The New York Knicks are in the middle of a rough stretch, and Monday night’s 114-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks only deepened the slide. That’s now four straight losses for a team that not long ago was flying high after its NBA Cup win in Las Vegas. The Knicks have dropped 9 of their last 12, and while they’re still holding onto the third seed in the East, the cracks are starting to show - not just on the court, but in the locker room conversation as well.
The latest twist? DeMarcus Cousins took aim at Karl-Anthony Towns, calling out the Knicks big man for what he sees as a lack of fire and accountability. The comments came during Cousins’ appearance on Run It Back, where he weighed in on a report suggesting some Knicks players were upset with head coach Mike Brown for hugging Draymond Green after last week’s loss to the Warriors.
Cousins didn’t buy into the drama over the postgame moment. Instead, he shifted the spotlight to Towns, who he believes should be taking more responsibility for how he’s perceived - and treated - on the floor.
“If you wanna be angry at anybody, it should be KAT. Stand up for yourself, the scouting report is to punk KAT.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 21, 2026
Boogie Cousins on the Knicks reportedly not being happy with Mike Brown and Draymond Green’s in-game dap 🗣️
(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/LKIitJUBnJ
“When things are bad, the smallest things can make it worse,” Cousins said. “They have issues obviously, but this is a reach.
They obviously have a relationship - Draymond was coached by this guy for years, they won championships with each other. They have a real relationship.
If any of y’all should be mad at, it should be KAT.”
And he didn’t stop there. Cousins doubled down, zeroing in on Towns’ reputation around the league - one that, according to him, invites opponents to test him physically and mentally.
“He should be defending himself,” Cousins said. “Stop letting these players punk you, bro. Like, as simple as that.”
When asked if he was veering into victim-blaming territory, Cousins stood firm. “No, I’m calling the facts out,” he said.
“If you wanna be angry at anybody, it should be KAT. Get up and stand up for yourself.
The scouting report is to punk KAT. Does everybody up here know that?
If anybody should be mad, it should be KAT. Stand up for yourself, stop allowing these things to happen, be a man bro.
At the end of the day, he bleeds, you bleed… man up!”
Towns, now in his second season with the Knicks, has remained a focal point of their offense. Through 40 games, he’s averaging 21 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game in just over 32 minutes of action.
But the efficiency hasn’t been there - he’s shooting a career-low 46.7% from the field and 35.8% from deep. For a player of Towns’ caliber, those numbers are below the standard he’s set.
And as the Knicks continue to search for consistency, particularly on the defensive end and in terms of physical presence, Towns’ role becomes even more critical. The team hasn’t looked the same since lifting the Cup in Vegas. They’re just 7-11 since that high point, and the edge that defined their early-season success has started to dull.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. Despite the slump, New York remains firmly in the playoff picture - the East is tightly packed, and the Knicks have done enough to stay near the top.
But the pressure is mounting. The questions about leadership, toughness, and identity are getting louder, and the next few games will be telling.
They’ll try to stop the bleeding Wednesday night when they host the struggling Brooklyn Nets (12-29), wrapping up a three-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and with the spotlight now firmly on Towns - both for his play and his presence - all eyes will be on how the Knicks respond.