Karl-Anthony Towns has become one of the NBA’s premier players and has made consecutive conference finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks these past two seasons. Still, the lessons his father, Karl Towns Sr., instilled form the core of his development. Towns has leaned heavily on his father since the tragic loss of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, in 2020, and recently, he spoke about the impact his father has had on him growing up.

In a pregame interview before a preseason game in Abu Dhabi against the 76ers, Towns spoke about his father’s influence, saying, “Shout out to him. He raised me with some mental toughness.” He also shared an interesting anecdote from his early days. Towns Sr. was a player at Monmouth University and a high-school basketball coach, and even coached one of KAT’s teams, who revealed, “I was a bench player for his team. I don’t know how that works out. I kind of grew into myself to being a starter.”

Even now, as a star player on the Knicks, Towns looks to his father for guidance. “My dad comes to a lot of games. You’re going to see him here, too. He’ll be courtside again. To have your father see you live your dream,” he told the reporter, clearly showing that Towns Sr.’s continued support helps KAT stay grounded.

The absence of his mother at games still resonates with Towns. In 2021, Towns spoke about how odd it was not seeing his mother alongside Towns Sr.: “It’s the first time really having my family watch me play in person. When I see my dad, it’s like, ‘Where’s my mom? She’s going to come.’ And obviously, she’s not going to show up. So that affected me, but I go out there and play the best I can for this team.”

He emphasized that seeing his father there lets him honor Jacqueline’s memory while focusing on his performance.

Beyond his father, Towns has also relied on his broader support network, including his sister Lachelle and his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods’ family. Their encouragement has also been significant in helping him fully channel his focus into the Knicks‘ 2025-26 campaign.

Karl Towns Sr. Reflects on Wife’s Legacy While Supporting KAT on the Court

The loss of Jacqueline Cruz-Towns left a void in the Towns family that they’re still navigating. In 2021, Towns Sr. spoke about going to arenas to watch his son play without his partner, “It hurts because I’ve never been to one Timberwolves game without her by my side… I didn’t know how I was going to handle it.”

Despite the grief, he traveled to see his son play, determined to show strength during adversity.

Basketball has always been an anchor for the family, and Towns Sr. continues to honor Jacqueline through his continued support of KAT. “I felt I needed to let him know that I’m OK and that I can be there for him,” he said.

In her absence, Towns Sr. admitted that the vibe has changed. “It was just different not hearing her screaming from the stands… the mood was totally different, because when she comes in, she brings the energy for all of us. … But she was the glue,” he said. For KAT, seeing his father take on the role of love and guidance from his mother reinforces lessons passed on to him.