The New York Knicks’ title defense has been plunged into turmoil after a number of key stars warned that stalled extension talks could lead to a major ‘distraction.’Fresh off lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the NBA champions arrived at media day on Monday overshadowed by mounting unrest regarding unresolved contract situations.Three crucial pieces of the championship puzzle, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Miles McBride, have all voiced frustration after discussions hit a standstill. Towns, who is eligible for a lucrative four-year extension worth up to $276 million, admitted that entering the season without a new contract is far from ideal. ‘In this situation, there’s no comfortability to be had,’ he claimed on Monday. ‘I’ve made it know I want to play here. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. I’d like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.’ A number of New York Knicks stars – including Karl-Anthony Towns – voiced their frustration over unresolved contract extension talks ahead of the upcoming NBA season The Knicks ended a 53-year wait to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy last seasonMeanwhile, fan favorite Hart echoed those sentiments while simultaneously warning Knicks chiefs that the ongoing saga could derail their season. ‘There hasn’t been much movement, [which] presents a distraction once the season starts,’ he said. ‘I would love it to get done.’He continued: ‘When there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be a lot of questions. At a human level, it can wear people down and affect how you handle business.’You want it to get done so you don’t have to deal with that.’Backup point guard McBride also made his feelings clear at the media day, expressing his disappointment that his efforts haven’t resulted in a new deal.’I’m a little disappointed. I’ve played through injury. So I’d love to get something done,’ he admitted to reporters.Even with Jalen Brunson previously taking a team-friendly discount, team brass remains hesitant to lock in multiple long-term mega-deals.Brunson recently made history after hosting the first episode of the new Saturday Night Live series months after bringing the NBA Championship back to the Big Apple. Josh Hart echoed the sentiments of Towns at the team’s media day on Monday afternoonBrunson became just the fifth basketball player ever to host the prestigious show, joining Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James in the club.He started the show with a five-minute monologue where he quickly poked fun at the Knicks’ dramatic NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs, marked by a number of late fourth-quarter comeback wins.’I’m going to approach hosting the same way I approach a Knicks Finals game,’ Brunson joked.’So the first three quarters of the show are going to be God awful. The last sketch is gonna be amazing.’ And he then quickly delivered a joke about the other major event to happen at the Knicks’ Madison Square Garden home since he last played there – the star-studded wedding of pop megastar Taylor Swift and NFL icon Travis Kelce. However, fans watching were left divided by Brunson’s performance, with many suggesting that his teammates, Hart, Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, who all joined him on stage, were more naturals on camera.