Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks nowhere close to coming to terms on an extension according to the big man
The honeymoon period officially ended after Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks won the NBA championship.
Just four months earlier, Downs had achieved a two-to-two score during the Knicks championship, and he believed that renewal negotiations for this off-season would not be under pressure. KAT was not only a key figure in keeping the Knicks dominant in the playoffs, but he also expressed willingness to accept discounts.
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Nevertheless, the Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns don‘t seem to have reached an agreement, at least not yet.
On April 25, 2026, Karl-Anthony Towns, player number 32 of the New York Knicks, watched the game before a match against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the fourth game at the Atlanta State Farm Stadium, Georgia. Users are advised: By downloading and/or using this image, you expressly acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
According to The Athletic, Downs told reporters before the Knicks‘ pre-season game in Philadelphia on Monday: “I want to do something to keep the team united, to be able to work with the Knicks, and to value me at the same time.” “And none of these things have happened yet.”
When asked if he believed he would sign a renewal contract before the regular games began, Downs said bluntly, “It doesn‘t look good.”
On March 11, 2026, New York Knicks number 32 player Karl-Anthony Towns watched the game ahead of the Utah Jazz game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The former Kentucky star‘s contract will last until the 2027-28 season, but he was eligible for a four-year $277 million renewal in August.
According to the New York Post, the Knicks had already offered the six-time All-Star player a four-year contract worth about $200 million, and according to KAT‘s comments, he seemed uninterested in signing a contract worth $77 million less than what he was entitled to.
Because of the high salaries, the Knicks face a second landing strip, and the goalkeeper Jaron Brunson is eligible for the longest renewal in 2028 (he is likely to get this contract), which puts pressure on New York management to find a way to keep Downs, Josh Hart, and others not only on the payroll, but happily on the books.
Currently, Downs does not fall into the category of happy employment.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks interacted with fans during the New York Knicks 2026 championship parade and ceremony held in New York City on June 18, 2026. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, winning their first NBA championship in 53 years.
When asked if he thought he should be rewarded for helping the Knicks win last season, he didn‘t hold back.
“No, Sherlock. I just won the championship,” Downs said. “You‘d think that would be easy. Unless you [journalists] think I have something else to prove.”
Downs was eligible to sign a renewal contract before June, and the Knicks‘ season didn‘t start until October 20th. They still had time to reach an agreement, but it was clear that the big guy needed to see bigger sums to complete the task.