Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks were on the road Wednesday to face the Kings. It was head coach Mike Brown’s first game back in Sacramento since he was fired.
When Jalen Brunson went down in the first quarter with an ankle injury, the Knicks struggled to score consistently. Mikal Bridges led the team on Wednesday with 19 points in 36 minutes. New York lost 112-101 to Sacramento. After the game, head coach Mike Brown spoke to the media. He mentioned Karl-Anthony Towns’ lack of “urgency” on a specific play in the first half. He was not happy with the all-star’s effort.
Mike Brown was upset with Karl-Anthony Towns after Wednesday’s loss
Something is off with Karl Anthony Towns and Knicks HC Mike Brown called him out for his lack of hustle and leadership in the Knicks 112-101 loss to the Kings.
[h/t @NBA_NewYork] pic.twitter.com/t3Z5bapd3q— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) January 15, 2026
Thirty-year-old Karl-Anthony Towns is in his 11th professional season and second with the Knicks. He was acquired by New York in September 2025 from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his first season with the Knicks, Towns averaged 24.4 points. 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. That was enough to be named an all-star for the fifth time in his career. Following a loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau.
As his replacement, the Knicks hired former Kings head coach Mike Brown. Through 40 games, New York is 25-15. They are coming off a 112-101 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. In the first half of that game, Karl-Anthony Towns drove to the basket and lost his footing. At the same time, he lost the basketball, and the Kings quickly moved the ball in transition.
Did I really just see Karl-Anthony Towns fall down untouched, sit on New York’s end of the court for an entire Kings possession, stay down as his teammates got a 4-on-5 stop and then remain on the ground as a miss was tipped up the court in his direction?
No way I saw it, right?
— Jonathan Macri (@JCMacriNBA) January 15, 2026
Nine of the 10 players on the court found their way to the other end of the court. However, Karl-Anthony Towns remained on the ground for 10+ seconds before he even tried to get up. Russell Westbrook missed a shot on the Kings’ fast-break when Towns lost the ball. There was a long rebound on the play, and a Kings player had to cross half court to get the ball. If Towns had gotten up any quicker, New York might have had the basketball.
Mike Brown called out Karl-Anthony Towns for his lack of “urgency” on that particular play. Additionally, Brown said that summed up how the night went as a whole for the Knicks. Wednesday was certainly a game Brown wanted to win vs. the team that fired him last season. Mike Brown did not want to single out Towns. He said several players lacked “urgency” vs. the Kings. However, Towns’ was the most glaring. There were reports of “early friction” between Brown and Towns. However, reports say they are in a “good place.” Is that still true after Wednesday?
