Few have taken in more recent New York Knicks basketball activities than Carmelo Anthony and the franchise legend has offered his assessment of a lauded arrival

But while former Minnesota athletes exploding has been clockwork so has a minimal return for their former franchise. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo were the centerpieces in the Towns trade but are still acclimating to their new team.

Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns is having an all-star caliber season early on with New York. He is averaging (26.8) points per game.

The New York Knicks have had to grow up in a hurry this season, as few sympathized with the early struggles of a renovated roster headlined by Karl-Anthony Towns' late arrival. But clear progress has defined the Knicks' past week and the rise continued with a 138-122 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Carmelo Anthony described on his podcast that Karl-Anthony Towns still has a learning curve with his new team.

Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t play in Friday’s contest against the Nets because of a contused left knee, an injury he picked up toward the end of Wednesday’s heartbreaking defeat to the Bulls . Towns had knocked legs with Chicago’s Zach LaVine. He limped through a couple possessions, grimacing in pain, but never checked out.

The New York Knicks are building their team around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and the team will need the latter to be as much of a co-star as opposed to supporting actor as he can be. Towns has had the role of No.

Towns is the best center the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing. He’s also the most skilled big man they’ve ever had.

On The Putback with Ian Begley, SNY's NBA Insider is joined by Shaun Geddes and Andrew Salop to discuss the Knicks' offense so far this season and evaluate how beneficial the Karl-Anthony Towns trade has been for New York.