Karl-Anthony Towns explains how he's fighting through the worst slump of his career: "Keep shooting. Keep trusting the work"

Karl-Anthony Towns played like a star last season, and many believed he would continue to wreak havoc against opponents with his outside touch. Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, they have been in a slump, which is evident both in the team's record and his statistics.

Through 16 games so far this campaign, the Knicks' All-Star center-power forward has shot only 45% from the floor and 33.7% from deep, both career lows. They are down from the 52.6% and 42% clip he hit last season, and the 52.2% and 39% he has for his career.

Following their victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Towns spoke about his shooting struggles, highlighting that they are nothing that he has not seen before and that he is determined to turn things around.

"Yeah, I mean, you know, I've had slumps before. So experience teaches me a lot. You know, just keep shooting. Keep trusting the work. I said it out there on TV. I think this is an opportunity for me to tell young guys, you know, obviously, the shot hasn't been falling. But I continue to show up to work, be the first one there, last one to leave, and just continue to believe in the work," Towns said.

Sea change coming?

In their 113-100 victory over the Nets, Towns broke through, going 14-of-20 from the field and 3-of-4 from three, on his way to a team-high 37 points. He coupled his great shooting night with 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks to make it a well-rounded performance.

The efficiency he showed last time around is something KAT is now looking to build on and make the rule rather than the exception moving forward.

"[I just have to] continue to believe in the work. I know it's disappointing, especially for someone like me, who puts so much time in the gym and you're not seeing the results every day. Never change the grind, change what you do every day, continue to put the work in, put more work in, and let the work speak for itself," he said.

"And tonight, like I said, was a good night, where, you know, after all the shots I put in with no cameras around and no lights on, you know, for it to go in, it feels good. And, you know, it raises the confidence," Towns added.

Related: Kenyon Martin is worried about the Knicks: "That sh— is alarming"

The need to be better

With Towns being an important piece of the puzzle for the Knicks' attack, the need for him to shoot better cannot be overemphasized. Through his 11 years in the NBA to date, he has prided himself on being a versatile scorer with an unlimited range, making him a formidable opponent for opposing teams.

While the Knicks are managing the slump, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Jordan Clarkson have been shooting at solid percentages from the field. However, they still need KAT to return to his potent shooting form to sharpen their offense.

Fortunately, the team still has time to address these issues. More importantly, Towns is fully aware of the situation and focused on what needs to be done to improve and return to shooting with consistent efficiency.

Related: "He's hanging around the perimeter too much" - Kendrick Perkins thinks Karl-Anthony Towns is not utilized well in the NY Knicks' offense

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.