Can Karl-Anthony Towns Rekindle His Shooting Spark for the Knicks' Playoff Push?
Karl-Anthony Towns has been an All-Star this season - and deservedly so - but there’s been a noticeable dip in one key area of his game: the three-point shot. For a player who built part of his offensive identity on being a stretch big with serious range, Towns hasn’t quite found the same rhythm from deep that he had a year ago. The confidence and flow that once made him a matchup nightmare beyond the arc just haven’t been there consistently during the regular season.
But this past weekend in Indianapolis? That was a different story.
Towns Flashes His Range During All-Star Weekend
All-Star Weekend isn’t exactly known for defensive intensity, but it can still tell us something about where a player’s mindset and mechanics are. And for Towns, the signs were encouraging.
During Saturday’s Shooting Stars event, he knocked down multiple long-range shots, helping Team Knicks take home the win. It wasn’t just the makes - it was the ease with which he let them fly.
The stroke looked smooth, the release confident.
Then came Sunday’s All-Star Game tournament, where Towns stepped even further out - literally. He drained a pair of logo threes, stepping into them with the kind of swagger we haven’t seen from him much this season. That’s the version of Towns the Knicks would love to see more of down the stretch: the one who isn’t hesitating, who’s trusting his shot and letting it fly with conviction.
A Dip in Shooting, and a Dip in Production
Last season, Towns was lights out from deep, hitting 42% of his threes - elite territory for any player, let alone a center. This year, that number has slipped to 35%.
That’s still respectable, but for a player of Towns’ caliber and shooting pedigree, it’s a step back. And it’s not just the three-point shooting.
He’s also struggled at the rim, missing more layups than usual, and he’s averaging under 20 points per game - something that hasn’t happened since his rookie year.
Yes, he’s still cleaning the glass at a high level - second in the league in rebounds per game - but the scoring efficiency just hasn’t been there. It’s been a bumpy first season under head coach Mike Brown, and while Towns has still made a significant impact, it’s clear the Knicks need more from him offensively if they want to make a deep postseason run.
Can the All-Star Spark Carry Over?
It’s fair to wonder whether a few made threes in an exhibition setting can really flip the switch for a player. But confidence is a powerful thing, and sometimes all it takes is seeing the ball go through the net a few times to get back on track. The mechanics haven’t changed - Towns still has one of the smoothest strokes among big men in the league - but the mindset might have.
If Towns can carry that All-Star Weekend confidence into the final stretch of the season, it could be a game-changer for New York. The Knicks don’t need him to launch logo threes every night, but they do need him to stretch the floor, open up driving lanes, and force opposing bigs to make tough decisions. When he’s hitting from deep, the entire offense breathes easier.
The skill is still there. The touch is still there. Now it’s about putting it all together - and doing it when it matters most.