Karl-Anthony Towns and Knicks remain far apart on extension: “It don’t look good”

06/10/202608:47

The Knicks center expressed his frustration over the ongoing contract talks. New York’s latest offer is reportedly a four-year deal worth around $200 million, well below the more than $276 million maximum extension for which Towns is eligible.

Towns: “It don’t look good”

The New York Knicks are preparing to take the court for their first preseason game, but Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation remains unresolved.

The six-time All-Star addressed the possibility of reaching an agreement before the start of the regular season on Monday.

“It don’t look good,” Towns said when asked whether he expected to have a new contract in place before the season begins.

The gap between the Knicks’ offer and the maximum

Towns is eligible for a four-year extension worth more than $276 million. He is due $57 million this season and holds a $61.1 million player option for next season.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Knicks’ latest offer was a four-year deal worth approximately $200 million.

“I just won a championship”

Towns played a key role in the Knicks’ championship run last season. New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals, ending a 53-year championship drought.

Towns averaged 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the playoff run.

Asked whether winning the championship should be enough for the Knicks to reward him with a new contract, Towns responded bluntly.

“No s—, Sherlock. I just won a championship. You’d think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys [reporters] think I have something else to prove.”

Knicks focused on staying below the second apron

Knicks owner James Dolan has said the team will not go into the second spending apron, meaning difficult decisions will have to be made to keep the championship core together.

New York did not re-sign Mitchell Robinson during the offseason. Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick on last season’s roster, signed with the Boston Celtics.

Towns: “None of those things have come close to happening”

Towns acknowledged the challenges of maintaining a championship core but believes the Knicks have not done enough to find a compromise.

“Simply put, I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said. “None of those things have come close to happening.”