Despite a productive first year with the New York Knicks, All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has not held extension talks with the franchise this offseason.
Towns, who was acquired from Minnesota in October 2024, is entering the second year of a four-year, $220 million contract he originally signed with the Timberwolves. The deal includes a player option for the 2027–28 season.
On The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps both noted the absence of discussions between the Knicks and Towns on a possible long-term extension. Windhorst emphasized that the lack of talks is not an indictment of Towns’ performance, citing instead the size and structure of his contract.
“He has three years and about $170 million left,” Windhorst said, via HoopsHype. “There would be some challenge to trade that.”
Bontemps echoed that sentiment, suggesting that Towns’ situation is more comparable to Rudy Gobert’s—who was dealt by Utah while still under a large contract—than Devin Booker’s, who was extended early by Phoenix.
In his first season at Madison Square Garden, Towns posted 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and shot 42% from three-point range over 72 games. He was named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter and won Player of the Month honors in December.
Towns also made an impact in the playoffs, averaging 21.4 points and 11.6 rebounds across 18 games.
Yet, despite his production, New York has made no public moves toward locking him up beyond his current deal. The organization extended Mikal Bridges earlier this summer, but Towns’ future appears less immediate in their plans.
Towns, 29, remains under contract through at least the 2026–27 season unless he declines his player option in the final year. The three-time All-Star has career averages of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
