Breaking down Karl-Anthony Towns strong start to Knicks season — and what he can still improve

If there are any questions about the Knicks’ commitment post-championship, or their distraction level amid contract negotiations, none of them can be pointed at Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Coming off a legendary postseason run that helped secure his place in New York immortality, Towns has been his team’s most locked-in player of the new season, averaging 21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 65.5 percent shooting from two and 41.4 percent from three.

This, despite being the key hang-up in the Knicks’ extension talks and coming off a busy summer of celebration. Let’s dive into Towns’ hellacious start and what it means to the team.

One difference from Towns this season is his frame. He came into the season considerably thinner than in years past, though he plans to bulk up as the year progresses. 

This seems to only have benefited Towns’ game. His mobility looks better and there haven’t been major sacrifices on the defensive end or boards.

His inside finishing has been particularly efficient, while that was a weakness early last season.

Otherwise, it’s been a lot of the Towns we know and love, specifically out of the hub offense that turned around last season's playoffs. The Knicks are leaning into it more now having the blueprint, and Towns looks as comfortable as ever with head coach Mike Brown’s schemes.

It hasn’t shown up on the stat sheet as many would have liked — Towns’ turnovers have spiked while his assists are flat. But much of this is due to how teams have adjusted against this look.

They’ve been more aggressive in switching the flex screen and helping off the weak side, forcing the Knicks into the third and fourth option on these plays. There’s also some sloppiness on Towns’ part as he gets reacquainted and sees what passes he can force or not. 

But these bumps are to be expected, the net is positive, and even some early hiccups are ultimately helpful toward the ultimate goal. The fact that the Knicks haven’t made shots like normal is also skewing the numbers.

Inside or out of the hub offense, Towns has looked the part. His 41.4 percent three-point shooting mark could come on higher volume, but he’s picked his spots well with deep catch-and-shoots off trails and even some self-creation in the clutch.

Towns has seen the most action in fourth quarters, scoring 7.3 of his points per game in that period. Unfortunately the Knicks haven’t turned to him in the closing moments enough, as he’s taken two shots in the eight minutes of crunch time in games New York’s played thus far.

That the Knicks have lost most of these tight contests to fall to 2-4 record could be in part due to this. Until others pick up their slack, this may need to be more of a Towns-centric team.

Fans know first hand how these Towns reps will ultimately pay off in the playoffs, when the Knicks will need multiple answers and know they can depend on their big man. But they’ll also play a role in the coming contract negotiations.

Towns can either hit free agency or re-sign long-term with the Knicks, with both parties seemingly favoring the latter -- just at different prices. He will have much more leverage walking in with continued dominance like this.

Towns can point to New York’s falling point differential when he steps off the court, or the mixed results they’re getting from their alternative second options on the wing. He can point to being second in the league in rebounds per game and first to the rim to defend it.

Hopefully this ends in an inked extension and repeat run. In the meantime, Towns is aiming to put together one of the best seasons of his career, and the early returns are promising.