Karl-Anthony Towns Assures He Wants to Stay With Knicks Amid Contract Talks

On the same night the New York Knicks raised their championship banner at Madison Square Garden, center Karl-Anthony Towns spoke with ESPN's Malika Andrews before tip-off about his contract.

Andrews asked about reports that Towns would be willing to take less than the max to keep the group together, and he told her he would, adding that keeping everyone in New York has always been his main priority and that a max deal was never even on his mind.

Towns gave his reason in his talk with Andrews before the opener, saying "I want this team to stay together."

That is the clearest sign yet of where he stands, and it comes from a player who sounded disappointed with how the talks were going earlier this month.

Towns is in the third year of the four-year, $220.4 million extension he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Spotrac lists his salary at a little more than $57 million this season, with a player option worth about $61 million for 2027-28.

According to ESPN, he has been eligible since the NBA Finals ended in June for a four-year, $276 million extension that would run through the 2030-31 season, but sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the Knicks' latest offer was a four-year deal worth about $200 million.

ESPN reported that a max deal for Towns would bring major second apron concerns for a team whose owner, James Dolan, has shown no interest in going there.

The Knicks also put out a statement on Friday, Oct. 9, saying they would not negotiate extensions until later in the season, which put talks with Towns and forward Josh Hart on hold.

ESPN also reported that Towns can still sign a four-year extension through June 30 because he is technically in the final year of his contract.

The game itself did not go the Knicks' way, as the Philadelphia 76ers won 106-100 after New York received its championship rings and watched the banner go up.

Towns finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in just under 24 minutes, guard Jalen Brunson led the team with 21 points, and Brunson later saw a lesson in the loss.

What Towns said before the game meant more to me than the final score.

ESPN called him a vital part of the 2026 title team, and I have no doubt the Knicks should find a way to keep him, because a player who says a max was never on his mind is giving the front office room to meet him in the middle.

The space between $200 million and $276 million is still big, but Towns no longer seems to be asking for the whole thing, and I would hate to see the front office let this chance slip away.

Waiting until later in the season is fine with me if both sides keep the tone Towns set on Tuesday, and his case will only get stronger if he keeps playing like he did against Philadelphia, starting Friday when New York visits the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.