Jalen Brunson Admits Karl-Anthony Towns Has Been ‘Phenomenal’ for New York Knicks on the Court and in the Locker Room

During an interview with NBA reporter D.J. Siddiqi of Games Hub, New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson spoke about big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks acquired Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the start of the 2024-25 season. Behind Towns and Brunson, New York made the conference finals last season for the first time since 2000.

“He’s been phenomenal for us, in the locker room has been great,” Jalen Brunson said about Karl-Anthony Towns. “On the court, he’s been great. The things that he’s been able to do in a short period of time being a Knick has been amazing. Having him as a teammate has been really fun. I think that gets overlooked how good of a teammate he is.

“Obviously, he’s a great player and what he does on the court. But the teammate he is and what he brings to the locker room for us is special. So I’m really happy to have him.”

Brunson and Towns made the All-Star team and All-NBA team last season. Brunson made the All-NBA Second Team, while Towns made the All-NBA Third Team.

When Siddiqi asked Brunson who Towns reminds him of, the guard said the power forward is “pretty much his own person.”

“Don’t think you can compare him,” Brunson said. “He shoots the ball so effortlessly, and he can make plays. He has great touch around the rim, so he’s pretty much his own person. He picks different games of styles of basketball, and kind of makes it into his own.”

The Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 conference finals in six games. Tom Thibodeau was fired as head coach and replaced by Mike Brown.

New York is expected to start Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Towns and Mitchell Robinson in 2025-26.