Karl-Anthony Towns just got outplayed by Russell Westbrook—again—and Knicks fans are losing it. In back-to-back matchups against the Sacramento Kings this season, the $53 million All-Star center has been embarrassed by the veteran guard’s tenacity, sparking viral clips, trade buzz, and pointed questions about his effort and fit in New York.

First, on January 14 in Sacramento, the Knicks dropped a 112-101 decision. Late in the second quarter, Towns drove, got stripped by ex-Knick Precious Achiuwa, and hit the deck. Instead of exploding back into the play, he lagged—allowing Achiuwa an uncontested offensive rebound near midcourt. That extra possession ended with Westbrook draining a wide-open corner three, ballooning the Kings’ lead to 17. Coach Mike Brown later called out the “no sense of urgency,” and the sequence perfectly summed up New York’s frustrating night.

Fast-forward to Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks bounced back with a 103-87 win, outscoring Sacramento 31-15 in the fourth behind strong showings from Towns (17 points, 11 rebounds) and the team. But the highlight-reel moment belonged to Westbrook again: guarding the 7-foot Towns in the post, he stonewalled him, denied position, and reportedly barked “NO!” after a failed move and turnover.

Naturally, the head coach noted it and called it out in the post-game conference. “If he at least gets down the floor, long rebound, he’s going to get it because he’s trailing the play,” said Brown. “We watched the play at halftime, and he didn’t even cross half-court. That sums up what our night was.”

Brown has repeatedly defended Towns, stressing that the massive adjustment to the Knicks’ system has been the toughest for anyone on the roster. Towns brings elite floor spacing, inside-out scoring, and rebounding when locked in.

Yet these high-profile lapses against Westbrook’s relentless energy have amplified long-standing concerns about defensive engagement and hustle—issues that followed him from Minnesota and now burn brighter under the New York spotlight.

Even the fans at the Garden haven’t been kind to KAT. After failing to beat an undersized guard, the Knicks star has also come under fire on social media.

Fans pile misery on Karl-Anthony Towns with trade demand

Towns’ production is down across the board this year under Brown compared to last year under Tom Thibodeau. Yet, his play against the Kings was not a matter of tactics; a fan clearly stated, “this is embarrassing asf i can’t lie.” The $53 million center’s 46.9% field goal percentage is a career low, and he’s shooting just 36.3% from three.

The Knicks aren’t actively shopping their star ahead of the trade deadline, but the noise is growing. For KAT to silence doubters and help push New York toward real contention, consistent buy-in on both ends is non-negotiable. The talent is undeniable; the urgency needs to match.

In fact, his paint finishing has dropped significantly from previous seasons, a concerning trend for a seven-footer who built his reputation on efficient scoring. Meaning, not enough confidence to dominate the paint.

A fan wrote, “anybody can lock up towns.” It’s not just fans trolling KAT. After the Knicks lost 121-90 to the Pistons, his box score showed just 6 points and 6 turnovers, prompting Celtics legend Paul Pierce to take a dig.

“I can get u 6 pts 1rb 1ast in 22mins in the league right now 😂😂😂”. The Truth’s tweet got over 3 million views. Similarly, a fan mocked KAT for losing out to Westbrook. “softest big man of all time 😂😂😂.” While his fit issues persist, coach Brown has found some alternatives to solve the problem.

Earlier this month, Karl-Anthony Towns did not feature in the remaining 9:24 minutes during the Knicks’ tight 123-114 win over the Blazers.

Mike Brown explained afterward that he was rolling with hot hands. “If I think a group is rolling, I’ll keep a group out there.” The proof was in the pudding, as the Knicks ran away 31-20 without Towns. Brown either used Mitchell Robinson at center or went with a small lineup.

If Brown continues to use a small lineup, Towns’ future is seemingly set away from New York.

A fan seemingly confirmed the notion. “Why KAT look like a big a– person and can’t even post up a point guard being a centre, I guess the rumours are true.” Recent reports from Marc Stein also suggest that the Knicks haven’t been aggressive in their search for trade options, but “have tried to get a sense of what his market would be.”

Another netizen just piled on Karl-Anthony Towns, “Damn they really gotta trade KAT now.” With just days remaining before the trade deadline, there’s still a chance Towns is traded, and New York looks to upgrade its roster with Giannis Antetokounmpo.