The Karl-Anthony Towns Extension Question

With the start of the 2026-27 campaign beginning to creep closer, there are still a few unanswered questions in KnicksLand.

How will the Knicks round out their roster? Will they use the 14th spot to add a big man? If so, which one? Or will they trade one of their guards to fill the hole in the middle behind KAT?

​Yet, the most impactful/consequential decision is how Karl-Anthony Towns will be paid in future years, not who will back him up next season.

​The new NBA league year began on July 6th at 12:01 p.m. ET. At that point, the league lifted the transaction freeze, allowing teams to officially sign free agents and finalize trades. This was also the day more than 100 players became eligible to extend their contracts.

​KAT was included among that group of newly extension-eligible players.

​Some grumbled that the Knicks overpaid when they acquired him from Minnesota in October 2024, but the big man proved his worth many times over during a two-month run towards a title this past Spring.

Towns struggled with his three-point stroke early in the year; yet, despite what some considered a “down year,” KAT still averaged 20/12/3. He joined Nikola Jokic as the only two players in NBA history to average 20+ points (on over 50% shooting), 11+ rebounds, 3+ dimes, and 1.5 made threes in consecutive seasons. ​

​Some more context on that “down year.” Towns finished the 2025-26 regular season with:

* More rebounds than Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama
* More steals than Evan Mobley or Rudy Gobert
* More double-doubles than everyone in the NBA
* More assists than Anthony Edwards or Isaiah Hartenstein
* More points than Stephen Curry or LaMelo Ball
* More made 3-pointers than Andrew Nembhard or Nikola Vučević
* A higher plus/minus than Jaylen Brown or Donovan Mitchell

​Then, once the Knicks asked KAT to serve as the team’s offensive hub early in the Hawks series, New York took off and never returned to earth, winning 15 of their final 16 playoff games.

His overall averages took a hit in the Finals thanks to foul trouble (and some questionable whistles), but Towns still closed the 2026 playoffs averaging 15.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.4 threes while shooting over 55% from the floor, 45.5 from behind the arc and 90.9% from the charity stripe.

​He posted these insanely efficient offensive numbers while also playing the best, most impactful defense of his career.

​For context, consider this: In the 182 possessions in which KAT was the primary defender on Victor Wembanyama in the Finals, Wemby shot just 39% (16-for-41 FGs), including 1-of-5 from deep. And Wembanyama had more than twice as many turnovers (9) as assists (4).

​And, per Basketball-Reference, KAT is the first and only player in NBA history to average more than 15 PPG while shooting above 55% from the field, above 45% from downtown and above 90% from the free-throw line over the course of a complete playoff run.

He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as just the third seven-footer ever to average at least 4.9 APG in a postseason (minimum 10 games played).

​Most importantly, the Knicks outscored their opponents by 258 points in the 577 minutes KAT was on the court this postseason.

​​Not only did that lead all players in plus/minus this postseason, but it’s the highest of all time!

Here’s the best individual +/- in a single postseason in NBA history:
​​1. Karl-Anthony Towns: +258 (2026)
2. Steph Curry: +244 (2017)
3. Jalen Brunson: +234 (2026)
4. Draymond Green: +227 (2017)
5. Kobe Bryant: +213 (2001)
6. LeBron James: +210 (2016)
7. Kevin Durant: +206 (2018)

​Clearly, KAT has plenty of leverage heading into negotiations this summer.

However, that doesn’t mean the Knicks will (or should) be willing to offer him the maximum.

​Towns has two years left on the four-year, $224M super max extension he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July of 2022.

​He is guaranteed $57.1 million during the upcoming 2026-27 season. The final year of his current contract includes a player option worth $62.8 million.

​If KAT were to decline that option before the start of the 2027-28 season, he’d be eligible for a four-year, $272 million extension:

​Here’s what that would look like on an annual basis:

2026-27 (age 31 season): $57.1 million
2027-28 (age 32): $60.4 million
2028-29 (age 33): $65.2 million
2029-30 (age 34): $70.4 million
2030-31 (age 35): $76.0 million

​KAT could also choose to exercise the ‘27-28 option and then extend for an additional three years and $208 million (which would be an even higher AAV, approximately $69.3 million annually).