Kendrick Perkins Urges Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns to Lose 15 Pounds

ESPN analyst and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins has advised New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns to lose about 15 pounds to improve his defense under new coach Mike Brown. Perkins emphasized that shedding weight could enhance Towns' lateral quickness and on-ball defense, which have been notable weaknesses despite Towns' strong offensive performance. Towns averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds during the regular season and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and an All-Star for the fifth time. Perkins, who played at a heavier weight himself, believes that conditioning, not talent, is the main factor limiting Towns' defensive impact. The Knicks finished 14th in defensive rating in the 2024-25 season, and Perkins is confident that Towns and teammate Jalen Brunson can improve defensively with commitment and conditioning. Perkins' advice comes amid the Knicks' push to advance further in the playoffs after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.