Karl-Anthony Towns played an integral role in bringing home the New York Knicks’ 2026 NBA championship, the franchise’s first in 53 years.
Still, after his co-star Jalen Brunson took a staggering pay cut in 2024 to lay the groundwork for their title run, Towns is reportedly not expected to receive the maximum four-year, $272 million contract extension he is eligible for.
The latest speculation from The Athletic’s Knicks insider James L. Edwards III divided the NBA world, with New York’s forward-thinking team-building approach taking center stage.
NBA World Split on Whether Knicks Should Offer Karl-Anthony Towns $272 Million Max Contract
Brunson’s stunning decision to leave $113 million on the table by signing a $156.5 million extension with New York in 2024 was perceived as a massive gamble at the time.
Fortunately for Brunson and the Knicks, it paid off big time, allowing them to build arguably the league’s most balanced starting five, which defied the odds en route to this year’s unexpected championship triumph. Brunson also far outperformed his deal, delivering superstar-caliber production throughout the 2026 playoffs.
As has become commonplace under the league’s modern-day luxury tax restrictions, New York’s title celebrations quickly shifted to conversations about cost-cutting. The biggest casualty was the Knicks’ longest-tenured player, Mitchell Robinson, who joined the Boston Celtics this offseason on a three-year, $47.4 million deal after Leon Rose and Co. opted not to enter the second apron to retain him.
In his Thursday piece outlining the “pros and cons” of New York awarding Towns a max extension, Edwards described the six-time All-Star as “the 7-foot elephant in the room.” The insider then expressed doubt that the organization would shell out for his next contract despite his postseason rebounding, floor spacing, high-post facilitation, and physical defense immortalizing him in Knicks history.
“Towns is eligible for a four-year, $272 million contract extension. That is the most that the soon-to-be 31-year-old can receive from the Knicks. Towns was extension eligible last offseason. However, nothing came to fruition between the two sides. Towns will make just over $57 million this coming season and has a player option worth just over $61 million the following year before his contract expires,” Edwards wrote.
“One thing I’m certain of is that New York’s decision-makers will offer Towns an extension. What I’m not certain of, and don’t expect, is whether the cash-conscious Knicks will offer him a max contract.”
Edwards added that while “Towns has done everything to warrant getting the most money possible,” the Knicks’ “decision-makers have earned the right to be as flexible as possible because doing so led to a title in the same way Towns’ play did.”
Given the nuanced nature of the situation, the NBA community on X was firmly split on Towns’ worthiness of a max extension.
“Letting a top 5 offensive center play out his contract for cap flexibility is how a team talks itself out of a title window. KAT is still one of the most unguardable scoring bigs in the league. The Knicks are choosing spreadsheets over trying to win now,” one user reacted.
Letting a top 5 offensive center play out his contract for cap flexibility is how a team talks itself out of a title window. KAT is still one of the most unguardable scoring bigs in the league. The Knicks are choosing spreadsheets over trying to win now.
— OC21 (@IAmOC21) August 6, 2026
“I get you have to pay Brunson above all, but they should pay KAT. In his two years, the Knicks have gone further than they have in 25 years,” another implored.
I get you have to pay Brunson above all but they should pay Kat. In his two years the Knicks have gone further than they have in 25 years
— Randy Oreens (@ItBegins2012) August 6, 2026
“It’s gon get real nasty in NY. Not that I agree with the mindset, but people gonna start thinking Gilbert Arenas or [Carmelo Anthony] not as crazy choosing money over rings,” one observer anticipated.
It’s gon get real nasty in NY. Not that I agree with the mindset but people gonna start thinking Gilbert arenas or melo not as crazy choosing money over rings
— s (@beastonthegreen) August 6, 2026
“Good. Paying Karl-Anthony Towns a max in 2026 would be a franchise disaster,” one user reasoned.
Good. Paying Karl-Anthony Towns a max in 2026 would be a franchise disaster
— Jameswhite 🇺🇸🦅 (@Realjameswhite0) August 6, 2026
“Right call. KAT is great, but $272 million is franchise-anchor money,” another concurred.
Meanwhile, one user predicted the Knicks would eventually dangle Towns as trade bait, just as the Minnesota Timberwolves did in 2024.
“They’ll trade him fosho,” the user wrote.
They’ll trade him Fosho https://t.co/FnkMqrZzo2
— PLATO (@Toadvenom063) August 6, 2026
Regardless, assuming the Knicks make no other major moves this summer, they are positioned as one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference again. If their championship momentum carries over into the 2026-27 season, perhaps committing max money to Towns could become more palatable for their front office.
