Karl-Anthony Towns said he was caught off guard when the Knicks announced two days prior that they were pausing extension negotiations, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. "It was news to me," Towns said Sunday. "Very disappointed, to say the least. Let's state the obvious: It's a business, but there is business..." The ellipsis in his quote suggests Towns had more to say on the subject, though the full remarks were not available from the reporting outlets.
Towns and the Knicks remain far apart on contract terms, according to Yahoo Sports, making a near-term resolution unlikely. ESPN reported that the Knicks' decision to table all extension talks until later in the season was the source of Towns' frustration—he learned of it through the team's public statement rather than direct communication.
The timing of the pause is notable given New York's recent form. The Knicks are 53–29 and in second place in the Atlantic Division, but they have lost their last game and two of their last three. A 111–109 loss to Washington on Thursday followed a 120–97 defeat at Philadelphia five days earlier. In 75 games this season, Towns has averaged 31.0 minutes and shot 50.1 percent from the field while attempting 13.8 shots per game, maintaining his role as a centerpiece of the offense.
Mon, Oct 12, 7:30 PM ET
The Knicks and Towns will have a chance to address the tension when New York hosts Minnesota on Monday. Whether the two sides use that opportunity to resume negotiations or let the matter sit until later in the season remains unclear from the available reporting.
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