Mike Brown Must Do What Tom Thibodeau Couldn’t With Karl-Anthony Towns
If the New York Knicks are going to push past their 2025 Eastern Conference Finals run, Mike Brown’s biggest challenge will be getting Karl-Anthony Towns to play with consistent aggression. Tom Thibodeau couldn’t quite solve that puzzle, and now it falls on Brown to bring out the assertive version of Towns that Knicks fans desperately want to see.
Towns’ Career Has Been Productive but Incomplete
On paper, Towns is everything you could want in a modern big man. A five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, he has averaged 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 made threes per game across his career. He’s also a 40 percent shooter from deep—elite efficiency for a 7-footer.
Despite the impressive résumé, playoff basketball continues to expose the same issue: inconsistency in assertiveness. During the 2025 postseason, Towns averaged a respectable 21.4 points per game, but in three of six games during a crucial stretch, he scored under 15 points. His reluctance to attack consistently left the Knicks in difficult spots, especially when Jalen Brunson needed scoring support.
For New York to take the next step, Towns must embrace the role of co-franchise player—every single night.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Aggression Equals Winning
Towns has been in the league long enough to establish a clear pattern. When he’s aggressive, his teams win more often. When he fades into the background, the results are predictable.
In the 2025 playoffs, the Knicks went just 3-5 when Towns attempted 15 or fewer shots. By contrast, they were 7-3 when he took more than 15 attempts. That’s not coincidence—it’s a sign of how directly his mentality influences winning basketball.
Towns will always contribute with rebounding, rim protection, and floor spacing, but his willingness to take over offensively remains the swing factor. Brown’s job is to make sure that “assertive Towns” becomes the default, not the exception.
Brown’s Blueprint: The Domantas Sabonis Model
The encouraging sign for Knicks fans is that Brown has done this before. In Sacramento, he elevated Domantas Sabonis from a two-time All-Star to a perennial All-NBA performer. Sabonis thrived as the offensive hub, orchestrating from the high post, and his playmaking numbers skyrocketed—7.3 assists per game in one season, followed by 8.2 the next.
Towns has similar passing instincts, though they’ve been underutilized. He’s already had three seasons averaging over 4.0 assists per game, even while battling injuries. If Brown can run the Knicks’ offense through Towns in similar fashion, it could unlock an entirely new layer to New York’s attack.
Playmaking Could Unlock Towns’ Ceiling
While fans focus on Towns’ scoring, his ability to create for others is underrated. From the high post, he can find cutters, shooters, and slashers with sharp vision. That skill could be the perfect counterbalance to the moments when he hesitates as a scorer.
Imagine a Knicks offense where Towns isn’t just asked to get 20 points a night, but to facilitate ball movement and open up shots for Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. With his shooting range pulling defenders out of the paint, New York could generate one of the most versatile half-court offenses in the league.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Towns can shy away from scoring. The Knicks’ playoff data makes it clear—he needs to attempt at least 16 shots per game. But adding playmaking responsibility could keep him engaged while still demanding the scoring aggression that drives New York’s success.
The Path Forward
The Knicks have built a contender. Last season’s Eastern Conference Finals run showed that they belong among the elite. But going from “contender” to “finalist” depends heavily on Towns.
If Mike Brown can convince Towns to embrace both sides of his offensive arsenal—relentless scoring and underrated playmaking—the Knicks could finally break through the glass ceiling.
The formula is simple: an aggressive, assertive Towns makes New York a championship threat. Anything less, and the ceiling remains the same.
