Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley slammed New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns for inconsistent play and soft performances, saying he doesn't fully use his size and skills to impact big moments, despite strong season stats.
NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley didn't mince words when discussing New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns. Both criticized the seven-foot All-Star for inconsistency and what they see as "soft" play.
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Despite his skills, Towns has struggled to adapt his game to different matchups. Barkley pointed out that Towns often settles for three-pointers even when he could dominate inside, echoing criticisms he's had of other big men like Joel Embiid.
"The thing that frustrates me about him," Barkley said on ESPN, "is that to me, he doesn't know how to play basketball. What I mean by that is, he's a terrific seven-foot shooter. The same criticism I had with Joel Embiid. The matchup dictates whether you shoot 3s or go post up. That's what I mean by not knowing how to play basketball."
Shaq joined in the critique, calling Towns' style "soft" and inconsistent, pointing out that the Knicks' star big man often fails to assert himself in crucial moments and doesn't consistently use his size and skill to dominate inside.
"You're going to have to decide who you want to be. Inside or outside, but whatever you decide, you have to be consistent," O'Neal added. "When he plays like that, me and Chuck don't have a problem. But he gets in foul trouble too much. He plays really silly. Again, if I were on his team, I would look him in the face and say, 'KAT, we need you. There are big aspirations for the Knicks, and you're playing soft.'"
For now, Towns is focused on helping the Knicks in the playoffs. New York currently sits third in the Eastern Conference with a 36-21 record.
This season, Towns is averaging 19.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range over 59 games.
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