Karl-Anthony Towns on odds of contract extension before season: ‘It don’t look good’

Coming off an All-Star season in which he helped anchor the ‘Knicks’ run to a title — and made himself a New York legend in the process — Karl-Anthony Towns had hoped he and the Knicks could quickly agree on a contract extension.

Speaking Monday, Towns sounded frustrated and turned up the heat on the talks. Here is what he said, via Stephon Bondy of the New York Post.

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“Simply put, I want to do something to keep the team together and can work with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said Monday before the preseason opener. “And none of those things are close to happening.”

Will he have a new contract in place before the season starts?

“It don’t look good.”

It’s not new news that the contract talks between Towns and the Knicks have stalled, but Bondy now details just how far apart the sides are. Towns will make $57.1 million this season and has a player option for $61 million next season. He is extension eligible for up to four years and $276 million but has said he would take a discount off that number because he wants to stay in New York (the sides have until the end of the season to reach a deal).

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The Knicks have offered around four years, $200 million, according to Bondy. Not only is that $76 million his max, but also the average annual salary of $50 million in the Knicks offer is asking him to take a pay cut off what he is making this season — coming off a title.

The Knicks see a financial crunch on the horizon under the NBA’s luxury tax and apron system. Starting in 2028-29, there very likely will be a Jalen Brunson extension — don’t expect another $113 million discount there — and that’s also when a Josh Hart extension would start, and an OG Anunoby extension could begin. Keeping all of them will be somewhere between difficult and impossible.

Towns feels he has earned his payday, coming off a season where he averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Towns was asked whether he felt he should be rewarded for his role leading the Knicks to a title. His response?

“No s***, Sherlock.”

That sums up where things are with Towns and the Knicks pretty well.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/karl-anthony-towns-odds-contract-174800414.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-05 17:48:00

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