Karl-Anthony Towns prioritizes winning over shot volume concerns

Throughout the New York Knicks’ first-round series win over the Detroit Pistons, All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t always see his typical volume of shot attempts.

However, as the team prepares to face a tougher challenge in the Boston Celtics during the second round, there appears to be no concern – from either Towns or head coach Tom Thibodeau – about his offensive usage.

Towns made it clear that personal stats are secondary to team success.

“I’m about winning, so as long as we’re winning, it’s fine,” he said when asked about his reduced scoring opportunities. “All I know is as long as we win, we good.”

Coach Thibodeau echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Towns’ value extends far beyond just scoring. He pointed out that the All-Star center’s decision-making is what matters most, especially when opposing defenses load up on him.

“When there’s a second or third defender coming in, I don’t want him to try to shoot over three people. I want him to make a pass,” Thibodeau said. “If he does that, he’s helping his team. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

Thibodeau also praised Towns’ all-around impact, particularly in the pivotal moments of the series-clinching Game 6.

“I thought KAT played a terrific Game 6, if you look at the rebounding and the defensive plays he made at the end of that game. That was huge for us. Huge,” he added.

As the Knicks focus on the Celtics, it’s clear that both player and coach are aligned in prioritizing smart, team-oriented basketball, with winning as the ultimate goal.