New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has confirmed that Karl-Anthony Towns will begin the 2025–26 season as the team’s starting power forward.
According to The New York Post’s Zach Braziller, Brown explained that the decision to slide Towns to the four spot was driven by lineup balance and defensive length. “The second [part] is just the length, the length on the floor is just unbelievable, when you’re playing KAT at the 4, playing OG [Anunoby] at the 3, Mikal [Bridges] at the 2,” Brown said. “That’s a big, long team, with a lot of interchangeable parts.”
The move gives New York one of the league’s most versatile frontcourts, with Mitchell Robinson expected to be the starting center. Brown believes the combination of Towns’ shooting and Robinson’s rim protection provides an ideal inside-out dynamic.
Offensively, Brown noted that spacing and rebounding will be key advantages of the new alignment. “It just gives you a different look,” he said. “You’d think that group should be able to offensive rebound at a high level, which is one of our staples.”
Towns, a three-time All-Star, averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds last season. Known for his perimeter shooting, he has connected on 40.0 percent of his career three-point attempts, making him one of the NBA’s most reliable floor-spacing big men. His fit alongside Robinson could create mismatches for opposing defenses that struggle to defend both inside and outside threats simultaneously.
Brown also spoke highly of Robinson’s ability to anchor the defense while adapting to the team’s faster tempo. “First of all, he’s a great runner. Not a good runner, a great runner,” Brown said. “We don’t wanna do it most of the time, we wanna do it all the time. Having said that, you know Mitch is a vertical threat. He might be the best vertical threat I’ve been around.”
To prepare for Brown’s up-tempo system, Robinson reportedly altered his offseason routine, emphasizing conditioning and mobility. The 7-footer averaged 4.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in last year’s playoffs while maintaining a plus-2.7 net rating.
With Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby rounding out the starting lineup, the Knicks project to open the season with one of the NBA’s longest and most switchable defensive units.
