Karl-Anthony Towns Situation Is ‘Driving’ Knicks Crazy: Report

The New York Knicks opened the season as co-favorites with the Cleveland Cavaliers to rule the Eastern Conference. With fewer than two dozen games remaining, that confidence has been replaced by unease — and no player embodies that tension more than Karl-Anthony Towns.

---

Advanced Scout Identifies Towns as Knicks’ Swing Factor

Despite sitting third in the East, the Knicks now find themselves 1.5 games behind the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics and seven games back of the conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

According to one advanced scout who spoke with ESPN, Towns sits squarely at the center of the Knicks’ internal concerns.

“The situation with Towns has got to be driving them crazy,” the scout said. “But I’ll tell you what, everyone bears some blame. It’s on KAT, it’s on Mike [Brown], it’s on Brunson. And they all need to work together to get more consistency because that’s a huge key for them.”

---

A Familiar Pattern Resurfaces

Towns’ uneven play resurfaced Tuesday in a 109–95 loss to the Cavaliers, when he attempted just five shots. The performance came on the heels of three strong games out of the All-Star break — a stretch that briefly suggested he had turned a corner.

Instead, the inconsistency that has defined his Knicks tenure reappeared, again raising questions about how — and how often — he is being empowered within the offense.

After a lopsided loss to Detroit earlier this month, Towns pointed to structure rather than individual responsibility.

“Our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year,” Towns said via SNY. “We have our system, and regardless of who’s in the game or not, we run the system that we have implemented.”

---

Knicks All-Star Center’s Numbers Reflect the Disconnect

Statistically, Towns’ season mirrors the contradiction. While he earned his fifth All-Star selection, his 20.0 points per game represent his lowest scoring average since his rookie season. His 36.7% shooting from three-point range is also his weakest mark in three years.

At the same time, Towns remains one of the league’s elite rebounders, ranking second in the NBA at 11.7 rebounds per game. The production exists — but the impact has arrived in waves rather than consistently.

---

Shaquille O’Neal’s Blunt Challenge

That disconnect drew a national spotlight last week following the Knicks’ stunning comeback win over the Houston Rockets, when Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal confronted Towns directly on TNT.

“At the beginning of the game, I said you were playing soft,” O’Neal told him. “Because I’ve seen you at times when you play great. And what you must understand in New York, you need to be great for you guys to win the championship.”

O’Neal pressed the point further.

“If you guys win the championship, of course, they’re gonna talk about Jalen Brunson,” he said. “But it’s you and your play. You have to be dominant.”

Towns initially deflected, emphasizing collective success over individual credit.

“If we win a championship, they can talk about anybody as long as we all get a ring,” he said.

The exchange grew increasingly awkward before Towns ultimately relented.

“I hear you,” he said. “Legend, I agree with you.”

---

Contract Stakes and Trade Tension

The on-court scrutiny is unfolding alongside mounting off-court pressure. According to the New York Post, the Knicks declined to offer Towns a two-year, $150 million extension last summer. After this season, he becomes eligible for a four-year deal worth up to $260 million.

Complicating matters further, Towns has been linked in trade speculation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo since last offseason — noise that has reportedly strained relationships. Newsday’s Steve Popper previously noted the emotional toll.

“Feelings are hurt. Egos are bruised. And maybe trust is gone,” Popper wrote in January.

---

A Shrinking Margin for Error

With 23 games remaining, the Knicks still control their playoff positioning. But as the advanced scout noted, unlocking Towns consistently may determine whether New York’s season ends in a deep playoff run — or another frustrating near miss.

For the Knicks, the margin is narrowing.
For Karl-Anthony Towns, the spotlight has never been brighter.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo