Karl-Anthony Towns expressed his feelings openly. The decision by the Knicks to halt contract extension discussions, announced in a statement on Friday, caught him off guard and left him feeling quite disappointed.
“Obviously very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s be honest here,” Towns remarked on Sunday. “But even though there was no business done, there’s still business to be handled. After 53 years, we found a way to bring this trophy back to New York, and we intend for it to stay in New York.”
Towns had been public about the stalled negotiations, especially since the Knicks recently claimed their first championship in 53 years. Reports indicated that the Knicks offered him a four-year deal worth approximately $200 million, which is quite a bit below the maximum and a pay cut from his current $57 million salary. While Towns is open to accepting a discount, he feels the offer is a bit extreme.
Last week, he expressed surprise that a new deal hadn’t been reached. When asked if he anticipated one, the six-time All-Star quipped, “No s–t, Sherlock. I just won a championship. You’d think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys [reporters] think I have something else to prove.”
For now, any extension seems unlikely as the Knicks mentioned they “will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.”
Other players like Josh Hart and Miles McBride are also up for extensions. The organization is maneuvering under owner James Dolan’s directive to stay within budget constraints.
Hart touched on the subject recently, suggesting he wouldn’t let contract talks distract him from the task at hand. The Knicks have a team option worth $22.3 million for Hart for the 2027-28 season.
“Obviously, we have high expectations,” Hart stated. “It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.”
Complicating matters, Towns faces a deadline of October 19 to decide whether to decline his $61 million player option for 2027-28. If he doesn’t, signing a contract extension with the Knicks during the regular season would be off the table, assuming talks resume.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve thought about it, because I never thought it would get to this point,” remarked Towns, who played a vital role in the Knicks’ championship run last June, averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in the playoffs. “But I think right now what’s best for our team is we just focus on the basketball.”
It seems Towns is aligned with the intention of concentrating on the upcoming season. Even though he desires a contract extension, he prioritizes the overarching goal of winning another championship.
“We’re all humans, but what I do say is true: My only philosophy since we won and the only thing I’ve had in my mind is how do we win another one,” he said. “For me, the same focus I came in this season with is the same focus I’ll go into Game 1 with: How do we keep the trophy in New York past just this one summer?”
