After weeks of uncertainty searching for rhythm in Mike Brown’s new offensive system, Karl-Anthony Towns may have finally found his groove.
Towns erupted for 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Knicks‘ 119-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday. Brown said his All-Star center is starting to find his way.
“KAT was a monster. He was a monster on the glass, he was really good defensively, he was a monster inside, outside,” the coach said. “He’s starting to feel and find his rhythm in what we’re trying to do.”
Towns scored 16 points in the first half and closed with 14 more in the fourth quarter, powering the Knicks to their second straight victory. He was less ready to declare himself fully back, preferring to credit the collective progress.
“Really, we’re all figuring it out. Getting better every day, understanding what our roles are and what we’ve got to do,” Towns said. “It’s good, we’ve got two wins in a row but we’re obviously still a work in progress.”
“It’s a process, and it’s not always gonna be this,” Brown added. “You do this every once in a while, hopefully you don’t this for long and get back on track. KAT’s trying to find his way, and he’s done a great job with it.”
The performance — even against a one-win Wizards team — was significant. Towns’ 33 points in just 30 minutes marked his first 30-point outing in the new-look Knicks offense. It was also his most efficient night of the season: 12-of-24 from the field and 3-of-8 from three, his first game shooting 50 percent or better.
“It’s big time,” said teammate Jordan Clarkson, who faced Towns often in the Western Conference and again in the FIBA World Cup — Clarkson for the Philippines, Towns for the Dominican Republic. “Just seeing how skilled he is and talented on the offensive end. And what he brings defensively. He’s a big piece to what we do. It’s great seeing him kill tonight and keep going.”
Brown said Towns’ breakout was both overdue and expected. The early-season inconsistency, he explained, was a byproduct of circumstance: injuries, lineup shuffling, and the challenge of learning a complex offense built around pace, spacing, and read-based decisions.
“I’m telling you, there’s a lot of room there to grow, not just for him but for us around him,” Brown said. “Starting with me and us to continue learning the different points or parts of what we’re trying to do offensively. He’s a monster.”
Towns entered the game averaging 18 points through six contests, his frustrations spilling out after a 2-of-12 shooting night in the Oct. 28 loss to Milwaukee. Brown has said Towns would always need more time to acclimate than others because his responsibilities require learning all five positions — a reflection of how central he is to the new system.
“I didn’t quite have as good a feel because guys had been out,” Brown said. “Trying to play this guy, that guy. It starts with me and I have gotten better and they’ve just gotten more comfortable. KAT’s just gotten more comfortable as time has gone on.”
When asked whether he had a direct conversation with Towns after that loss, Brown said communication with his players is constant.
“I talk to all my guys, not just KAT in particular. I try to communicate with them as much as I can about every little thing that’s out there, and my door is always open, so if they have questions or thoughts or comments, they come talk to me,” he said. “It wasn’t just me specifically talking to KAT. Did I talk with KAT? Yeah, but I also talked to OG [Anunoby], I talked to Josh [Hart]. I’m in constant communication with all of them.”
