Karl-Anthony Towns has been a different player this postseason.
In the regular season, he averaged 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, shooting 50.1% from the field, 36.8% from three, and 85.8% from the free-throw line. In the playoffs, those numbers shifted to 17.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, with a blistering 58.7% field goal shooting, 48.3% from deep, and 89.7% from the line.
After a dominant 30-point victory, the New York Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Towns, often criticized as “soft,” has emerged as a vital interior force that many have underrated.
Compared to last season, when he averaged 16.9 shots and posted 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, his shot attempts dropped to 13.8 per game this season, and his scoring dipped by four points. Yet, his impact has grown exponentially. The most significant change: his playmaking.
While his regular-season assist average of 3.0 seemed unremarkable, his playoff assist number jumped to 6.6 per game—nearing the level of a typical starting guard. That’s an outlier for a center. Among playoff leaders, Towns ranks eighth in assists per game, trailing only guards and stars like Nikola Jokić, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum. He’s even ahead of primary ball-handlers like James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Jalen Brunson.
On the court, Towns is often used as a high-post playmaker, similar to Jokić or Draymond Green. While he hasn’t reached their level, he’s clearly embracing the role and executing it well.
Beyond offense, his defense has undergone a major upgrade. The “soft” label no longer applies. This postseason, Towns contests 15.3 shots per game, holding opponents to 6.4% less shooting overall and 5.8% less from three. He’s a legitimate defensive anchor.
Advanced stats underscore his dominance. Towns leads the playoffs with a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 30.8 and a Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of +14.0—both No. 1 in the league. When he’s on the floor, the Knicks score 125.4 points per 100 possessions while allowing just 100.5, a net rating of +24.9.
This season, Towns has transformed from an emotion-driven scorer who fluctuated with his shooting to a system-oriented executioner. He reads the game more intelligently, knowing when to shoot and when to create for teammates. That evolution is more valuable than any statistical outburst.
Now, the Knicks—a team built through years of calculated moves—are back in the Eastern Conference Finals, one step from the NBA Finals. With Towns’ efficient, high-IQ transformation, it’s getting harder to overlook this team’s ceiling.
So the question remains: If Towns keeps playing at this level, can the Knicks break through the East? And with a bit more optimism, could this be the year they bring the championship to New York?