Jalen Brunson hesitated before trying to go 1-on-2 in a fast break. Instead, he dribbled back and passed the ball behind him to Karl-Anthony Towns, who hit a 3-pointer with a defender right in front of him.
This is the kind of teamwork the Knicks are counting on to help them improve and bring an NBA championship to New York for the first time since 1973.
This is why the Knicks traded for the versatile Towns, a four-time NBA All-Star, last week. He can stretch the defense, creating more space for Brunson to drive to the basket.
Towns scored 10 points on 2-for-7 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes during his preseason debut with his new team on Sunday night, helping the Knicks secure a 111-109 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Brunson contributed 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting and three assists.
Both players only participated in the first half, which ended in a 61-61 tie.
“I know their talents, so it’s a matter of playing with them,” Towns said. “Finally getting to wear a Knicks jersey and playing 5-on-5 was really cool.”
Brunson added, “It’s definitely going to take time, but when everyone is willing to do what it takes to win, things will start to flow. We’re communicating consistently, we’re on the same page, and we’re excited to be teammates.”
For Towns, this is his first experience with a new team, so he’s unsure how long it will take to build that chemistry.
“Every day, it’s about learning each other’s tendencies and continuing to improve,” Towns said. “That’s really the key for us.”
But it’s clear that Towns is looking forward to this new chapter in New York.
“These guys are all super special and very talented, and they put in the effort,” Towns said. “The coaches have us doing drills that help us work on our skills and timing.”
