Karl-Anthony Towns proudly embraces Latino roots

HOUSTON – Most Latinos can recite a line of advice passed down from their parents. New York Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, though, remembers a word and a feeling when he thinks back to his late mother Jacqueline Cruz.

Towns grew up in New Jersey surrounded by his mother’s Dominican family. He embraced her food, culture and traditions. And love, lots of love.

By 16, Towns was playing for the Dominican Republic’s national men’s basketball team. Cruz died in 2020 due to complications from Covid 19. Her beloved KAT keeps her memory close with his love of the Dominican Republic at the forefront.

“I think it’s just more of the love,” Towns says. “The word love, the way she taught me the word love, the way she made me truly understand what that word means and how to live it. 

“So even for me to think about her, I just think of the word love. I would have never been able to truly understand how to show love without her.”

Karl-Anthony Towns embraces Latino culture

Towns, 28, became the second Latino ever taken first overall in the NBA Draft in 2015. Mexican American Mark Aguirre, who was also bi-cultural with African American roots, was the first Latino taken first overall in the NBA Draft in 1981 by the Dallas Mavericks.

Unlike Aguirre, though, Towns has been very outspoken about his Latino roots.

“It’s my culture,” Towns says. “It’s how I grew up. Being Latino, having my family from the Dominican Republic around me my whole entire childhood I really just grew in the culture. And it allowed me to experience love firsthand.

“So I’ve been very fortunate that my mother’s family has been very integral in my life and teaching me my Latino roots and the culture and teaching me what it is to truly be Dominican.”

The former University of Kentucky star continues to give back to his mother’s island. 

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He helps the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic through World Youth Club and his church there. 

“We’re doing a bunch of amazing things that are going to help a tremendous amount of kids,” he said. “And (it will) allow us to not only inspire the next generation but give the generation the resources needed to accomplish their dreams.”

Towns is in his 10th NBA season. He has had a stellar NBA career since being the first overall pick by the Timberwolves. The 7-foot, 245-pounder is a four-time All-Star. Towns was the 2015-2016 NBA Rookie of the Year. He has also been named to the All-NBA team twice over his first nine seasons.

Strong start in New York

The Timberwolves sent Towns to the Knicks as part of a three-team trade on Oct. 2. Towns, who has averaged 22.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in his career, is averaging 24.9 points and 12.3 rebounds over his first nine games with the Knicks.

At this pace, he would finish tied for his best rebounds per game average. He is also on pace for his third best points per game average. Moreover, he’s serving as an inspiration for the large Dominican community in New York and New Jersey.

Former New York Mets and Montreal Expos general manager Omar Minaya, who was born in the Dominican Republic, is excited to see Towns with the Knicks.

Minaya’s son Justin Minaya plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, so the Minayas keep close tabs on the NBA. 

“I think it’s great for basketball,”  Omar Minaya says of having Towns in New York. “Basketball is such a growing sport. It’s great to have Karl-Anthony Towns, who is not only very proud to be Dominican but also just a great kid. It just creates and gives Dominican kids the opportunity of having new heroes to be seen in a very big market.”

Giving back

Dominicans Towns, Al Horford, Justin Minaya, Nuyorican Jose Alvarado and Mexican Americans Devin Booker and Jaime Jaquez Jr. give the NBA a strong Latino presence. Horford made history last season with the Boston Celtics as the first Dominican to win an NBA title. Towns would definitely like to be the second.

Equally important, perhaps, Towns welcomes the opportunity to inspire the next generation of Latino basketball players in America.

Towns is adamant that he is honored and blessed by his platform.

“I’m just kind of paying it forward for the people who set up this opportunity for me,” he said. “Al Horford, Jack Michael Martinez, Edgar Sosa, James Feldeine, all these amazing Dominicans have shown me that this dream was possible.

“To be able to have them look at me now and see that what they taught me and the time they took to raise me from a boy to a man didn’t go for nothing. I’m making it worth it. And I’m doing the best to inspire the next generation.”