Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, a centerpiece in New York’s championship season, is not optimistic a contract extension will be finalized before the season opens in two weeks.
Towns, 30, is owed $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for 2027-28. He is eligible for a four-year extension worth a maximum of $276 million.
“It don’t look good,” the six-time All-Star told reporters Monday about the odds of signing a new deal before the Knicks’ Oct. 20 season opener.
In last season’s playoffs, Towns averaged 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists as the Knicks halted a 53-year title drought by taking down the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals.
“I just won a championship,” Towns said. “You’d think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys (reporters) think I have something else to prove.”
The Knicks will not go into the second spending apron, according to owner James Dolan, and chose not to re-sign backup center Mitchell Robinson in the offseason. Robinson signed with the division rival Boston Celtics.
Towns understands keeping the core of a championship team intact is no easy feat, but feels he deserves his fair share.
“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.”
Entering his third season with the Knicks after nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Towns has career averages of 22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 720 games (all starts). The three-time third-team All-NBA selection was the No. 1 overall pick by Minnesota in the 2015 NBA Draft.
