Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are still far apart on a contract extension.
Currently, Towns has a $61 million player option for next season and is eligible to sign a four-year, $276 million extension. The two sides are not even close, with the Knicks’ offer so far in the $45 million to $50 million per year range.
On Monday, Towns shared his perspective on his contract situation.
”It don’t look good,” Towns said about the chances of getting a new contract in place before the start of the regular season.
When Towns was asked if he thought that winning the championships would make his contract extension a “slam dunk,” he had an interesting response.
”No s—, Sherlock,” Towns said. “I just won a championship. You’d think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys [reporters] think I have something else to prove.”
Keeping the Knicks’ core intact—and handing Jalen Brunson a max deal while dodging the second apron—will require financial sacrifices across the roster. Karl-Anthony Towns says he is open to taking a pay cut to help the cause, provided his contract still reflects what he and the team have built over the last two years.
“Simply put, I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said. “None of those things have come close to happening.”
Towns proved to be the missing piece for New York, anchoring the interior and spacing the floor to power the Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship. He led the franchise’s first title in 53 years. Serving as a dynamic inside-out threat alongside Jalen Brunson, Towns elevated the Knicks’ offense with his elite perimeter shooting and double-double production, providing the elite frontcourt versatility needed to snap New York’s historic championship drought.
”I’ve made it known I want to play here,” Towns said on Media Day. “I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. I’d like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.”
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