Karl-Anthony Towns Believes Knicks Are in Good Spot for Remainder of Season

Knicks star sees potential despite recent loss to Thunder

Mar. 5, 2026 at 6:23am

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Despite a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns remains optimistic about the team's chances for the rest of the season. Towns believes the Knicks are in a good position with only 20 games left, noting their ability to compete with the league's top teams like the Thunder.

Why it matters

The Knicks were expected to be a contender in the Eastern Conference this season, but have struggled to live up to those lofty preseason expectations so far. Towns' positive outlook on the team's current state and future potential could provide a much-needed boost of confidence as they look to turn their season around and make a deep playoff run.

The details

In a close game against the defending champion Thunder on Wednesday, the Knicks lost by just 3 points. Towns was encouraged by his team's competitiveness against a talented Oklahoma City squad led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. Though the Knicks are still a 'work in progress', Towns believes they are getting closer to becoming the best version of themselves with the season winding down.

  • The Knicks lost to the Thunder on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Karl-Anthony Towns

An All-Star center for the New York Knicks who remains optimistic about the team's chances for the rest of the season despite their recent close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Mike Brown

The head coach of the New York Knicks, who Towns believes can lead the team to great success this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who led his team to victory over the Knicks.

Chet Holmgren

The talented young forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who was part of the formidable duo that defeated the Knicks.

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What they’re saying

“I think we're in a good spot, especially with only 20 games left. For us to compete the way we did and be in the game we were, speaks to what we can do.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks Center (Instagram)

“We're still a work in progress, anyone can tell you that, but we're getting close to a time when we're the best versions of ourselves.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks Center (Instagram)

What’s next

The Knicks will look to build on their close loss to the Thunder and continue improving as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.

The takeaway

Despite their recent struggles, Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks remain confident in their ability to turn their season around and become a true contender in the Eastern Conference. Their competitiveness against the defending champion Thunder suggests the Knicks have the potential to exceed preseason expectations if they can find their groove in the final 20 games.