The New York Knicks are finally starting to find their footing after a shocking 0-3 start to the season after taking down the Brooklyn Nets 103-90 on November 2 and one major player has had a historic start to the season to help make that happen.

Karl-Anthony Towns, possibly the Knicks' most crucial player on the roster at this point considering the deficit of reliable big man talent on the team at this point, has turned in steady performance after steady performance this season. 

He's currently averaging 20.3 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the Knicks and he's started the season with a double-double in every single one of the Knicks' first seven games, the third-most double-doubles to start a season in Knicks history behind Charles Oakley in 1989 and Willis Reed in 1970.

But the way that Towns has impacted winning goes beyond simple stats and what he's shown he's willing to do for the team speaks to his own mindset and commitment to winning as well as a reflection of the team's mindset as a whole.

In his performance against the Nets, where Towns scored 11 points along with 16 rebounds and five assists, taking over the game with scoring wasn't where Towns' priorities lied. He made his impact on the game with his rebounding, including 15 defensive rebounds, and the defense he added to keep the Nets at bay.

For a player in the NBA, it can be hard at times to accept that their role on a team during any given game may not scoring. Any player in the NBA has proven that they can be elite on either end of the court by the sheer fact that they've made it to that level, and that confidence can make it hard to accept a particular kind of role.

Towns doesn't have that issue. He's shown that he's both willing and able to accept his role, no matter what it may be, and contribute to winning in any way that he can.

"You gotta impact winning every single day. I may not shoot the ball well every day, but I can damn sure impact winning every time I step on the court with this Knicks jersey on," Towns said (via NBA_NewYork on X). 

Towns can, of course, take over a game with his shooting and offensive abilities, but he can also do so much more in his game at this point in his career and while a player that can do a lot with their scoring is great, a player that can adapt to whatever the game demands of them is even better. 

That's where the pinnacle of Towns' talent lies and it's why the Knicks, despite their shaky start, still have a great chance to make it far in defending their NBA championship. A team full of players that understands their role is a hard to team to beat and if nothing else the Knicks, especially Towns, have a roster full of selfless players.