TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- Karl-Anthony Towns reiterated his desire to get a contract extension done while acknowledging the potential discomfort an unsettled situation could bring as the New York Knicks look to defend their NBA title.
"I've made it known I want to play here," Towns said Monday at media day. "I've been a fan since I was a kid. I'd like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible."
Towns is eligible for a four-year deal worth over $276 million, but it doesn't appear something will get done before the season starts. He is due $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for next season.
A six-time All-Star, Towns was a catalyst for the Knicks' playoff run last season, averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists as New York ended a 53-year title drought with a five-game Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Towns, who turns 31 in November, was asked if he wanted to table contract talks when the season begins so that it wouldn't be a distraction.
"In this situation, there's no comfortability to be had," he said.
Towns' potential extension is at the intersection of the Knicks keeping their championship core together and staying underneath the punitive second apron -- it already cost the team backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Boston Celtics this summer.
"You ask me to give three facts or two facts about the second apron, I can't do it," Towns said. "I have no interest in that. It is what it is. [Knicks team president] Leon [Rose] trusts me with stuff on the court, and I trust him with that stuff."
But Towns knows these issues can fester through the season. He said he won't ignore them.
"The first thing is we try to talk about everything. We don't leave any elephants in the room," Towns said. "They'll figure it out and our group has done a fantastic job of understanding that we can only control what we can control."
Towns isn't the only starter with a looming contract, as Josh Hart is eligible for an extension. Hart will make $20.9 million this season and there's a team option for $22.3 million in 2027-28.
Hart mentioned the second apron and collective bargaining agreement having played a part in the NBA having eight different champions in eight years, with the Knicks hoping to buck that trend. The challenge could be made tougher in a deeper, top-heavy Eastern Conference and the Knicks' own contractual issues.
"When there's uncertainty, there's gonna be a lot of questions," Hart said. "Rumors and at a human level it can wear people down and it can affect how you handle business on a daily basis. You want to get it done so you don't have to deal with that. At the end of the day, it's a business. For me, as long as I'm wearing this jersey, I'm going to play as hard as I can. Hopefully we can figure that out."
