New York Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns’ chance to define his Knicks legacy is here By Jared Schwartz Published April 14, 2026, 8:57 p.m. ET The Knicks need Karl-Anthony Towns to be a consistent dominant force against the Hawks and throughout the playoffs. Jason Szenes for New York Post The Knicks need KATlanta to reemerge all series against the Hawks.
There is perhaps more pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns than any other Knicks player.
Jalen Brunson, for the most part, is a known commodity. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges’ roles are pretty rigid, playing off Brunson and Towns’ lead. Coach Mike Brown earlier in the year explicitly set the pecking order — Brunson first, Towns second, everyone else after that.
Towns’ lows have been very low and his highs very high. The volatility in his performances has been a talking point all season. There have been times when he only winds up with a handful of shots and you hardly even notice his presence on the court — he’s even been benched at the end of a few games.
