Entering his second season with the New York Knicks, and his first under head coach Mike Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns is preparing for a different role than the one he held last year under Tom Thibodeau.
Speaking to the media, Brown emphasized that Towns will not be confined to playing center and will instead be utilized across multiple roles on the floor.
“KAT, we’re going to move him around a lot,” said Brown. “He’s not just going to play the 5. He’ll be all over the floor – his ability to shoot the basketball will show because we’re going to move him around.”
In 72 games last year, the New Jersey native averaged 24.4 points per game along with 12.8 rebounds on 52.6% shooting inside the field and a highly impressive 42% clip from beyond the arc, throughout 35 minutes while earning All-Star honors.
A key question for the Knicks this summer has centered on whether Mitchell Robinson should be elevated into the starting lineup alongside Towns. Robinson’s size and shot-blocking would bolster New York’s interior defense, easing the burden on Towns in the paint, while Brown has spoken glowingly of Robinson’s athletic ability this summer.
On the other hand, Towns never seemed to be fully deployed to his strengths last season. His perimeter shooting, long one of his most valuable weapons, was minimized down the stretch, with the 7-footer often pushed into a traditional post-up role that didn’t showcase his offensive versatility and prowess.
After being boxed into a role that didn’t fit his strengths last season, Towns is expected to get a chance to show the full range of his game in New York under Brown.