Knicks HC Reveals How He Unlocked Karl-Anthony Towns

"It's showing a little bit, he's obviously putting in the work, which you want all your guys to do, but it's a two-way street, and it's good to see him playing at the level he's playing at right now," Brown continued.

That level is a lot better than what it was in January. Towns averaged just 15.9 points on 42.3% shooting that month, a noticeable fall from the 22.3 points and 52.4% he shot in December. The criticism came fast then. Every bad loss had his name on it.

Karl-Anthony Towns Stats in March 2026 Show a Clear Turnaround

Since March began, Towns has been a different player. He put up a double-double in all ten games this month, averaging 21.7 points and 13.3 rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor. He also leads the NBA in double-doubles this season with 51.

Some of the cleaner performances came against lower league teams.

He scored 26 and pulled 16 rebounds in a 145-113 blowout of the Washington Wizards. Against the Brooklyn Nets, a team sitting near the bottom of the East, he had 26 points and 15 rebounds in a tight 93-92 win. He also put up 21 and 11 in a 138-89 beating of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wins like those matter for seeding. The Knicks are now 48-25 and within a whisker of the Boston Celtics for second in the East. Having Towns step up and handle business against lower-ranked teams has kept New York moving in the right direction.

The credit goes both ways. Towns put in the work, but Brown meeting him halfway is exactly what a good coaching relationship looks like. With the playoffs approaching, the Knicks need both of them on the same page.