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Karl-Anthony Towns Takes Blame for Knicks Struggles

The New York Knicks are struggling, and Karl-Anthony Towns feels responsible.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 4, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after a play during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after a play during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns has had flashes of brilliance in his first few games with the team. However, he is perhaps a little critical of himself and knows that he can give more and perform at a higher level.

For someone who was just recently blindsided by a trade from the team that drafted him No. 1 overall nine years ago, Towns is due for an adjustment period. However, he doesn't quite see it that way.

Towns emphasized where he feels he has been falling short and what he can do to help the team get out of its current funk.

“I’ve got to do a better job getting the rebounds, instilling the energy from the start," Towns said h/t Posting and Toasting. "We came out sluggish. One of the things I’ve got to always do is instill energy into the game, and I came out sluggish. I take responsibility and accountability for that. These guys work extremely hard. Our guards are working tremendously hard every night with the matchups with the way we are playing defense. I’ve got to do better.”

So far this season, Towns is averaging 23.1 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. Only Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis average more rebounds per game than Towns, so to hear that he can do even more on the boards could make him the best rebounder in the NBA if he gets to that point.

The Knicks have won just three of their first seven games this season, so that's also part of why Towns may be more critical of himself.

A sign of a good teammate is to point the finger at himself before others, and perhaps Towns' self-reflection will inspire his fellow Knicks to do the same. That collective effort towards getting better will get the Knicks out of this early-season struggle.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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