KAT: 'Don't look good' for Knicks deal before regular season

• ESPN

Oct 5, 2026, 12:48 PM ET

The New York Knicks take the court for their first preseason game Monday night, but one of the key players in last year's championship run remains at odds with the team over a contract extension.

"It don't look good," Karl-Anthony Towns said Monday of getting a new contract in place before the start of the regular season.

Towns is eligible for a four-year deal worth over $276 million. He is due $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for next season.

A six-time All-Star, Towns was a catalyst for the Knicks' playoff run last season, averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists as New York won the title with a five-game Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Does that mean the Knicks should reward Towns for his hand in ending a 53-year title drought?

"No s---, Sherlock," Towns said. "I just won a championship. You'd think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys (reporters) think I have something else to prove."

Knicks owner James Dolan has said the team will not go into the second apron, which means tough decisions will need to be made. New York did not re-sign backup center Mitchell Robinson this offseason. Robinson, who was the longest-tenured Knick on last year's team, signed with the Boston Celtics.

Towns says he's aware of the challenges of maintaining a championship core, but says in his estimation the team has not done enough to 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."