Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns Denies Rumor About Treatment for Knee, Finger Injuries
New York Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns denied Tuesday that he was treated for knee and finger injuries during the offseason, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported in June that Towns underwent "treatment on his bruised left knee and to repair ligament damage on his left finger."
Shelburne added that Towns suffered both injuries during the Knicks' playoff run. He reportedly injured his finger in Game 3 of New York's second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics and his knee during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Sources told Shelburne that after the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in the ECF, Towns "chose to immediately have procedures so he would have the most time possible to recover before next season."
After spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick was traded to the Knicks last offseason.
The change of scenery was seemingly just what the doctor ordered for KAT, as he enjoyed his best offensive season since 2021-22 by averaging 24.4 points per game and shooting 52.6 percent from the field.
He also recorded a career-high 12.8 rebounds per game to go along with 3.1 assists, 2.0 three-pointers made and 1.0 steal.
In addition to being named an All-Star for the fifth time, Towns secured his third career All-NBA Third Team selection, and he was a big reason why the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
The Knicks very much look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 along with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
They are returning the core of Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, plus the Knicks made some solid depth additions in the form of high-volume bench scorer Jordan Clarkson and forward Guerschon Yabusele, who shot 38.0 percent from beyond the arc last season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Pacers seem unlikely to contend this coming season since star guard Tyrese Haliburton is out with a torn Achilles and center Myles Turner left for the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.
The same goes for the Boston Celtics, as Jayson Tatum is likely to miss most or all of the 2025-26 campaign with a torn Achilles, plus Boston traded away center Kristaps Porziņģis and guard Jrue Holiday.
Assuming Towns and the rest of the Knicks' key players are healthy, the Cavs stand the best chance of standing in their way since they were the No. 1 seed in the East last season and return Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Plenty can happen between now and the end of the 2025-26 season, but barring some major injuries to important players, it is difficult to envision the Knicks being anything other than one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and a championship contender under new head coach Mike Brown.
