The Knicks’ gamble is already raising eyebrows. Firing Tom Thibodeau and bringing in Mike Brown was bold, and the adjustment period has been anything but quiet for the players, the coach, and now the fans, too. During their 115-107 loss to the Miami Heat, cameras caught something unexpected between Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns. Why unexpected? Because we’ve all seen coaches shout, wave their arms, or lose their cool. Yet this wasn’t that. It was only words. One might even say, too many words.

New York Basketball shared a clip of Mike Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns talking on the sidelines while the game was still going on, and speaking for quite a while. Even the commentators couldn’t help but notice, saying, “Brown & Towns still talking. I haven’t seen that before. Coach talking to a player that long.” The exchange looked unusually long and, to many fans watching, a little uncomfortable, not something you often see unfold mid-game.

While we don’t know what wisdom was being shared, it’s definitely got everyone talking. Was it a strategy discussion, a mid-game disagreement, or just Brown trying to calm his star? The post mentions that KAT “reluctantly” came out of the game after his fourth foul.

Maybe that’s what the talk was about, convincing him to sit out, especially considering the uncertainty around his availability tonight as he continues to battle a Grade 2 strain in his right quadriceps.

Karl-Anthony Towns has been the cornerstone of the Knicks’ strong start at home. The 7-foot center followed up his 19-point, 11-rebound effort against the Cavaliers with an even bigger showing against the Celtics, putting up 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Despite battling significant pain in both games, Towns showed tremendous grit, admitting after the opener that his leg “was hurting” but refusing to sit out.

In other roster news, Josh Hart played 29 minutes and scored 6 points after missing the season opener due to back issues, while Mitchell Robinson was sidelined for injury management. Miles McBride remains questionable for personal reasons.

On the bright side, OG Anunoby has been cleared to play and will return to the lineup after his ankle scare against Boston, boosting the Knicks as they continue their homestand.

But could that not-so-little chat have been about something bigger? Something that’s been making headlines for days. Before the season opener, KAT was still unsure of his role under Mike Brown’s offense. “Honestly, I don’t know—but we’re figuring it out,” he said. On top of that, a lingering quad strain, which can take 2-6 weeks to heal and is prone to reinjury if pushed too hard, makes the uncertainty even more concerning.

But Towns has been stellar whenever he’s been on the floor. And you can’t forget Brown’s pedigree: he guided the 2006-07 Cavaliers to the NBA Finals with LeBron James. Brown already has a clear vision for Towns, emphasizing his versatility.

“KAT, we’re gonna move him around a lot. He’s not gonna just play the five. So he’ll be all over the floor and his ability to shoot the basketball will show because we’re gonna move him around,” Brown explained. The plan is to use KAT at both center and power forward, while also creating spacing opportunities for the rest of the roster.

A major shift from Thibodeau’s nine-player system? Brown has been deploying an 11-man rotation, keeping players fresh ahead of the playoffs. The Knicks’ core-four starters feature point guard Jalen Brunson, wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, and Towns. 

Beyond them, the roster runs deep with Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Guerschon Yabusele. “We have a deep team,” Brown said. “It’s my job to keep finding combinations that work. I’ve got a lot of room to grow, too.”

But is that also giving KAT room to wonder if another team could feel like home?

Is KAT thinking of leaving the Knicks?

KAT has lived up to Knicks fans’ expectations since arriving from the Timberwolves. The team believed he could be the final piece to their championship puzzle, and for a moment, it seemed he was. Last season, he led the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, a milestone made possible by his 13,000+ career points, though they ultimately fell short. 

He still delivered an All-Star season, averaging 24.4 points, quickly becoming one of the team’s most reliable players. But now, questions are emerging: is this partnership approaching its natural end?

Former NBA star Blake Griffin weighed in on Karl-Anthony Towns’ uncertainty about his role with the Knicks. Speaking on the Run It Back show, Griffin didn’t hold back, saying, “It’s obviously, clearly not a very good sign.” 

DeMarcus Cousins added another perspective, suggesting trade rumors might be behind KAT’s comments. “Might be some truth to the rumors,” Cousins said. With the Knicks reportedly among the favorites to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo, speculation has grown that some New York stars, including Towns, could be involved in a potential deal.

Griffin even joked about the possibility of a move. “If he didn’t like his role in New York, he’s going to hate Milwaukee.” But beneath the humor, the situation does raise eyebrows. Knicks head coach Mike Brown addressed the situation, noting, “First thing is, it’s going to be a process, especially with him missing the last couple of games.”

And with similar ambitions, the duo could make their partnership click quickly. “Nobody has bigger expectations, first of all, than I do,” Brown said during his introductory press conference.

Towns matches that intensity, adding, “Same standards, which is championship standards,” when discussing the team’s goals. Early signs are promising.