The New York Knicks’ 2024-25 season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers. Even though they didn’t make it to the Finals, it was a big year for the team, as Karl-Anthony Towns helped lead them to the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
The last time New York advanced that far was in 2000, when they also faced the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, who sent them home and pushed Indiana to the NBA Finals. The same script repeated itself in 2025, but Towns said that reaching that stage still made the year a success.
- Karl-Anthony Towns helped lead the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, averaging 24.4 points and a career-high 12.8 rebounds per game.
- On Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, Towns revealed how watching Melo’s “magical moments” as a child inspired him to write his own history in Madison Square Garden.
- Despite the deep playoff run, former champion Kendrick Perkins believes Towns faces major pressure in Year 2 to improve conditioning and defensive play if the Knicks want to contend for a title.
Towns Shares How Carmelo Anthony Inspired His First Knicks Year
On Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, Towns expressed how meaningful the season felt in his first year in New York.
“It’s special, you know. You never know that in 5 months you would get to the Conference Finals. Something that hasn’t been done in 25 years,” Towns shared.
The Knicks’ postseason included a memorable second-round series against the Boston Celtics. After defeating Boston in six games, Towns described the reaction in New York as unforgettable.
“They was lit, I ain’t gonna lie. To see them after that Boston Celtics series, that was special,” he said.
Critics argue that Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which forced him to miss the final two games, played a part in Boston’s downfall. However, the Knicks were already close to taking control of the series before the injury occurred, and they closed out the matchup efficiently. For Towns, the victory was a personal highlight.
“It was something that, you know, you watch it on TV. Watching you play, and to be a part of that history is something that I could’ve never thought,” he continued, speaking directly to Carmelo Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony’s Influence on Towns’ Knicks Experience
Towns said that Carmelo Anthony’s career inspired his dream of playing for the Knicks one day. On the podcast, he told Anthony how much watching him at Madison Square Garden meant to him as a young fan.
“I mean, when I was growing up, I was watching you play. So, it was like seeing you in the garden. Seeing the magical moments you made and everything, and kind of being able to make my own history there,” Towns said.
Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star across his career with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, never won an MVP or a championship, but he was consistently recognized for his scoring ability and clutch performances. Towns explained how those “magical moments” he watched growing up motivated him to step into the Garden and create memories of his own.
There’s already a clear difference between what each has done in New York. Anthony never made it to the Eastern Conference Finals with the Knicks, but Towns reached that round in just his first season with the team.
At the same time, oddsmakers adjusted their futures boards following New York’s deep playoff run and offseason changes. According to ESPN BET, the Knicks are +800 to win the 2026 NBA Championship and +270 to win the Eastern Conference. At BetMGM, New York is +850 to win the title, with a regular-season win total of 53.5 (Over +100 / Under -120). BetMGM’s tracker shows the Knicks opened at +900 and have since improved to +750. Covers lists New York with +900 opening odds for the championship, while Sports Illustrated reported the Knicks at +750 on June 22.
For individual markets, OddsShark data from FanDuel on August 15 placed Karl-Anthony Towns at +40,000 to win MVP and +4,000 to win Finals MVP.
Towns’ First-Year Numbers with New York Knicks
Statistically, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered one of the most complete seasons of his career. Across 72 games, he averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.
His 12.8 rebounds per game were the most he’s ever had in a season, and his contributions earned him his fifth All-Star appearance and a place on the All-NBA Third Team.
Those numbers carried into the playoffs, where he and Jalen Brunson drove the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals. For New York fans, it was the deepest playoff journey in a generation and a reminder of the city’s passion for basketball.
Kendrick Perkins Comments on Towns’ Expectations for 2025–26
As Towns prepares for his second season in New York, attention has shifted from celebration to expectation. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins spoke on ESPN’s NBA Today, placing Towns under the spotlight.
“When you talk about players, which players are under the most pressure to deliver, that’s Karl-Anthony Towns,” Perkins said. “Like it’s time for him to deliver. It’s been a lot of criticism when it comes down to Luka Doncic and what he did defensively, and being in shape. Well, KAT falls in that category.”
Perkins praised Towns’ offensive skillset while challenging him to improve his defense and conditioning.
“KAT is a walking bucket. He’s one of one. Arguably the best shooting big we’ve ever seen. He’s really, really skilled, but that’s not what he needs to correct. He needs to correct his ability to get up and down the floor, be able to slide those puppies, because he was getting cooked in the big role.”
Despite his critiques, Perkins acknowledged Towns’ offensive dominance, particularly his ability to space the floor alongside Jalen Brunson.
Knicks’ Potential Adjustments and Outlook
According to lineup data, in 140 non-garbage time possessions with Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward and Mitchell Robinson on the floor, New York outscored opponents by 19 points per 100 possessions, a sign that a two-big lineup could ease some of Towns’ defensive burdens.
Still, the challenge remains steep. Experts pointed out that the 2024-25 season may have been the Knicks’ best opportunity to capture the East, as they entered the Pacers series with home-court advantage but lost the first two games at Madison Square Garden.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to rebound from their own playoff exit, the Orlando Magic showed major improvement, and the Boston Celtics will eventually recover and reload.
For Karl-Anthony Towns, turning 30 soon means the window for championship contention is narrowing. His first season gave Knicks fans hope and rekindled the energy of Madison Square Garden, but the pressure for him to deliver a title has only just begun.
