Defending champion Knicks table contract talks, focus on upcoming NBA season

The New York Knicks are pausing potential contract extensions until later in the season, the team announced Friday.

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The news affects All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and guards Josh Hart, Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. Each is eligible for an extension and the Knicks have until June 30 to get those deals done.

“As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of,” a Knicks spokesman said. “As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.”

Towns, the Knicks’ All-Star center and a centerpiece in New York’s championship season, said he didn’t expect an agreement to be reached prior to the season.

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“It don’t look good,” Towns said Monday. “I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me. None of those things have come close to happening.”

Towns, 30, is owed $57 million this season and has a $61.1 million player option for 2027-28. He is eligible for a four-year extension worth a maximum of $276 million.

In last season’s playoffs, Towns averaged 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists as the Knicks halted a 53-year title drought by taking down the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals.

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This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 10:07 AM.