How Mike Brown Is Expanding Karl-Anthony Towns' Elbow Playmaking Role

During New York Knicks training camp at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, head coach Mike Brown detailed a crucial offensive evolution for the defending champions: expanding Karl-Anthony Towns' responsibilities as a high-post playmaking hub while unlocking more top-of-the-key pick-and-roll creation for wing anchors Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

Rather than relying primarily on static floor-spacing or standard pick-and-pop sets, the coaching staff is institutionalizing the dynamic elbow actions that energized New York's offense during the 2026 championship run. With a full year of familiarity with the roster, Brown is refining the Knicks' half-court architecture to make their championship offense even harder to scout.

The High-Post Hub: Why the Elbow Unlocks Towns

Operating from the elbow transforms Karl-Anthony Towns from a perimeter release valve into a multifaceted offensive engine. At 7 feet tall with exceptional passing vision and elite shooting gravity, positioning Towns at the nail presents opposing defenses with immediate dilemmas:

• Bypassing Perimeter Traps: When opponents attempt to blitz or trap Jalen Brunson 30 feet from the basket, an early hit-ahead pass to Towns at the elbow creates an instant 4-on-3 advantage in the heart of the floor.
• High-Low Chemistry and Cutting Lanes: Towns possesses the touch to lob pinpoint interior passes over top of collapsing defenses, rewarding backdoor cuts by Josh Hart and rim runs by Mitchell Robinson or Andre Drummond.
• Dribble Hand-Off Gravity: Flowing into hand-offs with sharpshooters like Landry Shamet and Miles McBride forces rim protectors to step out into space, vacating the paint and creating driving angles.
• Face-Up Scoring Threats: If opposing big men sag into the lane to protect against rim cuts, Towns can rise up for uncontested 17-foot jumpers or attack downhill off single-dribble drives.

Diversifying Wing Creation: Unlocking Bridges and Anunoby

A central theme of Brown's offensive installation in camp is empowering Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to handle genuine playmaking volume rather than confining them to corner spacing.

Brown acknowledged that discovering the full offensive versatility of both wings during the playoffs reshaped his tactical approach entering this season:

'Obviously playing with KAT at the elbow a little bit more than what we did in the regular season last year,' Brown said following practice in Tarrytown. 'Being with this group for a year now, you get a better feel of what players can do what. Like I didn't know if OG could be as effective as he was in the pick-and-roll game. Same with Mikal. So to try to continue to find ways to get those guys involved at the top of the floor is something that we'll take a look at.'

By initiating pick-and-rolls with Bridges and Anunoby at the top of the key, New York diversifies its attack. Bridges provides fluid pull-up mid-range shooting and secondary reads, while Anunoby's overwhelming physical strength forces defensive rotations that generate open corner three-pointers for teammates.

Preseason Workload Calibration

As the Knicks prepare for their preseason opener on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown indicated that the starters will be brought along deliberately following the team's abbreviated championship summer.

'We'll try to ease them in,' Brown noted regarding the rotation plans for early exhibition games. 'The last preseason game is always a dress rehearsal, but we'll try to build them up leading to that game.'

This measured ramp-up creates valuable live-game evaluation opportunities for training camp invitees and bench contributors, including newly extended veteran Landry Shamet, reserve guard Jose Alvarado, and rookie wings looking to secure defined regular-season roles.

Strategic Balance and Championship Continuity

Towns expressed his clear desire at Media Day to remain in New York long term as contract extension discussions continue behind the scenes. While team president Leon Rose and the front office manage long-term luxury tax apron parameters, Towns' on-court role remains central to the organization's quest for back-to-back titles.

By elevating Towns into an active elbow facilitator and expanding playmaking opportunities across the starting lineup, the Knicks enter the 2026-27 campaign with an offense designed to be more versatile, less predictable, and built to withstand the rigors of another deep postseason run.