NBA names Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns Eastern Conference Player of the Month

As the calendar flipped to a new year, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns had one final thing to take away from 2024 as he was named NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the first time in his career.

KAT gets the honor after he averaged 23.2 points and 14.6 rebounds in 14 games last month which helped New York go an impressive 12-2 before the new year, including capping off the year by winning eight straight. After winning their first game of 2025, the Knicks are now 24-10, winners of nine in a row and in third place in the conference.

Towns, 29, is having an excellent first season in New York after coming over from the Minnesota Timberwolves in an offseason trade. In 32 games thus far, the 7-footer is averaging 24.9 points — the most since his 2019-20 season (26.5) — as well as a career-high 13.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. His 54.8 shooting percentage from the floor and 44 percent from three are also the best of his 10-year career.

The Edison, N.J. native has fit in seamlessly with the rest of head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s starting lineup who have begun to peak since a bit of a slow start. Towns and Jalen Brunson have especially enjoyed playing off of each other, creating havoc for opposing defenses.