talented big men than Towns.
The current arrangement isn’t working as intended. Little evidence suggests improvement will arrive soon. The organization traded significant assets to acquire Towns as the final championship piece, but his performance hasn’t justified the investment.
Brown’s willingness to bench Towns during crucial moments sends a clear message about trust levels. Championship teams require their highest-paid players delivering in winning time, not watching from the bench while reserves secure victories.
The Knicks face difficult decisions balancing Towns’ reputation against current production. His defensive limitations were known when New York acquired him, but offensive struggles have created unexpected complications for a team expecting championship contention.