Karl-Anthony Towns Names Knicks Forward Who Got 'Robbed' on NBA All-Defensive Team Voting

However, the reaction came shortly after his teammate delivered another strong two-way performance. Anunoby finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while spending most of the night defending stars like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

That said, the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team featured Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, and Derrick White. The Knicks star forward instead landed on the second team alongside Scottie Barnes, Bam Adebayo, Dyson Daniels, and Cason Wallace.

Despite the second-team nod, Anunoby’s importance to New York has been impossible to ignore throughout the postseason. Alongside his scoring, he has consistently taken on the toughest defensive assignments while helping fuel the Knicks’ current 10-game playoff winning streak.

Karl-Anthony Towns Credits Teammate For Complimenting Roster Adjustment

The Knicks looked far from a finished product earlier this season. Questions about chemistry, a new coaching philosophy, and offensive balance followed the team for months as head coach Mike Brown attempted to reshape the roster around a more collective identity. 

Now, with New York sitting one win away from the NBA Finals, those early struggles appear to have turned into one of the team’s biggest strengths.

Following the Knicks’ Game 3 victory over the Cavaliers, Karl-Anthony Towns credited both Brown and the locker room for learning how to complement one another throughout the season.

“He’s had to learn us and had to adjust to us and then, on the flip side, we’ve had to do the same as well,” he told reporters. “I think now we’re at a point where we’re both working seamlessly. We understand each other’s language.”

Additionally, Towns also praised the coaching staff for remaining flexible rather than forcing players into uncomfortable roles.