The vibes were immaculate. The Knicks had finally cracked 50 wins, Madison Square Garden was alive like it was the ’90s again, and fans were tossing around the word “banner” like they were printing them in the basement. Then came Mikal Bridges’ contract extension—$150,000,001. Yep. One extra dollar. Why? No one knows. Symbolism? Spite? A joke to make salary cap nerds chuckle in spreadsheets? We may never know. But while New York was busy celebrating their Iron Man, Karl-Anthony Towns was quietly serving as the team’s biggest question mark—wrapped in All-Star stats, playoff highs, and… defensive headaches.
Let’s unpack it. Just… maybe just grab a chair first. Bridges’ deal was flashy. Four years, $150 million (and one buck), locked in early with a discount that warmed fans’ hearts like a good slice from Joe’s. Even Karl-Anthony Towns got in on the celebration, tweeting out “@mikal_bridges,” reminding fans that the vibes were strong inside the locker room. But behind the confetti, a larger concern loomed.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the guy who was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle, put up an elite regular-season stat line. We’re talking 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, on 52.6% from the field and a ridiculous 42.0% from deep. He even shot 82.9% from the line.
He ranked 12th in scoring, 2nd in rebounding, and had a plus-minus of +378. Yes, the Knicks were objectively better when he was on the floor. This man dropped 44 and 13 on Miami and torched Chicago for 46. He got his All-Star nod, his All-NBA Third Team spot, and his flowers. So… what’s the problem?
Mar 15, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) controls the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
The playoffs came, and so did the spotlight. And in that spotlight, Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense looked like it was cosplaying a traffic cone. He opened strong—35 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1 against the Pacers. Everyone exhaled. But then came Game 2, where he shot 6-for-14 and got outscored by 20 while he was on the court. So what did Thibs do? Benched him. Yep. Sat the $49 million man like he was an overpaid intern.
And the rest of the series? A mixed bag. Game 3, he came out like a man possessed—24 points, 20 of them in the fourth. But the trend didn’t hold. The Pacers hunted him on defense like it was Black Friday and he was 50% off. Pick-and-rolls turned into pick-your-poison. Jayson Timpf broke it down like a frustrated dad watching his kid’s AAU game: “Karl-Anthony Towns was downright damaging to your defensive scheme… That was an entire season from October all the way to late May when you got eliminated. Karl-Anthony Towns was a problem.” Ouch.
And Jonathan Macri added his own seasoning to the stew: “The pick-and-roll defense left a lot to be desired… maybe they go more to a look where it’s Mitchell Robinson or another center—not Towns at the five.”
Translation: maybe don’t let KAT guard anyone who can dribble?
A Tale of Two Seasons
Here’s the weird part: Karl-Anthony Towns had a legitimately great season. Not “good for him,” great. Actually great. His efficiency? Elite. His rebounding? Best of his career. His fit with Brunson? Beautiful on offense. But the playoffs are the NBA’s ultimate lie detector. And when it came to defensive rotations, lateral movement, and reacting to speed? Towns got exposed. And not just against Indiana.
Detroit dragged the Knicks to six games, too. Detroit! You can’t struggle to stop James Wiseman and expect a parade. In the end, Towns averaged 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in the playoffs. Not bad. But his plus-minus? -45. That’s not a red flag. That’s a red stadium.
Here’s where things get sticky. Karl-Anthony Towns is making $49.4 million this season. That’s roughly a million per game. And with Bridges locking in at a discount and guys like Jalen Brunson clearly on All-NBA trajectories, fans and analysts are starting to wonder: is KAT the guy? Or is he the guy you trade for the guy?
Insiders are already whispering about salary cap pressure and potential moves. Some names floating around? Brooklyn. Sacramento. Maybe even a reunion with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota if things implode there.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Look—nobody’s saying Karl-Anthony Towns is a bust. Far from it. He’s a unicorn. A 7-footer who can shoot the lights out and rebound like your fantasy team dreams about. But in a league where defense wins rings and mobility matters, his flaws are magnified under playoff pressure.
The Knicks are in a great spot. Bridges is locked in. Brunson is a stone-cold killer. Clarkson’s microwave scoring off the bench will help. And if KAT figures out the defensive side? Watch out. Parade routes might actually get mapped. But if he doesn’t?
Well, that $150,000,001 might be the second-most talked-about number in New York next summer. So yeah… buckle up, Knicks fans. This season could either be legendary—or the start of some spicy trade rumors.
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