Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns handling the ball in the October 5 preseason opener
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns handling the ball in the October 5 preseason opener
The Knicks don’t need Karl-Anthony Towns to win a preseason scoring title. They do need a better look at how their starting offense works when he gets involved beyond a handful of shot attempts.
Towns has scored 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting across two exhibitions. Six of those 11 attempts came from three-point range. In 34 total minutes, that is a limited sample of what he can give New York offensively, particularly inside the arc.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns driving for a shot in the October 5 preseason opener
Oct 5, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti (55) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I would give him a few deliberate early possessions against Minnesota on Monday: a post touch, a handoff and some screening work with Jalen Brunson. The purpose wouldn’t be to force shots. It would be to see whether involving Towns earlier creates better opportunities for everyone else.
The Knicks need to evaluate possessions, not a shot quota
Towns had five points on 2-for-4 shooting against Philadelphia, followed by eight on 2-for-7 against Washington. He also collected 12 rebounds and five assists across the two games. A player can help an offense without finishing the possession himself.
That’s why demanding a particular number of attempts would be the wrong instruction. If he draws help and finds an open teammate, the possession worked. If he screens Brunson into a favorable matchup, it may work without Towns receiving the ball at all.
But the turnover count deserves attention: five in those same two games. More involvement has to come with sound decisions. Repeatedly feeding him into traffic wouldn’t improve the offense simply because it increased his touches.
The box scores don’t tell us how many touches he received, what Mike Brown instructed him to do or whether the missed attempts were good shots. They support a narrow recommendation for a preseason test, not a claim that the coach is deliberately ignoring a star.
Monday is a useful chance to try something different
New York lost 111-109 to Washington on Thursday and went 11-for-38 from three. Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Towns again formed the starting group. Brown has an established unit available to test these possessions, rather than having to evaluate the idea entirely with reserve lineups.
The next exhibition is Monday against Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. That gives the staff another opportunity to compare how the group plays when Towns initiates or finishes more actions inside the arc.
There is a fair argument for keeping him outside more often. His spacing can create room for Brunson, and a perimeter-oriented lineup may produce better opportunities than repeated post entries. If that is the more effective approach, the Knicks should keep it. Shot quality and turnovers belong in the comparison alongside Towns’ points.
Two preseason games don’t establish an offensive problem. They do give Brown time to experiment without a regular-season result at stake. Give Towns a defined early role, evaluate the passes and shots that follow, and adjust based on what actually works.