Karl-Anthony Towns is making one thing clear: he wants to stay in New York.
“Hell yeah, hell yeah. I want to stay here,” Towns said when asked about his future with the Knicks.
“Obviously get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money, you know.
So just to be able to be here with the fans, be with the family. It means a lot.
I would like it to continue.”
That’s not just lip service. For Towns, who’s under contract through the 2026-27 season with a $61 million player option for 2027-28, the connection to New York runs deeper than basketball. He’s talked about the personal meaning of playing close to home and the emotional value of being around family - something that can’t be measured on a stat sheet.
While the Knicks didn’t move toward a contract extension before this season - and frankly, there wasn’t much pressure to, given Towns’ current deal - that could change next summer. He’ll be eligible for another extension, and with the possibility of hitting free agency in 2027 if he declines that player option, the clock could start ticking sooner than expected.
Still, Towns sounds confident in the relationship he’s built with the Knicks’ leadership. “Me, Leon [Rose], and Gersson [Rosas] and everyone, we’re great,” he said.
“I’ll go have lunch with them right now. We’re good.”
That kind of rapport matters. Especially for a star player who’s clearly bought into the culture and direction of the team.
Around the Atlantic Division
In Brooklyn, Michael Porter Jr. returned from a two-game absence due to lower back tightness - and didn’t miss a beat. He dropped 35 points, grabbed seven boards, dished out four assists, and added two steals in 36 minutes during a win over Charlotte. It was one of his most complete performances of the season, and a testament to how well he’s adapted to head coach Jordi Fernandez’s system.
“Jordi - he’s a genius of a coach,” Porter said. “We’re a young team, we’re going to keep growing, but he’s a genius in terms of the schemes that he puts out, especially offensively for me.”
Porter’s been seeing all kinds of defensive attention - face-guarding, denial, the works - but Fernandez has found creative ways to free him up. Whether it’s off-ball movement, misdirection, or tailored play calls, the system is clearly working. Porter’s thriving as Brooklyn’s top scoring option, and he’s giving credit where it’s due: “He’s making it so easy for me to play my game.”
Meanwhile, Cam Thomas - who’s been sidelined for over three weeks with a left hamstring strain - will undergo an MRI later this week to assess his recovery. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said the team will provide an update once they get the results. Thomas missed significant time last season with multiple hamstring issues, so the Nets are understandably cautious here.
Up north, the Raptors are seeing real growth from two of their young core pieces - both with Knicks roots.
Since arriving in Toronto nearly two years ago, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have each taken noticeable steps forward. Head coach Darko Rajakovic highlighted Quickley’s defensive improvement, calling him “one of the best defensive players that we have now on the ball.” Quickley’s always had quick hands and a high motor, but he’s now turning that into consistent disruption on the perimeter.
As for Barrett, Rajakovic pointed to smarter shot selection and more efficient scoring. “RJ’s shot selection is a little bit different.
He’s getting much more to the rim, he’s doing catch-and-shoot 3s, he’s scoring more off cuts,” Rajakovic said. That kind of off-ball activity and rim pressure adds a new dimension to Barrett’s game - and to Toronto’s offense.
Barrett is currently dealing with a knee sprain and hasn’t returned to on-court work yet, but the team considers him day-to-day as the knee continues to improve.
Bottom line: whether it’s Towns embracing his Knicks homecoming, Porter unlocking new levels in Brooklyn, or Quickley and Barrett evolving up in Toronto, the Atlantic Division is full of players finding their stride - and shaping the future of their franchises in the process.