Karl-Anthony Towns gets crucial advice from former 6MOTY amid Mitchell Robinson's injury woes
The addition of Karl-Anthony Towns to an already star-studded New York Knicks roster makes this team one of the favorites in the East going into the 2024/25 season. The 7-foot forward/center is one of the NBA's elite scorers and can also play defense at a high level.
According to former Sixth Man of the Year Eddie Eddie Johnson, however, there is one aspect of the game Towns will have to control. Johnson played 17 seasons in the NBA and understands what it takes to succeed in the league. Speaking with Justin Termine on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Johnson had one crucial piece of advice for the Knicks' newly acquired All-Star.
"That's the one thing that he's got to guard against ... He has got to learn to play and be negotiable on when he fouls," said Johnson.
Karl-Anthony Towns had five fouls in his first preseason game with the Knicks against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Johnson believes it is an area of his game where he will need to be more disciplined.
The Knicks have a long list of talented guards and small forwards on the roster with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne all set to feature next season. When it comes to their big men, however, the team remains a little light.
Reports confirmed that 7-foot center/forward Mitchell Robinson will be out until at least January with an ankle injury. German-American center Josh Hartenstein also moved on this offseason, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder in a lucrative three-year deal.
If the Knicks hope to have any hopes of breaking their long-standing 51-year championship drought, they will need Karl-Anthony Towns to contribute some significant minutes next season.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns impresses in his Madison Square Garden debut
There was a lot of buzz when the New York Knicks secured a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns this offseason and the four-time NBA All-Star did not disappoint in his first game at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks tipped off their preseason on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. In a dominant 117-94 display, Towns was the standout player for New York. The center finished with a game-high 25 points on 7-20 shooting and made 10 of his 11 free throws. He was also a key contributor on the defensive end with 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal.
Towns is considered one of the league's most talented centers. If he can continue to produce the way that he did at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, the Knicks should be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.