Karl-Anthony Towns is a Dominican-American professional basketball player who plays center and power forward for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Popularly known as KAT, he has developed into one of the NBA’s most accomplished big men.
Born on November 15, 1995, Towns entered the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. His career has included multiple NBA All-Star selections, All-NBA honours, a Rookie of the Year award and major success with both the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
Quick Facts About Karl-Anthony Towns
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. |
| Popular Name | KAT |
| Date of Birth | November 15, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old |
| Birthplace | Edison, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American and Dominican |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Current Team | New York Knicks |
| Jersey Number | 32 |
| Position | Center / Power Forward |
| Height | 7 feet |
| College | University of Kentucky |
| NBA Draft | 2015, 1st overall pick |
| Drafted By | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Wife | Jordyn Woods |
| 2026 Athlete Earnings | Approximately $57.9 million |
Karl-Anthony Towns Early Life and Family
Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. was born on November 15, 1995, in Edison, New Jersey. He grew up in Piscataway, New Jersey, in a family where basketball played an important role.
His father, Karl Towns Sr., played college basketball at Monmouth University and later became a basketball coach. Towns was therefore exposed to organised basketball from an early age.
His mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, was Dominican. Through her heritage, Towns became eligible to represent the Dominican Republic in international basketball.
Towns shared a particularly close relationship with his mother. Jacqueline died in April 2020 after complications related to COVID-19, a loss that Towns has openly described as one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
Karl-Anthony Towns Education and High School Career
Towns attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, where he became one of the country’s most highly rated young basketball players.
He helped St. Joseph win multiple state championships and received several major individual honours. His combination of height, shooting ability and defensive skill attracted national attention.
Towns later committed to the University of Kentucky, where he played under coach John Calipari during the 2014–15 season.
Kentucky finished the regular season unbeaten and entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the strongest teams in college basketball. Towns earned All-American recognition during his only season with the Wildcats.
After one year at Kentucky, he declared for the NBA draft.
Karl-Anthony Towns NBA Draft and Minnesota Timberwolves Career
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
His transition to professional basketball was immediate. Towns produced an impressive rookie season and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2015–16 campaign.
He became the centrepiece of Minnesota’s rebuilding efforts and developed into one of the league’s leading offensive big men. His ability to score around the basket while also shooting effectively from three-point range made him particularly difficult to defend.
Towns earned multiple NBA All-Star selections during his years in Minnesota. He also received All-NBA honours and became an important part of several Timberwolves playoff teams.
One of his most memorable individual achievements came in 2022 when he won the NBA Three-Point Contest. He became the first center to win the competition.
During the 2023–24 season, Towns helped Minnesota reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in two decades.
Karl-Anthony Towns Trade to the New York Knicks
A major change in Towns’ career occurred before the 2024–25 NBA season when the Minnesota Timberwolves traded him to the New York Knicks.
The move brought Towns back to the New York metropolitan area where he had grown up. He quickly became an important part of the Knicks’ frontcourt.
His rebounding, outside shooting and scoring ability added another dimension to New York’s offence. Towns also continued earning recognition as one of the league’s leading centers.
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals during his first season with the franchise.
His time in New York became even more successful during the following season, as the Knicks captured the 2026 NBA championship.
As of 2026, Towns remains a member of the New York Knicks and wears jersey number 32.
Karl-Anthony Towns NBA Achievements
Karl-Anthony Towns has collected numerous honours since entering professional basketball.
His major career accomplishments include multiple NBA All-Star appearances, several All-NBA selections and the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
He also won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2022, demonstrating the shooting ability that distinguishes him from many traditional centers.
Towns has represented the Dominican Republic national team in international basketball as well. His connection to the country comes through his late mother.
In 2024, he received the NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award for his work supporting social justice causes.
He was also inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame as recognition of his basketball accomplishments.
Karl-Anthony Towns Wife and Personal Life
Karl-Anthony Towns is married to Jordyn Woods, a model, entrepreneur and media personality.
The pair had known each other for years before their friendship developed into a romantic relationship in 2020. They publicly confirmed their relationship later that year.
Their bond attracted considerable attention because both had experienced the loss of a parent. Towns lost his mother in 2020, while Woods’ father had died several years earlier.
After approximately five years together, Towns and Woods announced their engagement in December 2025.
They married on August 15, 2026, in Malibu, California. The ceremony took place just months after Towns celebrated the Knicks’ championship run.
Karl-Anthony Towns Salary and Earnings
Karl-Anthony Towns ranks among the highest-paid basketball players in the world.
Forbes estimated that he earned approximately $57.9 million for its 2026 ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes. This figure represents earnings rather than his total personal net worth.
His NBA contract remains his biggest publicly identifiable income source. For the 2026–27 season, his base salary is approximately $57.1 million.
Towns also has opportunities to earn money from endorsement agreements, sponsorships and other commercial partnerships.
Karl-Anthony Towns Net Worth
There is no authoritative publicly verified figure establishing Karl-Anthony Towns’ exact net worth in 2026.
Some celebrity wealth websites publish estimates, but their calculations are not supported by complete public financial records. It is therefore more accurate to focus on Towns’ documented salary and reported annual earnings rather than state an uncertain net-worth figure as fact.
His substantial NBA salaries over more than a decade, combined with endorsements and other business income, have made him a very high-earning professional athlete.
However, earnings should not be confused with net worth because taxes, expenses, investments and liabilities affect a person’s actual wealth.
Karl-Anthony Towns Height and Playing Style
Karl-Anthony Towns stands 7 feet tall and weighs around 248 pounds.
His playing style combines the physical advantages of a traditional center with unusually strong shooting ability. He can score from inside the paint, rebound effectively and stretch opposing defences by shooting from long range.
His three-point shooting has been one of the defining features of his career. It helped establish Towns as one of the NBA players who contributed to changing expectations for modern centers.
His versatility allows him to play both center and power forward when required.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ Career and Legacy
The Karl-Anthony Towns biography is already filled with major basketball achievements. From becoming the No. 1 NBA draft pick to developing into an All-Star and championship-winning Knicks player, Towns has established himself among the prominent players of his generation.
At 30 years old, he remains an important member of the New York Knicks and one of the league’s highest-paid players. His basketball career, international heritage, personal resilience and relationship with Jordyn Woods continue to attract significant public interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Karl-Anthony Towns?
Karl-Anthony Towns is a Dominican-American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. He was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and has earned multiple NBA All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Q2: How old is Karl-Anthony Towns?
Karl-Anthony Towns is 30 years old as of August 2026. He was born on November 15, 1995, in Edison, New Jersey.
Q3: Who is Karl-Anthony Towns’ wife?
Karl-Anthony Towns’ wife is Jordyn Woods, a model and entrepreneur. They became a couple in 2020, announced their engagement in December 2025 and married in August 2026.
Q4: What team does Karl-Anthony Towns play for?
Karl-Anthony Towns plays for the New York Knicks in the NBA. He joined the Knicks after being traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2024–25 season.
Q5: What is Karl-Anthony Towns’ net worth in 2026?
Karl-Anthony Towns’ exact net worth has not been reliably established by authoritative financial sources. However, Forbes estimated his 2026 annual athlete earnings at approximately $57.9 million.
Q6: How tall is Karl-Anthony Towns?
Karl-Anthony Towns is 7 feet tall, or approximately 2.13 metres. His height, shooting ability and rebounding have helped him become one of the NBA’s most versatile big men.
Q7: Where did Karl-Anthony Towns go to college?
Karl-Anthony Towns attended the University of Kentucky and played one season for the Kentucky Wildcats. He entered the NBA Draft after his freshman season and was selected first overall in 2015.
