Karl-Anthony Towns’ Individualistic Play Raises Concerns for Knicks’ Championship Aspirations
Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent transition to the New York Knicks has illuminated some troubling patterns in his gameplay. Joining a roster with championship potential, featuring stars like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, Towns appears to prioritize his individual scoring over collective team success. This tendency poses a significant threat to New York’s aspirations for a title run.
The Usage Rate Dilemma: A Lack of Adaptation
One of the most glaring indicators of Towns’ struggles is his largely unchanged usage rate. In the 2023-24 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, Towns operated at a usage rate of 27.4%, averaging 21.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season with the Knicks, and his usage rate barely dipped to 27.3%. Despite a scoring uptick to 24.4 points per game, his assists only marginally increased to 3.1.
Typically, when elite players join stronger teams, they adapt by either lowering their usage rate or enhancing their playmaking abilities. Towns, however, did neither. Instead, he managed to increase his scoring by 11.9% while only slightly boosting his assists by 3.3%. In stark contrast, Jalen Brunson made a notable adjustment, decreasing his field goal attempts from 21.4 to 18.5—a reduction of 13.6%—while raising his assists from 6.7 to 7.3, reflecting a team-first mentality that Towns has yet to adopt.
Isolation Issues: A Focus on Selfish Shot Selection
Towns’ shot selection further reveals his individualistic approach. Despite his reputation as an elite shooter, his three-point attempts have decreased from an average of 5.3 to 4.7 per game. This shift indicates a preference for post-ups and isolation plays. Averaging 3.3 post-ups per game, Towns ranks among a select group of players engaging in such plays, highlighting his inclination toward scoring in isolation rather than facilitating for teammates.
While he converts these post-ups efficiently, averaging 0.742 points per possession, each of these plays means that the elite perimeter talent surrounding him is left idle. This issue is compounded by the Knicks’ overall ball movement struggles, as they rank in the bottom eight for passes per 24 minutes, a problem that Towns’ style exacerbates.
Rebounding Surge: A Double-Edged Sword
The narrative of Towns’ season is further complicated by a significant spike in his rebounding numbers, which jumped a staggering 54% from 8.3 to 12.8 rebounds per game. While this increase highlights his ability to dominate the boards, it also suggests that he is spending more time in isolation situations rather than creating space for his teammates. In general, elite facilitating big men do not experience such pronounced rebounding increases without corresponding rises in assists unless they are primarily focused on personal statistics.
As Towns continues to navigate his role within the Knicks, the challenge remains: can he adapt his game to complement the talents around him? The stakes are high, and the championship dreams of the Knicks may hinge on his willingness to embrace a more team-oriented approach.
