So far, talks about his contract negotiations have stalled. ESPN’s Malike Andrews spoke about Towns’ situation on Tuesday’s “NBA Today.”
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) walks off the court with the trophy after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
“Karl-Anthony Towns, from what I have been told, is willing, similarly to what Jalen Brunson did. The numbers aren’t the same, but he is also willing to take a pay cut,” Andrews said.
“However, the pay cut the Knicks are asking him to take, he views as unreasonable.”
Karl-Anthony Towns had an uneasy Media Day on Monday. He reiterated his desire to stay in New York and wants to get the contract negotiations done.
“I mean, I’ve made it known,” Towns said. “You know, I wanna play here. Been a fan since I was young, and so I would like to get one done, of course. That’s obvious, you know? I would like to get it done so I can step on the court and feel [as] comfortable as possible.”
Even his teammate, Josh Hart, has not reached an agreement for a contract extension with the Knicks. Hart is eligible to sign a $132 million contract extension.
Karl-Anthony Towns was welcomed on Media Day with a new physical look. Towns was slimmer compared to the previous year, which was something the media asked him about. According to the one-time champion, he always loses weight over the summer.
“I thought my wife thought I looked good. So I thought I was looking alright,” he said. “Just, in the offseason I always lose a lot of weight.”
KAT said he allows his body to recover and rest, especially after the intense playoff run the Knicks had last season. Towns played heavy minutes during New York’s postseason run and had to physically battle against some of the best big men in the NBA, including San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
