Karl-Anthony Towns Frustrated By Knicks Extension Talks

Speaking to reporters after shootaround on Monday morning, Towns expressed skepticism about signing an extension before the 2026/27 season begins.

“It don’t look good,” Towns said.

ESPN reported a couple weeks ago that talks between the Knicks and the former No. 1 overall pick have “stagnated” and that a deal is unlikely to be completed in the short term. Subsequent reporting suggested the two sides might be “eight figures apart on an annual basis.”

The maximum Towns is currently eligible to receive would be a four-year deal worth a projected $276MM. That would require the 30-year-old big man, who will make $57.1MM this season, to decline his $61MM option for 2027/28. If Towns were to test free agency next summer, the max a rival team could offer would be a projected $264.9MM over four years.

Towns suggested Monday that he’s open to taking less than the max, but indicated he feels disrespected by New York’s current offer after playing a key role in helping the team win its first championship in 53 years.

“Simply put, I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said, per Edwards. “None of those things have come close to happening.”

Stefan Bondy of The New York Post hears the Knicks have offered the three-time All-NBA center around $200MM over four years. Ian Begley of SNY.tv previously reported that the Knicks had offered Towns an extension starting in the range of $45-50MM annually.

Owner James Dolan declared shortly after the team won the title that he was determined to avoid the second tax apron this season. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will be eligible for their own extensions next offseason and it would be nearly impossible to keep the starting lineup together in future seasons unless Dolan changes his mind or players are willing to take significant pay cuts.

According to Bondy, when a reporter asked Towns if he thought it would’ve been easy to reach a new deal given the team’s recent success, Towns replied, “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.”