Knicks desperately need Karl-Anthony Towns to embrace most dominant skill

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks is recognized as one of the most skilled offensive players in NBA history, capable of scoring at all three levels and dominating games. However, a persistent criticism is his tendency not to assert himself fully, particularly in post-up situations, despite having a versatile arsenal that includes ambidextrous finishes, hook shots, and turnaround jumpers.

Although Towns excels as a finesse player, opponents often use physicality to limit his jump shots and force him into contact-heavy scenarios. In the 2024-25 season, he was among eight players averaging at least 3.0 post-ups per game, showing a willingness to address critiques about his aversion to physical play. Notably, he led all players in points per post-up with 0.742, significantly ahead of second-place Pascal Siakam at 0.672.

Despite his efficiency, Towns ranked only seventh in post-ups per game at 3.3 among the top eight players, with only LeBron James attempting fewer. Additionally, he placed sixth in paint touches among those eight and 24th in the NBA, yet he was second in points per paint touch among players with at least 5.0 touches per game, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo.

For the 2025-26 season, it is recommended that the Knicks increase Towns' involvement in the interior to leverage his dominance, balancing his perimeter play with more post-ups and paint touches, especially given the team's strong perimeter players like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson.