All-Star Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is in the midst of perhaps his best season yet. The sharpshooting big man spoke with Stefan Bondy of The New York Post about how he’s adjusted over the past few months after being dealt from Minnesota to New York.
“Of course, you always want better,” Towns said. “But I’m just happy that I was able to implement myself into the team and that it resulted in winning. You guys were telling me the stats of having the best record going into the All-Star break since [the Knicks’ last championship season in 1973]. Hopefully, history coincides with that and brings a ring with it.”
The team is currently 36-18 on the year, just 2.5 games behind the No. 2-seeded Celtics.
Towns has meshed well with fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson, and is happy to serve as the Knicks’ second option behind Brunson, who was named the team’s captain in August. Of course, Towns is still averaging 24.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per night, so the Kentucky alum is doing just fine.
“I didn’t come over to be a distraction or disrupt the flow or be on an ego trip or anything,” Towns said. “And I came to amplify them and amplify Cap’. You can’t win a championship by yourself. You need everybody. And I’m just happy we have a team full of guys who are willing to sacrifice and look at the big picture and do what it takes to bring the city wins every single night, and hopefully it results in a chip.”
There’s more out of New York:
- Brunson remains that rarest of things: a humble All-Star. According to Steve Popper of Newsday, Brunson credits his humility to his immediate friends and family. “I have a decent circle who keeps me humble,” Brunson told Popper. “So no. I think my mindset stays the same where I just want to get better. I know there’s a lot more for me to achieve. I want to win. “All the individual stuff is great. I’m really thankful. It’s goals of mine, of course, but the main thing is for me to win. That’s what I focus on. When I focus on that, the individual stuff comes. But my main focus is just winning. It’s always been that way.”
- Despite a hot start, Brunson faded at the end of the first round of All-Star weekend’s three-point contest on Saturday and ultimately didn’t advance. Still looking for his first win in the event, Brunson is open to potentially returning for a third appearance in a future seasons, writes Bondy in another article. The 6’2″ vet is nailing 39.7% of his 5.8 three-point attempts per game this season. He was looking to become the first Knicks player – and the first southpaw – to win the contest. “I’ll leave that door open,” Brunson said of returning for future shootouts.
- In case you missed it, we recently took a closer look at New York’s hard cap situation, detailing when the team will be able to add a 15th man.
Sankara mock draft, All-Star edition…
1.Wizards- Cooper Flagg Duke forward
2.Pelicans- Dylan Harper Rutgers pg
3.Jazz- Ace Bailey Rutgers forward
4.Hornets- Derik Queen Maryland big
5.Raptors- VJ Edgecombe Baylor guard
6.Nets- Nolan Traore Saint-Quentin pg
7.Thunder- Tre Johnson Texas wing
8.Bulls- Khaman Maluach Duke big
9.Blazers- Liam McNeely UConn forward
10.Spurs- Will Riley Illinois forward
11.Heat- Kasparas Jakucionis Illinois pg
12.Rockets- Asa Newell uga forward
13.Heat- Jeremiah Fears OU guard
14.Hawks- Noa Essengue Ratiopharm Ulm forward
15.Spurs- Egor Demin BYU guard
16.Magic- Kon Knueppel Duke wing
17.Timberwolves- Carter Bryant Arizona forward
18.Mavericks- Ian Jackson UNC wing
19.Pels- Collin Murray-Boyles S.Carolina forward
20.Jazz- Ben Saraf Ratiopharm Ulm pg
21.Pacers- Jase Richardson MSU guard
22.Thunder- Hugo Gonzalez Real Madrid wing
23.Hawks- Hansen Yang Qingdao big
24.Nets- Nique Clifford Colorado St forward
25.Magic- Johni Broome Auburn big
26.Nets- Thomas Sorber Georgetown big
27.Grizzlies- Boogie Fland Arkansas pg
28.Celtics- Maxime Raynaud Stanford big
29.Clippers- Dink Pate MXC Capitanes wing
30.Suns- Rasheer Fleming St. Joe’s forward
What does this have to do with Knicks news/article???
And if Charlotte took Queen at 4 I would laugh. Edgecombe is what they need. A strong on ball defender who can grow into a 2 way star next to Melo and Miller. Queen is like 8-13 range from most mocks I’ve read.
Knicks play in the NBA, same league this mock draft is about.
I love Edgecombe & I agree Charlotte should def have a strong point of attack defender next to Melo in that backcourt but that should be a vet guy, not a rookie. Josh Green or some free agent or even Okogie would work. No matter what you saw on other mocks, on the court DQ is a beast & the type of multifaceted big they haven’t had since the last time they were a playoff team. He’s about to play in a half hour. Check him out & base your opinion of him on that instead of mock drafts &: articles… link to m.youtube.com
So nothing to do with this article then. At least find a draft one to post this in.
And I second that Edgecombe is perfect for Charlotte.
I’ve seen plenty on DQ lmao. I had him being a Bull for the longest time. If you don’t believe me, go on previous bulls articles in here and you’ll see, dating back to late December. I just don’t think they pass up on a Melo/Edgecombe/BI trio who can score defend and make plays for each other. Not devaluing the DQ pick or the player, but that’s quite a reach when there’s other talented guys who stand out as well at other positions.
The thing about Queen is that he fits Charlotte so perfectly. Obv their are plenty of other talented guys at other positions but DQ is the best big in this class imo. Charlotte has big issues in the paint with Richards being gone, Nurk having obv limitations & MWilliams having obv injury concerns. Queen reminds me a lot of a Kevin Love/Alpo Sengun mix but with more length. Hornets could become one of the best scoring offenses in the league in a yr or so if they add a weapon like DQ to their frontcourt. And it’s really been the lack of consistent overall floor play in their frontcourt which has kept them in the lottery ever since Al Jefferson was on his last leg.
If I’m Charlotte I wouldn’t want any rookie starting next season. The guy guarding opposing lead guards for CHA next season should be a vet. They already have enough young guards vying for pt. Drafting VJ wouldn’t be terrible but drafting DQ would just make way more sense.
Not disagreeing with anything you said. I think DQ will be very good very quickly. He fits the modern day NBA big. I’ve seen a handful of his games here in the Midwest (Big10 network), and he’s shown out in every game. It all depends on if the front office and Coach Lee values elite perimeter defense or a big who can get a bucket. One thing I do see that DQ needs to improve is his passing out of double teams. He’s very inaccurate and slow to reach when a double is coming and it leads to turnovers for the opposing team. His range is expanding but he’s already a very good FT shooter for his size and length. I’d like him to more a little more assertive around the paint with his size but those things can be taught from Day 1. They need to hit on the next pick for sure and Edgecombe is more of a “safe’ pick which is also a need and DQ is the “WOW pick”.
Good post and analysis thought!
Dam you did a complete 180 from just yesterday when you were laughing at him going so much higher than the other mocks you’d been looking at lol. I’m proud of you. Next time don’t be such an axe whole & we can have some actual substantial basketball conversations/debates on this forum.
?????? I laughed because I don’t see DQ at 4. You want to come off your high horse and stop acting like you’re the only one in here who knows ball. Disagreeing with you is being an “axe whole”.
My goodness.
Really ……. plenty of places to post it. Other than here.
And?
Who cares…?
The biggest problem with the Knicks and what will most likely cost them a championship is called Thibodeau
Agreed…
They’re gonna look like quasi contenders, but then have 6 players available to play come the playoffs… None of them getting paid highly…
Year 5 of the rebuild. Knicks really have three new starters this yr. Mitch is the longest tenured Knick. So no one really cares or knows ???? realfans
The trap in NY. Is they start praising you. And start talking about championships and historical achievements. That it feels like you’ve done something. Start believing the headlines.
Fortunately this coach is from the area. And understands keeping the focus. And right now that focus is. Getting better as a team. Growing as a team. Accomplishing goals as a team. Its why I say “In Thibs we Trust”.
There’s many Thibs kind of players on this team. And the captain Jalen is a great leader. Still don’t see a finished product. With Mitch and possibly TJ coming. This team is even better. I trust they will come to play and show. This is a good group who play the right way. So expectations are high. But this team and real fans know. We haven’t won anything yet. And the real fun is in the journey. With a few additions Knicks can make a run this yr. Celtics and Cavs are for real and formidable. Knicks will probably have to go thru both of them. Not a given this year. But they will show up. And it will be a great series. Basketball is finally back in NYC …..
In Thibs we Trust.