Knicks getting first-hand look at Karl-Anthony Towns’ passing prowess
NY Post
Karl-Anthony Towns had his back to the basket on the left block with big-bodied Andre Drummond nestling in behind him, when he flipped a no-look pass to cutting teammate Mikal Brides for an uncontested layup during Tuesday’s victory in Philadelphia.
As if they didn’t already know it, the Knicks have learned over his first 10 games with the team that Towns is a wondrous offensive player, including a deft passing touch for a 7-footer.
“He just sees the game,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who also coached Towns earlier in his career in Minnesota. “I think that experience has taught him a lot, and I think that’s his skill set — because of the way he can shoot, and then he’s comfortable away from the basket.
“He can put [the ball] on the floor, but if you cut and you’re open, he’s gonna hit you. And guys, they tend to cut a lot harder if they know they’ll get the ball. His all-around game is terrific. And he’s a lot stronger now than he was seven, eight years ago. So just the overall growth, understanding the league, [his] skill set just sets up everything.”
The four-time All-Star center’s assist numbers actually are down this season entering Wednesday’s game against the Bulls. Towns is averaging 2.7 assists over his first 10 appearances following the offseason trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves. It marks his lowest output in that category since he registered 2.4 per game in 2017-18; he had posted a career high of 4.8 assists as recently as 2022-23.
But his 1.8 turnovers through the Knicks’ 5-5 start also represents the lowest total of his career.
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