Karl-Anthony Towns primarily played center for the New York Knicks last season.
Karl-Anthony Towns has the height and versatility to play both center and power forward, but the team primarily used him at the five position.
He averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range.
However, playing center exposed Towns’ defensive limitations and drew criticism throughout the season.
There will likely be a change in position next season as Mitchell Robinson returns from injury.
Robinson represents the Knicks’ primary center, but he played in just 17 games last season due to health issues.
Towns recently discussed Robinson’s abilities and expressed surprise at his teammate’s offensive abilities beyond his well-known defensive abilities.
“He’s very talented with his feet and can really move around the court. You know how good he is defensively when he’s defending, he’s a threat and he can guard up to five guys,” Towns explained.
“He uses his feet well on offense and puts himself in good position to make alley-oops, get down to the rim, get quick offensive rebounds and things like that.”
Towns admitted he has high expectations for Robinson’s game, but sees an added dimension to his offensive ability.
“I had high expectations for Mitch coming in, especially on the offensive side and how he could get the most out of his offense, but even he surprised me with his ability,” he added.
Playing alongside Robinson next season could be of great benefit to Towns, as he could focus more on scoring while taking on less physically taxing defensive responsibilities.
Robinson’s vertical spacing and shot-blocking ability complement Towns’ offensive skillset, and he could potentially replicate the Rudy Gobert dynamic that Towns had with Minnesota.
The rim protection and defensive presence provided by Gobert allowed Towns to maximize his offensive versatility without putting an undue defensive burden on him.
The Knicks could benefit greatly from this double-big lineup, especially with their defensive approach under new coach Mike Brown.
History also supports this, with both players playing well together during the playoffs. The two centers combined for +8.3 points per 100 possessions in 165 minutes on the court.