Karl-Anthony Towns’ old comments about taking less money for the Knicks are back in the spotlight, and they land a little differently now that his extension talks have hit a wall.
Towns and New York still haven’t agreed on a new deal, and the frustration has been out in the open. He is eligible for a four-year, $276 million max extension, but the Knicks have reportedly put $200 million on the table. That leaves Towns staring at a gap of $76 million from the most he can get.
What makes the conversation louder is a 2024 appearance on Club Shay Shay, when Shannon Sharpe asked Towns whether he would be willing to give up more than $100 million the way Jalen Brunson did to help keep the Knicks together.
“If we can keep it together,” Towns said. “Show me that.
We all got to get in the room and say we’re going to do it. I mean, Jalen Brunson, shout out to him… That’s a lot of money.
But you know what? You can’t put a value on the fact that he’s at where he wants to be.
And I think that’s a big value number that no one’s thinking of. He’s with his father.
He’s super comfortable. He has a team that believes in him.
“I think that belief that a team and organization can give you is something that’s worth a lot, a lot, a lot of money,” Towns continued. “And they give him that belief, and I think that he felt that was the best situation for him, and I root him on for that.”
That old clip has now resurfaced as the Knicks try to keep their core intact without crossing into second-apron territory, something owner James Dolan has said they will not do. If New York wants to keep this group together, someone is going to have to give.
Brunson’s own deal has become a big part of the discussion. He signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension in 2024, but he could have waited and been eligible for a five-year, $269.1 million contract in 2025.
In other words, he passed on the chance to make an extra $113 million for financial security. That move helped shape the Knicks’ title run and the roster around it.
Brunson then delivered in the playoffs, was named Finals MVP for his performance against the San Antonio Spurs, and is expected to be in line for a four-year, $290 million extension in 2027.
Towns, though, also earned his place in the spotlight during that championship push. After the Knicks acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024, he played a major role in the title run.
In the playoffs, the 30-year-old averaged 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The offense ran through him, and he drew attention for how he handled Spurs star Victor Wembanyama on defense in the Finals.
So while Towns’ earlier comments showed he was open to taking less if everyone bought in, the current standoff makes clear that there’s a limit to how far he’s willing to go. The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft is still reportedly open to a discount - just not the one New York wants.
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