Knicks Star Predicted to Set Career High

The New York Knicks could unlock a new part of a star's game.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 23, 2024

Oct 22, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives the ball against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns made his official debut against the Boston Celtics, but it wasn't quite what the former No. 1 overall pick had in mind.

Towns scored just 12 points in 24 minutes as the Knicks were blown out 132-109 against the Celtics in Boston. During the game, Towns only took two threes, but Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale believes that should change as the season rolls along.

"Towns' career high will be reset this year. It almost has to be. His threat level from beyond the arc is among the bedrocks upon which the New York Knicks' five-out hopes are built," Favale writes. "Sure, there will be room—and perhaps a demand—for him to sponge up traditional-hub reps. And you definitely want him attacking off over-aggressive closeouts and beelining toward the basket after screening for Jalen Brunson. But given the amount of minutes he'll play beside the Knicks' MVP, Towns will invariably be saddled with spacing around JB's probing inside the arc."

Towns, who turns 29 next month, averages 4.3 shots from beyond the 3-point line in his career. In the 2020-21 campaign, Towns shot 6.3 attempts from distance per game. That's a number that could change this season.

The Knicks shot just 30 threes compared to the Celtics' 61, and Boston tied an NBA record with 29 makes from distance.

Ultimately, 30 shots from beyond the perimeter won't cut it in today's NBA, but that's why having Towns is so important. He is one of the best floor-spacing big men in the league's history, and that's a big part of the reason why the Knicks traded for him in the first place.

If the Knicks don't unlock that aspect from Towns' game, they are wasting him and his talents.

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Published Oct 23, 2024

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.