Karl-Anthony Towns is an American-Dominican professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. Known widely as “KAT,” he is one of the NBA’s most skilled modern big men. His game combines size, shooting, rebounding, passing, and floor spacing. By 2026, Towns had built a career marked by All-Star honors, major contracts, personal resilience, and a high-profile role in New York’s championship chase.
| Net Worth: | $100 Million |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. |
| Birth Date: | November 15, 1995 |
| Age (as of 2026): | 30 Years |
| Birth Place: | Edison, New Jersey, USA |
| Height: | 2.13 m (7 ft) |
| Parents: | Karl Towns Sr. and Jacqueline Cruz. |
| Girlfriend: | Jordyn Woods |
Early Life
Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. was born on 15th November, 1995, in Edison, New Jersey. He grew up in Piscataway, where basketball became part of his daily life at a young age. His height, coordination, and shooting touch made him stand out early. Still, Towns developed through steady coaching and strong family support rather than talent alone.
Towns attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. He became one of the nation’s top high school players and led his team to multiple state titles. His strong academic record also drew attention. He graduated early after reclassifying and became one of the most highly ranked recruits in the country.
Family Background
Karl-Anthony Towns is the son of Karl Towns Sr. and Jacqueline Cruz-Towns. His father played basketball at Monmouth University and later coached him during his youth. His mother was from the Dominican Republic, which helped shape Towns’ cultural identity.
Through his mother’s Dominican heritage, Towns became eligible to represent the Dominican Republic in international basketball. He joined the Dominican national team as a teenager, gaining valuable experience against older professional players. That early exposure helped prepare him for college and the NBA.
Family has played a central role in Towns’ public story. In April 2020, his mother died from complications related to COVID-19. Towns later shared that several other family members also died during the pandemic. Her loss deeply affected him, and he has often spoken about her influence on his life and career.
Education
Towns committed to the University of Kentucky, where he played for coach John Calipari during the 2014-15 season. Kentucky entered that season with one of the strongest college rosters in recent memory. Towns became a key part of a team that started 38-0 before losing in the Final Four.
At Kentucky, Towns displayed the footwork, defensive timing, and shooting potential that later defined his NBA profile. He averaged modest minutes because of Kentucky’s deep rotation, but scouts still viewed him as an elite prospect. After one college season, he declared for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Career
Karl-Anthony Towns joined the Minnesota Timberwolves with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He made an immediate impact and won the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year award. His polished offensive skills, rebounding, and durability quickly made him the center of Minnesota’s rebuild.
Towns became an NBA All-Star and one of the league’s best-shooting centers. He developed into a rare big man who could score inside, stretch defenses beyond the three-point line, and create offense from different spots. In 2022, he won the NBA Three-Point Contest, further proving his shooting reputation among elite guards and wings.
His Minnesota years brought individual success, though team success arrived unevenly. The Timberwolves reached the playoffs during his tenure, and Towns remained one of the franchise’s most important players. He also endured injuries, roster changes, and heavy expectations as the face of the team.
On October 2, 2024, the New York Knicks acquired Towns in a three-team trade involving Minnesota and Charlotte. The move sent Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and draft assets away from New York.
For Karl-Anthony Towns, the trade marked a dramatic career shift from Minnesota to one of basketball’s biggest markets. With the Knicks, Towns gave New York a frontcourt star who could score, rebound, and stretch the floor beside Jalen Brunson.
In the 2025-26 season, he remained one of the team’s major players. During the 2026 NBA Finals run, he played a key role as the Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs. His presence gave New York a skilled scoring big man against Victor Wembanyama and one of the league’s most watched young teams.
Personal Life
Karl-Anthony Towns has been publicly linked to model, entrepreneur, and influencer Jordyn Woods. The couple began dating in 2020 and often supported each other through personal loss and public pressure. Their relationship became more visible during Towns’ Knicks years, with Woods frequently appearing courtside.
In December 2025, Karl-Anthony Towns and Woods announced their engagement. Public reports described the proposal as a major personal milestone after several years together. Woods remained a visible supporter during the Knicks’ 2026 playoff run, often drawing attention for her courtside fashion and public support.
Towns has also shown interest in philanthropy, social justice, gaming, and community work. In 2024, he received the NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award for his advocacy, including work related to voting rights. He has also used his platform to honor his mother and speak about grief, family, and resilience.
Social Media
Karl-Anthony Towns is active on Instagram under the handle @karltowns, where he shares basketball updates, personal moments, fashion content, and brand-related posts. He has also used X, formerly Twitter, to connect with fans and comment on basketball and personal milestones. His social media presence reflects both his NBA career and his public life with Jordyn Woods.
Karl-Anthony Towns Net Worth and Career Earnings
Karl-Anthony Towns’ net worth in 2026 is widely estimated between $70 million and $120 million. The exact figure is not officially confirmed, so any number should be treated as an approximation based on public salary records, endorsements, and reported earnings.
His largest income source is his NBA salary. Towns signed a four-year, $220.4 million supermax extension while with the Timberwolves. For the 2025-26 season, his listed Knicks salary is about $53.1 million. His 2026-27 salary is listed at about $57.1 million, making him one of the NBA’s highest-paid players.
Towns has also earned money through endorsements and commercial partnerships. Over his career, he has been connected to major brands in sportswear, beverages, gaming, audio, and consumer products. His marketability grew further after his move to New York, where media attention and sponsorship value are often higher.
