Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns missed his third game of the season on Monday. Two of his absences have been related to patellar tendinopathy in his right knee. It’s a very common injury, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become serious down the line, according to a surgeon who spoke to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
“It’s the most common injury I see in basketball athletes. It’s not even classified as an injury half the time because it just kind of exists and people live with it,” said Dr. Abi Campbell, the director of the NYU Langone Center for Women’s Sports Medicine. “The fact that it’s flared up so severely that he’s had to take time out either points to the fact that it’s cautionary in order to maintain him for the next set of games. Or, it’s having such a severe flare-up that he’s not going to be able to play at full capacity and he has no other option but to come out.
“If that’s the case, I think that in the offseason the only option is to have it fully addressed because it seems like it’s been lingering and not getting better.”
Campell, who has not treated Towns or viewed his medical records, told Bondy that patellar tendinopathy is a “microtearing of the tendon” and a “chronic issue.” She guessed that Towns has likely been dealing with the injury for “years.” While it can be painful and result in limited function, it’s typically manageable — until it flares up again.
“In order to heal, there are a lot of options but unfortunately most of them [like a PRP injection] need to be done in the offseason because they require some down time,” Campbell said. “So the natural way — which I’m sure he’s been doing for a long time — is doing blood-flow restriction training to try to strengthen your quad muscle to take the load off the patellar tendon, all those straps and braces you see them wear. And resting.”
Here’s more on the Knicks, who are currently the No. 3 seed in the East with a 25-13 record:
- Head coach Tom Thibodeau has been criticized by the media over the years for playing rotation regulars a lot of minutes. Mikal Bridges (39.1), Josh Hart (37.7) and OG Anunoby (36.5) rank first, second and seventh in the league in minutes per game, with Jalen Brunson (35.0) at No. 23 and Towns (34.6) at No. 30. Towns believes the criticism is misguided, as Bondy relays (via Twitter). “I feel like y’all give him flack all the time,” Towns said. “No matter where he is. But y’all keep talking about him and that means he keeps getting a job and that means everyone keeps respecting him and knowing what he can do for a team. He’s done it in Chicago, he did it in Boston, he did it with us in Minny. And he’s doing it here. Even before I got here. So say what you want about Thibs — he gets the job done.”
- Hart has accumulated six technical fouls this season, but he’s working to avoid them going forward, according to Bondy. “Some of the techs I got, I haven’t even cursed so I kind of been surprised by them,” Hart told The Post. “So I’m not going to say what ref but I asked him, ‘Do I have a bad reputation? Or what? Man-to-man, let me know. Because I’m trying to work on it.’ And he was just like, ‘No, you’re an amazing competitor. But sometimes in the heat of competition, it’s like you’re against us, too. Like you look at it 8 on 5.’ Which I do sometimes. So I think my complaining and getting techs hurts us. We’re giving them free points or the ball or whatever it is and those kind of things. So it’s just something I’m trying to be more cognizant of and work on.”
- Veteran guard Landry Shamet recently had his contract guaranteed after New York decided to retain him past the cut-down deadline. He tells James Edwards III of The Athletic that he appreciates the opportunity to have a second chance with the Knicks after being cut during preseason due to a shoulder injury. “Playing for a lot of different teams, a lot of different teammates, seeing a lot of different situations, great players, different coaching styles, I think you just build up your memory bank and things you can draw from,” Shamet said. “I’m grateful for the journey I’ve had so far and thankful to be here and try to build and grow with this group.”
Shamet earned his spot twice over. If the NYK weren’t up against a hard cap, they likely wouldn’t have cut him after he was hurt in the preseason. It’s cool that he appreciates the NYK staying with him, but the NYK should also appreciate him being willing to go Westchester to rehab and resign with them. Thibs, apparently, loves Shamet on, of all things, defense. I haven’t quite seen that yet, but he is just now rounding into shape. Hope he stays in the rotation even after Duece is back.
Thibs does keep his starters in way too long during meaningless games and garbage time, and he is super stingy with his rotations. This has all been well documented and discussed. Then every year Knicks fans get upset and act befuddled when their best players are hurt during crucial games and can’t get past the 2nd round. Rinse and repeat.
LOL. Yes, well documented and discussed among 2k’ers. But their views are for laughs only. Here especially, as the only NYK players hurt for significant stretches of last season were those that didn’t play huge minutes prior to their injury. The players that Thibs played “too many minutes” (per 2k nation) all lasted into and through the playoffs, having career best stretches. When an argument falls of its own weight one would think it would be quickly abandoned. But, I guess, for some it’s just a good time to double down.
“Then every year Knicks fans get upset and act befuddled when their best players are hurt during crucial games”
Please cite which players have been hurt because of playing long minutes. Brunson and Bojan injuries were flukes. Mitch gets injured a lot but doesn’t play a lot of minutes. Maybe OG, but that was a recurring injury and he was actually playing fewer minutes than he had in previous seasons for the Raptors. Randle is the only one you can point to for saying maybe he shouldn’t have been on the floor when he hurt his shoulder.
Also: guys like Brunson and Hart were awesome in the playoffs last year and didn’t show signs of wearing down until the very end.
But if they showed signs of wearing down, even if only towards the end as you say, that means they wore down. And if that is already happening in the 2nd round how can you expect them to compete for a title?
Doesn’t matter who gets hurt lol. Not about injuries. Knicks need to be at their best. At their strongest. Not just the starters also the bench. You get that way by managing your best players mins. And playing your bench to support that. A team that manages their teams depth with mins. Will be strongest at playoffs. No reason to lead league in starters mins. OKC and Cavs are best teams in L and avg less starters mins than all contenders. That’s called a team. A team wins chips not starters. You come in rested. Then you push starters in playoffs.
I have zero issues with Thibs riding his players hard in close games and think more head coaches should be willing to push their guys in such situations, but his bizarre refusal to get them rest in games 99.9% likely to lose/win is a real problem. There’s no way to spin it other than stupidity and stubbornness even if you like the other things he brings to the table. And it very well could cost the Knicks in the playoffs.
I was so confused why he played his starters so much against the Raptors for example. They are bad and he didn’t need to ride them to beat them. I say this as a Raptors fan for the record.
Exactly. And what kind of message does that send to the bench unit? That they can’t even be trusted to maintain a sizeable lead against a bad opponent? Why not give the starters some rest and then, if need be, bring them back in should the lead shrink too much?
KnickerbockerAl
January 9, 2025
Knicks don’t have a problem. Not yet. Even if we do nothing. Mitch makes them better. At worst he is at full strength by April. TJ Warren helps with bench scoring. Both could be ready to go for playoffs. Only issue here. Is Thibs not overworking his starters till they are on roster. And playing them.
Out of top teams in NBA —- Magic, Sixers, OKC,Mavs all will be well rested for playoffs.
The rest is why Thibs should be playing his bench now.
Out of top 25 mins leaders. Knicks starters lead in mins played by far. With four players in top 25.
Celtics have two — (9)Tatum, (17) Brown
Bucks have two — (8) Dame, (24) Giannis
Cavs have 10 players with 20 mins or more. Incredible. Mitchell leads with 31.4 mins
OKC none in top 25. SGA with (34.5) leads Thunder. Not in top 25.
Nuggets have two — (5) Jokic, (6) Murray
Rockets have one — (18) JVV
Grizz none in top 25.
Come playoff time. Who do you think will run out of gas first. I understand playing great athletes. But if you want them at their strongest at playoffs. And if you are looking to go top 4 top 2 in playoffs. You manage their mins. Seems only Knicks are playing their main guys mins.
link to si.com
Knicks don’t do anything this TD……
Then it’s wait on Mitch ???? Game shape by End of March, you hope. Sign TJ Warren to a contract. And with depth by numbers. Like I’ve been saying since beginning of yr. Start Achiuwa sit Hart. Hart can still avg more mins. But he gives a big punch off bench. Precious helps KAT on D. Helps Bridges get shots. Still big time offense for starters. It’s obvious to me !!!!!!
So our bench would consist of —— Mitch, Hart, McBride, Payne, Shamet, TJ Warren, Sims, Kolek, Diadet, Hukporti. Knicks would have to depend on depth by numbers. Cavs dot it and Thunder do it 10 deep. You play who is hot who affects winning most that game. I’m good with this as long as Thibs plays 10 deep ——————
I prefer a trade ……