New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has cemented himself as one of the core pieces of a Knicks team that is competing for a championship. Recently, Towns took a moment to respond to some of his loudest critics.
Towns was traded to the Knicks from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle last offseason. In his first season with the Knicks, Towns averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game on his way to being named an All-Star and All-NBA. He was also crucial to the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the team’s first ECF appearance since 2000.
Towns recently commented on his defensive critics
However, as great as Towns was offensively, his defense has been the subject of much criticism. Towns’ ability to protect the rim hurt the Knicks tremendously throughout the regular season, so much so that a change was made to insert Mitchell Robinson — a much better rim protector — into the starting lineup next to Towns.
Towns recently spoke with TIME’s Sean Gregory about the criticism he’s received about his defense, and took a moment to defend himself perhaps.
“All criticism is good criticism,” Towns said. “It gives me a chance to go back in the lab and then understand what I’ve got to work on. Every year I’ve shown the fans and the sports world and NBA world that I’m always continuing to find another level, reinventing myself for the betterment of the team’s success. And I’m going to continue to do that until I have the ring.”
Towns will look to have a much bigger impact defensively next season for the Knicks, as they enter the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, looking to earn their first title since 1973.
