The New York Knicks, still considered playoff contenders, have faced mounting criticism over their deployment of star center Karl-Anthony Towns this season. Towns, who raised questions about his role under head coach Mike Brown at the start of the year, continues to appear underutilized despite solid individual efforts since the All-Star break. This issue came to a head following a February 24th loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, which intensified scrutiny on the Knicks’ coaching decisions and Towns’ on-court involvement.
In a contest where the Knicks aimed to secure a crucial victory over a key conference rival, the revamped Cavaliers maintained control, defeating New York by a score of 109-94. Towns’ limited offensive attempts during the game were notably troubling to analysts and former players alike.
Former Player Criticizes Knicks’ Approach to Towns’ Offensive Role
On February 25th, former NBA player Lou Williams shared his perspective during the Run It Back show, sharply criticizing the Knicks for not properly utilizing Towns during their loss to Cleveland. Williams emphasized how unexpected it was for the team’s second-best player to remain so inactive offensively in a critical matchup.
Your second-best player on the team, totally unacceptable. Especially in a game like this,
Williams said.
That’s something that Mike Brown and KAT, they need to look at each other and say we got to be better as a collective if we’re going to continue to move forward.
Williams further stated that Towns should have been more assertive in demanding shots, especially since he was the only Knick consistently scoring during the game.
NBA Insider Highlights Towns’ Limited Shooting Attempts Against the Cavs
Discussions surrounding Towns’ usage intensified on ESPN’s Get Up show, where NBA insider Tim MacMahon addressed the issue directly. MacMahon pointed out that Towns’ five shot attempts during the Cleveland game were surprisingly low for a player of his status as New York’s top offensive option behind Jalen Brunson.
It’s absolutely dumbfounding that KAT gets five shots,
MacMahon said.
You got to figure out a way to get this guy the ball. He needs to be more aggressive, his teammates got to find him, the coaches have to figure out a way to get him the ball.
MacMahon underscored the collective responsibility among players and coaches to involve Towns more in offensive possessions to optimize the Knicks’ scoring potential.
Impact of Coaching Changes on Towns’ Overall Productivity
The Knicks’ recent coaching transition has coincided with a sharp reduction in Towns’ offensive production. Currently, he is averaging a career-low 13.9 shot attempts per game, which corresponds to his fewest points per game since his rookie season, roughly 20.0 points. This decline is significant for a player renowned primarily for his scoring ability.
If the Knicks cannot resolve the disconnect between Towns and the coaching staff ahead of the playoffs, their chances of advancing far appear limited. The situation highlights an urgent need for alignment within the team to fully capitalize on Towns’ talents and improve postseason prospects.
It's "totally unacceptable" that Karl-Anthony Towns only took 5 shots vs. the Cavs, says Lou Williams 👎
Lou says KAT should've been "demanding" more shots when he was the only Knicks player making shots 🗣️@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/VazqSZXoVS
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 25, 2026
"It's absolutely dumbfounding that [Karl-Anthony Towns] gets five shots. … The coaches have to figure out a way to get him the ball."
—@BannedMacMahon on how the Knicks are using KAT 👀 pic.twitter.com/li0Bdo3jLg
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 25, 2026
