After dropping four straight, the New York Knicks finally snapped out of their slump in emphatic fashion, steamrolling the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 in a statement win. It was the kind of bounce-back performance that can reset a team’s trajectory-and for a squad with playoff aspirations, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
But even with the scoreboard lopsided in their favor, the vibes in the locker room remain complicated.
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t mince words when asked whether a recent players-only meeting helped the team get back on track. “I think losing four in a row better get everyone on the same page,” he said.
That’s a blunt, unfiltered response-and it speaks volumes. There’s urgency in that message.
Frustration, too. And it underscores what’s been simmering beneath the surface: this Knicks team is still trying to find itself.
The front office is reportedly active ahead of the trade deadline, and it’s not hard to see why. The Knicks have been inconsistent since their hot start to the season and are now looking for ways to retool the roster.
The goal is clear-build a core that can sustain a deep playoff run. But while trade talks swirl, the current group still needs to bring the same intensity and chemistry every night.
That starts with leadership-and Towns is squarely in the spotlight.
His future with the franchise is uncertain, and that uncertainty is only magnified by the team’s recent struggles and his own uneven play. After helping the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season and riding high off their NBA Cup win in December, expectations were sky-high. But since then, the offense has sputtered, and the team has lost its early-season rhythm.
Former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back when offering his take. “You know that the damn problem is Karl-Anthony Towns, but you just don’t want to say the quiet thing out loud,” Perkins said.
“Karl-Anthony Towns gotta grow up and be a grown a** man. That’s what they need him to be.
He’s the one. It’s not a Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson issue.
It’s a Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Brown issue. Because if you noticed, everyone is benefiting from this new offense except Karl-Anthony Towns.
He averaged 24 points last year. He’s averaging 20 points this year.”
That’s a strong critique-and it puts the spotlight squarely on Towns’ ability to adapt and lead. The numbers don’t lie: his production has dipped, and in a system that seems to be elevating others, that stands out. Whether it’s a fit issue with head coach Mike Brown’s scheme or something deeper, Towns has to find a way to assert himself-especially when the Knicks go up against more physical, playoff-style opponents.
The next stretch of games could define the Knicks’ season. With the trade deadline looming and internal pressure mounting, this team needs more than just one big win.
They need consistency. They need cohesion.
And they need their stars-Towns included-to rise to the moment.
The talent is there. The question now is whether the Knicks can channel this urgency into sustained execution.
Because in a wide-open Eastern Conference, the window is still open. But it won’t stay that way forever.