When Karl-Anthony Towns joined the New York Knicks via trade, many fans expected the team to be competitive. They are currently 38-20 and firmly planted at third in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the record, the Knicks are not without their flaws. The team has seen their fair share of problems, especially when competing against teams atop the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics both recently defeated the Knicks by double digits, and a big source of these issues can be tied to the Knicks’ defensive effort.
Towns spoke after the loss to the Celtics and said that the team is a work in progress, but some believe that both Towns and teammate Jalen Brunson need to work on their defense for the team to improve.
Kendrick Perkins Criticizes Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins discussed the Knicks on “NBA Countdown,” calling both Towns and Brunson bottom-five defensive players at their positions.
Continuing with his point about their defense, Perkins would sum up the Knicks’ issues, noting that the two best players on the team can not play this way and expect to contend.
“Your two guys, if they’re the head of the snake, cannot come out with that lack of effort if you're considered or trying to compete to go win the championship.”@Rjeff24 and @KendrickPerkins discuss the current state of the Knicks' defense. pic.twitter.com/vtM7xZfxPK
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 26, 2025
“Your two guys, if they’re the head of the snake, cannot come out with that lack of effort if you’re considered or trying to compete to go win the championship.”
One criticism of teams coached by Tom Thibodeau is that he tends to play his players’ extended minutes, causing fatigue and making players (potentially) more prone to injury. Could fatigue be an issue for Towns and Brunson, or do they need to lock in more on the defensive end?
Perkins Directs Attention to Brunson and Josh Hart’s Podcasting
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George recently stated that he would take a break from podcasting to help his team make a push for the playoffs, but Perkins feels that sentiment should extend to Brunson and Josh Hart, who host the “Roommates” podcast.
Kendrick Perkins says Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart need to take a break from podcasting, calling it a distraction, and adds that it would have been “smoke” if it happened in his locker room
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 26, 2025
“I feel like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart as well need to take a break because if you’re trying to go out there and honestly compete for the NBA championship, that should be your only goal.”
“Anything else outside of that is a distraction, right? I wish I would have walked in the 2008 locker room talking about podcasts through the season or anybody else. It would have been smoke and furniture moving around there.”
Whether or not Brunson and Hart take Perkins’ advice remains to be seen (it is unlikely), the fact remains that the Knicks will need to play better to be contenders for an NBA championship, especially on the defensive end.
