NY Knicks stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brusnon
Karl-Anthony Towns starting to find his stride with the Knicks this season.
Heading into this season, the New York Knicks were seen as a heavy favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. As they begin their postseason push, one former player broke down a major point of emphasis for them in their efforts to go on another deep run.
In his second season with the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns has become a bit of a polarizing figure in New York. A lot of the things that caused issues for him in Minnesota, largely his defense, have started to become apparent again with his new team. That said, the All-Star big has put together an impressive string of performances coming out of the break.
In their latest matchup, the Knicks picked up a 105-99 road win over the Chicago Bulls. KAT was a standout player in this victory, finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds on 10-for-17 shooting from the field.
Following this outing, Kendrick Perkins went on ESPN’s “Get Up” on February 23rd to give his thoughts on the Knicks. He believes New York featuring Towns as a prominent player is crucial for them potentially reaching the finals.
“If they use this recipe of using Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks actually got a legit chance of going to the NBA Finals,” Perkins said. “Karl-Anthony Towns is the most important player on this team, and they got to continue to find ways to feature him in the offense.”
Get Up
“If they use this recipe … the Knicks actually got a legit chance of going to the NBA Finals.”
—@KendrickPerkins on the Knicks 🍿
Karl-Anthony Towns Speaks on Confidence Level After Knicks’ Latest Win
Playing in such a big market like New York can take a toll on a player if they aren’t able to keep themselves in the right frame of mind. In the case of Towns, he looks to be in a good space mentally as the real ramp-up for the postseason begins.
While speaking with the home broadcast against the win over the Bulls, Towns was asked if his teammates featuring him has provided a confidence boost. He shifted the conversation to say he is feeling good on the floor because of the diligent work he continues to put in behind the scenes.
“That’s where my confidence has grown from,” Towns said postgame. “It’s not from touching the ball in the game it’s from the times I’m touching the basketball with no lights, no fans in an empty gym. I’m extremely confident in my game, I’m extremely confident mentally.”
Knicks Forward Praises Karl-Anthony Towns for Recent Strong Play
Media members aren’t the only ones taking note of how Towns has looked for the Knicks as of late. Amid his stellar play, some of his teammates have also taken the time to praise him for his efforts on both ends of the floor.
After his strong showing against the Bulls, Knicks forward Josh Hart chimed in on how KAT has stepped up. He noted his number being called more has been a positive thing, while also noting how engaged he’s been on the defensive end.
“Whenever you’re making shots or getting plays called for you, you feel more involved, you feel more in the flow of the game,” Josh Hart said. “Sometimes, for a player, that’s all you really need to get back on track. He gave us a lot of energy today and yesterday by making shots, but also defensively he brought it yesterday.”
As the primary offensive option behind Jalen Brunson, Towns’ play will be a make-or-break factor for the Knicks in their quest for a finals appearance.