Karl-Anthony Towns Says He's Willing to Take Knicks Pay Cut, Has Never Asked for Max Contract

Karl-Anthony Towns says he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to stay with the defending champion New York Knicks.

In a joint interview with Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Towns told ESPN's Malika Andrews he would accept less money on his next contract "because I want this team to stay together."

"That's always been my main priority was to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have," Towns told Andrews. "So, it was the first thing on my mind... there was nowhere in my mind a max was even thought of."

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Brunson followed up by telling Andrews he hoped Towns would "sign the contract."

Towns, 30, is heading into the final guaranteed year of his current contract under a $57 million cap hit. He holds a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.

He is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension that would keep him in New York through the 2030-31 season, per ESPN .

Towns played a key role in the Knicks' run to the title, during which he averaged 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds through 19 playoff games.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported in early October the Knicks' latest offer to Towns had been a four-year extension worth approximately $200 million deal.

Andrews previously reported on NBA Today Towns was willing to take a pay cut but felt the number the Knicks were asking for was "unreasonable."

Towns said before the Knicks' preseason the chances of him signing an extension before the regular season didn't "look good," per the New York Post 's Stefan Bondy .

When asked if he thought he should be rewarded for his role in helping the Knicks win a championship, Towns said, "No s- -t, Sherlock," per Bondy.

"Simply put: I want to do something to keep the team together and can work with the Knicks and also values me," Towns said earlier this month, per Bondy. "And none of those things are close to happening."

The Knicks announced shortly afterward all contract talks would be paused "until later in the season."

Knicks governor James Dolan said this summer he is not willing to exceed the NBA's second luxury tax apron even if it was necessary to keep together the 2025 championship team, per ESPN's Vincent Goodwill .

The Knicks are currently projected to come in just under the second apron this season, per Spotrac .

Maintaining that status in the future will be difficult given the raises likely expected by multiple key members of the championship team.

Miles McBride, Josh Hart and Tyler Kolek are also currently eligible for extensions. Brunson, who took a pay cut on his last deal, becomes eligible for his own four-year, $257 million max extension next summer.

The Knicks have until June 30 to negotiate extensions with players like Towns, McBride, Hart and Kolek. Knicks president Leon Rose may need to decide which members of the championship team to prioritize as he looks to both stay under the second apron and continue building a contender around Brunson.