They stole it. They flat-out stole it. In one of the most jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching no-calls you’ll ever see, the Detroit Pistons were robbed blind in Game 4 — and the refs admitted it after the fact. With three seconds left and the Pistons down one, Tim Hardaway Jr. launched a three-pointer to try and steal Game 4 — and absorbed heavy contact from Josh Hart. No whistle. No mercy. Seconds later, the Knicks were celebrating, and the Pistons were storming at the refs. NBA crew chief David Guthrie confirmed the officials missed the call, stating Hart’s contact was “more than marginal” and a foul should have been assessed. Instead of three free throws to decide the outcome, Detroit was left with a stunning defeat, and the Knicks walked away with a 3–1 series lead.
It’s hard not to draw a parallel here. While the Pistons were robbed of their chance, Karl-Anthony Towns has long been fighting a different kind of label — one that’s equally unfair. The “soft” label. That all started back in 2018, when Jimmy Butler took aim at KAT during a brutal Timberwolves practice, calling him out for lacking the “dog” mentality. The drama sparked a firestorm, with Butler publicly mocking KAT’s competitiveness, and that “soft” narrative stuck. Fast forward to the 2019 playoffs, and Towns’ passive performance against the Rockets—scoring just 8 points in a decisive Game 3—only fueled the critics.
Playoffs, Game 4, and Towns had the chance to respond — and boy, did he. After the game, Chandler Parsons stepped up to silence the critics and shut down the narrative dogging KAT. With conviction, he declared, “There’s a big difference between being super skilled and a jump-shooting big and being soft.” Parsons went on to highlight the glaring misinterpretation, drawing a parallel to Dirk Nowitzki, saying, “Dirk wasn’t soft. He was just extremely talented offensively. He was a fadeaway, pick-and-pop guy. That’s who KAT is.” With fire in his voice, he added, “He’s so much more skilled, so much more talented… He’s got such a good handle for a big, and I think that’s where the term ‘soft’ comes from.” In one swoop, Parsons cut through the misconceptions, reminding everyone that Towns’ talent, finesse, and skill should never be confused with weakness.
“Dirk wasn’t soft…he was a fadeaway, pick and pop guy. That’s who KAT is.” – @ChandlerParsons
“KAT has such a young, child-like face that when he’s trying to be hard, I still giggle…it’s adorable.” – @MichelleDBeadle
Chandler says the “KAT is soft” narrative comes from… pic.twitter.com/F3MwN23tox
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 28, 2025
Parsons went on to say “When he shows the toughness and he dies on the floor and is getting into it. I love to see that cause now he’s doing both” and boy, has KAT shown us all he is not soft. Parsons says that KAT is much more than “soft”. and where exactly does this perception come from? Well, he explains it himself. “He is so much more skilled, he is so much more talented he is a great outside shooter and he has such a good handle for a big. and i think that’s where the term soft comes from.” says Parson.
And what better way to prove it wrong than in the dying seconds of Game 4? With the score tied and the pressure mounting, Towns took over. With 46.6 seconds left on the clock, he launched a deep three-pointer that swished through the net, giving the Knicks a lead. But Towns wasn’t done. In the final moments, he added a fadeaway jumper and a clutch floater to seal the game, finishing with 27 points and 9 rebounds. His performance wasn’t just a game-winner — it was a statement, a direct rebuttal to the “soft” label that’s followed him since 2018.
This clutch shot, though, wasn’t just a stroke of luck. It was a reflection of the growth Towns has undergone over the past year. Known for his smooth shooting touch, especially for a big man, Towns took his game to another level by working with Kyrie Irving during the offseason. Irving, one of the best shooters and ball handlers in the league, helped Towns refine his shooting mechanics and decision-making, particularly under pressure. That offseason work paid off in Game 4.
And if anyone needed proof that Towns is far more than just “soft,” all they had to do was watch how he showcased his full offensive arsenal when given the chance.
Unlocking Karl-Anthony Towns: Why letting him flow freely changes everything
Towns’ postseason performance in the 2025 NBA Playoffs has been an intriguing story of usage and impact. In Game 2, Towns was noticeably underutilized, finishing with just 36 touches—his second-lowest total of the season—after averaging 59.6 touches per game during the regular season. This drop in touches reflects a larger trend in Towns’ postseason play: a decreased role in the Knicks’ offense. His shot attempts also took a hit, as he only took 11 shots in Game 2, which was just the ninth time all season. This follows a noticeable decline in his usage rate since Jalen Brunson‘s return from an ankle injury, dropping from 27.2% to 23.3%.
Compared to earlier in the season, when Brunson and Towns formed one of the league’s most effective pick-and-roll duos, Towns’ offensive involvement was much higher. Prior to Brunson’s injury, Brunson was assisting on 1.8 of Towns’ baskets per game, but that has dropped significantly to just 1.1 assists per game since mid-February. Moreover, Brunson’s decreased passing to Towns has also affected his shooting opportunities. That’s not just a stat drop — that’s a shift in how the offense is flowing.
Jan 1, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Towns’ role has also shifted in terms of his 3-point attempts. He averaged 4.7 attempts per game this season, which was the lowest since his 2018-19 season in Minnesota. In the postseason, Towns has barely taken more than a few attempts per game from deep, especially when compared to his role in previous years where he was more active as a shooter.
But when KAT is given the green light to play freely on offense, the difference is night and day. A huge key to his rhythm? Transition play. Instead of dragging up the court and setting into half-court sets, KAT kept pace with the Knicks’ fast breaks, slipping into that trail man spot where he’s lethal — either pulling up from deep or attacking off the catch. And he felt that rhythm too. Even Tom Thibodeau, who’s famously hard to impress, broke it down simply: “He’s comfortable playing inside and outside… A smaller guy goes on him, he goes into the post. A bigger guy goes on him, he takes him away from the basket… There’s a lot of different things you can do with him.”
When the Knicks lean into that version of Karl-Anthony Towns — the versatile, mobile, decision-making big who plays with pace — they unlock one of the most complete offensive weapons in the league. It’s not about forcing anything; it’s about letting Towns do what he does best. And with performances like these, you can already feel the old “soft” label fading away, just like Parsons predicted when he sparked a new narrative.
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