The New York Knicks have a real chance at another deep playoff run this season. But a key performer may need to level up to help his team get there.
Under the tutelage of now-former head coach Tom Thibodeau last spring, New York returned to the Eastern Conference Finals last spring for the first time since 2000. But that wasn't enough to placate owner James Dolan, who let Thibodeau go this summer after five largely successful seasons in power.
Thibodeau was replaced with Mike Brown, who's already tweaking some of Thibodeau's rotations with much of the same personnel. New York also brought in two talented free agent vets, Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, to add some proven depth off the bench. Thibodeau would absolutely have utilized both players had they been rostered, but he didn't trust his relatively thin 2024-25 bench.
Karl-Anthony Towns needs to get physical
Ultimately, New York will need some health luck, and for its two best players to continue to perform at All-NBA Second Team levels — as they did last year.
Point guard Jalen Brunson may be the Knicks' offensive hub, but Brown could also look to feature Towns a bit more in his new-look sets.
Former two-time All-Star NBA point guard Stephon Marbury, who had an ill-fated stint with his hometown Knicks later into his career, opined that Towns needs to adjust his offense.
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While chatting with longtime NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Marbury suggested that Towns lean into bodying up against opposing players to carve out his offense.
“KAT has to embrace the physicality again and I think he has to be tougher in certain situations," Marbury said. "But the skill and the ability, you can’t deny.”
Towns wasn't exactly chopped liver last season. The 7-footer out of Kentucky averaged 4.4 points on .526/.420/.829 shooting splits, 12.8 rebounds (a career high), 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in his 72 healthy bouts for the 51-31 Knicks.
He's never been a great defender — which is part of why Knicks center Mitchell Robinson proved so critical spelling him and playing alongside him last year — but Towns asserting his size in the post and along the perimeter always pays dividends on offense.
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