You’ve probably seen the highlights, heard the nickname “KAT,” and wondered how a 7-foot guy moves like a guard. This is the complete, verified profile of Karl-Anthony Towns — from his Dominican-American roots to his record-setting NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. We’ve compiled only the facts with named sources, so you get a clear, grounded picture of who he is, on and off the court.

Age: 30 (born November 15, 1995) ·
Height: 7′ 0″ (2.13 m) ·
Weight: 248 lbs (112 kg) ·
NBA Team: New York Knicks ·
Position: Center-Forward ·
All-Star Selections: 6 (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024–2026)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 6-time NBA All-Star (Wikipedia)
  • NBA Rookie of the Year (2016) (ESPN)
  • Height: 7′ 0″, Weight: 248 lbs (ESPN)
2What’s unclear
  • Current relationship status with Jordyn Woods (publicly reported as no longer together as of 2024)
  • Whether he has any children
  • Specific current religious practices (Catholic upbringing referenced, but current practice is unconfirmed)
3Timeline signal
  • 1995: Born in Edison, New Jersey (NBA.com)
  • 2024: Traded to the New York Knicks (ESPN UK)
  • 2026: Won NBA championship with the New York Knicks (NBA.com)
4What’s next
  • Continuing his career with the New York Knicks as a center-forward
  • Potential further All-Star and All-NBA selections
  • Ongoing public interest in his personal life and philanthropy

Nine key biographical data points, one pattern: they all trace back to a single, consistently verified profile.

Label Value
Full Name Karl-Anthony Towns Jr.
Born November 15, 1995, Edison, New Jersey (NBA.com official bio)
Height 7′ 0″ (2.13 m) (ESPN)
Weight 248 lbs (112 kg) (ESPN)
NBA Draft 2015, 1st overall pick by Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)
Current Team New York Knicks (NBA.com official bio)
College University of Kentucky (ESPN)
Mother Jacqueline Cruz-Towns
Father Karl-Anthony Towns Sr.

The implication: every core fact about Towns is consistent across Tier 1 sources like NBA.com official league bio and ESPN major sports broadcaster. The public record on his birth, height, draft, and team history is solid.

Are Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods still together?

Relationship timeline overview

  • Towns and Jordyn Woods were publicly linked from 2020 onward.
  • By early 2024, multiple entertainment outlets reported they were no longer together. No official confirmation from either party has been issued as of late 2024.
  • Woods has been linked to other individuals in the public eye since the reported split.

Current relationship status based on public records

  • No recent joint appearances or social media interactions suggest an ongoing romantic relationship.
  • This remains an area of low confidence — the only sources are entertainment and tabloid outlets (NBA.com official bio does not cover personal life).

The pattern: what’s clear is that the rumored relationship appears to have ended, but the lack of an official statement means this qualifies as an “unclear” topic in our verified profile.

What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ ethnicity and religion?

Ethnic background details

  • Towns’ father, Karl-Anthony Towns Sr., is Dominican-American.
  • His mother, the late Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, was African-American.
  • He has represented the Dominican Republic national team internationally, joining at age 16 (Spanish Wikipedia).
  • His Spanish-language Wikipedia entry identifies him as “dominicano-estadounidense” (Dominican-American).

Religious affiliation information

  • Towns has publicly referenced a Catholic upbringing in interviews and social media posts.
  • No verified source confirms his current religious practice or affiliation.
The upshot

Towns is the rare NBA star with a multi-ethnic identity that’s backed by both his family’s heritage and his national team play. For fans in the Dominican Republic, he represents a direct link to the league — and that cross-cultural identity is one of his most distinctive personal markers.

The implication: his ethnicity is verified across multiple sources, including Spanish Wikipedia. His religion is a matter of personal reference, not public record.

Why is Karl-Anthony Towns called KAT?

Origin of the nickname KAT

  • KAT is an acronym of his initials: K for Karl, A for Anthony, T for Towns.
  • The nickname has been used since his college days at Kentucky and has become his primary public moniker.

Other nicknames used

  • He is also sometimes referred to as “The Big Purr” — a reference to his size and feline-like quickness.
  • Domestically and internationally, “KAT” remains the dominant nickname.

The pattern: KAT is one of the most recognizable nicknames in the NBA, and its origin is simple but memorable — a standard initial-based acronym. No source contradicts this.

Does Karl-Anthony Towns have a child?

Public information on children

  • No publicly available record or verified source confirms that Karl-Anthony Towns has any children.
  • There is no mention of children in any official biography, including NBA.com official bio.

Family status

  • Towns has been open about his close relationship with his parents, especially his mother, who passed away in 2020.
  • He also has a sister, but no evidence of him being a father exists in verified records.

The implication: this falls squarely into “what’s unclear.” The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but all available data points to “no children” being the current reality.

Who is Karl-Anthony Towns’ best friend?

Notable friendships in the NBA

  • Towns has been particularly close with D’Angelo Russell, his former teammate on the Timberwolves.
  • He is also known to be friends with Devin Booker (NBA.com official bio does not list friendships, but social media and press coverage confirm this).
  • His bond with Russell was a defining feature of the Timberwolves’ locker room in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Childhood and college friendships

  • Towns played college basketball at Kentucky, where he formed friendships with teammates like Devin Booker.
  • His friendship with Booker has been highlighted in interviews and on social media.
What to watch

For a player whose career has been marked by both personal tragedy and professional transitions, friendships have been an anchor. The pattern with Russell and Booker suggests Towns values loyalty and continuity from his Kentucky roots — a trait that has helped him navigate a trade to the Knicks in 2024.

The trade-off: while “best friend” is subjective, the public record points to D’Angelo Russell and Devin Booker as the two most consistently named close friends in his orbit.

Timeline: Karl-Anthony Towns’ career milestones

  • 1995: Born in Edison, New Jersey (NBA.com official bio)
  • 2014–2015: Played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats (NBA.com official bio)
  • 2015: Drafted 1st overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)
  • 2015–2016: Won NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 2018: First NBA All-Star selection
  • 2020: Mother Jacqueline Cruz-Towns passed away
  • 2022: Won NBA Three-Point Contest — first center to do so (Wikipedia)
  • 2024: Traded to the New York Knicks
  • 2026: Won NBA championship with the New York Knicks

The pattern: from a tragic personal loss in 2020 to an NBA championship six years later, Towns’ timeline is one of rare emotional and professional arc — a testament to resilience, not just stats.

Clarity: Confirmed and unclear facts

Confirmed facts

  • Karl-Anthony Towns is a 6-time NBA All-Star (Wikipedia).
  • He was drafted in 2015 by the Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN).
  • He is currently playing for the New York Knicks (NBA.com official bio).
  • His mother passed away in 2020.
  • His father is Dominican-American; his mother was African-American.
  • He averages 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game (NBA.com official bio).

What’s unclear

  • Current relationship status with Jordyn Woods (reportedly no longer together as of 2024).
  • Whether he has any children.
  • Specific current religious practices (Catholic upbringing referenced, but current practice is unconfirmed).

Why this matters: with low research confidence in the personal life topics, readers should treat relationship, fatherhood, and religion claims as unverified fragments — not confirmed facts.

Quotes from Towns and those close to him

“It’s something I deal with every single day. Every single day I think about her.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns on the loss of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, in a verified interview with NBA.com official bio

“He’s one of the most skilled big men I’ve ever played with. His ability to shoot and pass at his size is rare.”

— D’Angelo Russell, former teammate, in a press interview

The pattern: Towns’ emotional openness about personal tragedy and his teammates’ professional respect form a consistent narrative — he is both a top-tier talent and a deeply human figure in the league.

The bigger picture

For the average NBA fan, Karl-Anthony Towns is more than a stat line. His cross-national identity, his journey from a tragic loss to an NBA championship, and his status as a transformative center who can shoot threes all shape his legacy. The verified facts are strong on his career; the personal life remains in the gray area of public speculation. For media outlets covering him, the choice is clear: lean on the Tier 1 sources for everything on-court, and flag personal life claims as unconfirmed — or risk misinforming readers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ net worth?

Exact net worth is not officially published, but his career earnings from NBA contracts and endorsements are estimated in the range of $200–$300 million, based on publicly reported contract values.

What college did Karl-Anthony Towns attend?

He attended the University of Kentucky, playing for the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2014–2015 season (ESPN).

What was Karl-Anthony Towns’ rookie season stats?

He averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in his rookie season (2015–2016) (NBA.com Stats).

Has Karl-Anthony Towns won an NBA championship?

Yes, he won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks in 2026.

What shoes does Karl-Anthony Towns wear?

He currently wears Nike basketball shoes, having signed an endorsement deal with Nike upon entering the league.

How many All-Star games has Karl-Anthony Towns played?

He has been selected to six NBA All-Star games (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024–2026) (Wikipedia).

What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ career points per game average?

He averages 22.9 points per game for his career (NBA.com official bio).

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