This was Karl-Anthony Towns‘ sixth All-Star selection of his career. However, being listed on the World team left many fans confused. The New York Knicks star was born and raised in New Jersey, United States, and yet he has joined international stars like Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. The reasons can all be traced back to his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz, who was a native of the Dominican Republic.

Towns was very close to his mother and very proud of his Dominican heritage. He spent his childhood surrounded by relatives from his mother’s side. Unfortunately, he lost her during the COVID-19 pandemic due to health-related complications. However, the New York Knicks star has kept Cruz’s memory alive by donning the country’s colors on the court. This explains why Towns is also sharing a roster with international stars for the annual NBA tradition.

What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ nationality? Is he American or Dominican?

Towns was born in New Jersey to an African-American father and a Dominican mother. He has dual citizenship. So it’s not either/or.

Towns’ first visit to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, was at the early age of 15. He felt an instant connection the moment he set foot in the country and later described the experience as “special” and “important.”

“My whole life leading up to that point I’d only seen the USA,” Towns told Andscape. “To see the way my mom’s country is, how beautiful it is, see a different side of the world, it was eye-opening. It was amazing. I had so much fun. I enjoyed it.”

So, Towns is an international star, and that’s how he would prefer it; it is his way of paying homage to his late mother.

What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ ethnicity and family background?

Karl-Anthony Towns is of mixed ethnicity, born to parents of different cultures and nationalities. However, since his childhood, Towns has always leaned more towards his mother’s side. He was very close to her, and it was one of the reasons “that Karl died” when she tragically passed away in 2020.

“It’s my culture,” Towns told Our Esquina in November 2024. “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.”

Both his parents were very supportive of Towns’ basketball career. While his mother was his loudest cheerleader in the gym, his father, Towns Sr., was his first coach. His father was once a college basketball player at Monmouth University. Towns Sr. later took a coaching job at Piscataway Technical High School in New Jersey. When Towns grew up, he attended the same high school and practiced with the junior varsity team as a fifth grader.

Has Karl-Anthony Towns represented the Dominican Republic internationally?

Yes, Karl-Anthony Towns has represented the Dominican Republic on multiple occasions, starting when he was 15. He played a friendly game against Team USA, led by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He also represented them at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, averaging 24.4 points, the fifth-most in the tournament, and 8 rebounds over five games.