Knicks Need Mike Brown to Crack Karl-Anthony Towns’ Code
If the New York Knicks hope to surpass last season’s performance, head coach Mike Brown must unlock a more assertive version of Karl-Anthony Towns—something former coach Tom Thibodeau struggled to achieve.
Towns is undeniably one of the NBA’s most skilled players. But for the Knicks to make a run at the 2025-26 NBA Finals, he must consistently score under pressure and embrace his role as a co-franchise player.
Towns’ Elite Career on Paper
Towns has built an impressive résumé over his decade-long career:
- Five All-Star appearances
- Three All-NBA nods
- Career averages of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 three-pointers made per game
- A 40% career three-point shooter, making him one of the most versatile big men in the league
Despite these statistics, appearances can be deceiving, especially in high-stakes playoff scenarios. During the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Towns averaged 21.4 points per game, but had stretches where he scored fewer than 15 points in half of the first six postseason games.
The Importance of Assertiveness
New York’s success is closely tied to Towns’ mentality on offense. When he takes 16 or more shots, the Knicks have historically fared far better—7-3 compared to 3-5 when he takes fewer than 15.
Brown’s task is clear: cultivate a confident, aggressive Towns who can assert himself without sacrificing efficiency. His past work with Domantas Sabonis demonstrates this potential. Brown helped Sabonis, a two-time All-Star, achieve his first All-NBA selections by enhancing his playmaking and offensive assertiveness.
Unlocking Towns as a Playmaker
One of Towns’ most underappreciated skills is his vision and passing. Operating from the high post, he can locate open shooters, slashers, and cutters with remarkable accuracy. Though not quite at Sabonis’ level as a facilitator, Towns has averaged 4.0+ assists per game in three separate seasons, showing the potential to elevate New York’s offense.
Brown’s system is designed to leverage this skill. By positioning Towns in the high post, he can orchestrate the offense, enabling a deep cast of scorers to thrive while Towns impacts games without always needing to shoot.
Why Towns’ Aggression Matters
Towns’ assertiveness directly affects the Knicks’ playoff outcomes. Greater offensive involvement means:
- More scoring opportunities for the team’s primary stars
- Better spacing and floor management for guards and wings
- Increased overall efficiency during crucial postseason stretches
For New York to capitalize on their Eastern Conference Finals momentum, Towns must combine scoring aggression with playmaking, creating a multifaceted threat that is harder for opponents to contain.
The Path Forward
Mike Brown has a proven track record of maximizing big man impact, and Towns possesses the tools to thrive under a system built around movement, spacing, and versatility.
By fostering confidence, assertiveness, and playmaking, Brown could finally unlock the full offensive potential of Karl-Anthony Towns, giving the Knicks their best chance at a title run in 2025-26.
