His mom would be proud!
Karl-Anthony Towns is a New Jersey native who has spent his entire NBA career as a star player with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now, he has been traded to the New York Knicks in a decision that’s shaken up the league. But while fans in the Midwest and on the East Coast feel the impact of Towns’ trade, the four-time NBA All-Star player has a few pressing matters on his plate. Just a week before the bombshell trade, Towns announced the development of a new project close to his heart, the opening of a youth basketball facility in the Dominican Republic in honor of his late mother, NBA.com reports.
His mom, Jacqueline Cruz, passed away unexpectedly due to complications from COVID-19. A native of the Dominican Republic, Towns has always represented his mother’s native country throughout his career. He has represented the DR in multiple international tournaments and recently at the 2023 World Cup in the Philippines. Now, he wants to make sure he stays connected to his roots, working on building a state-of-the-art facility in the DR that will offer athletic coaching, physical therapy, classroom spaces, meeting places, and more.
“I’ve been very fortunate to live the American dream. But for me, having a different set of eyes, seeing it through my mother’s eyes and what she had to do to really even feel like an American, I wanted to bring the resources that we have here to there and give kids the opportunity to have the best equipment and the best chances possible to not only make money for their family but also pursue their dreams,” explained Towns.
The new basketball facility is part of a larger complex that includes two soccer fields, four baseball fields, an educational facility, and several volleyball courts. Towns has been working with officials on the ground in the DR for years, saying it was important for him to give back, and he knew his mom would be proud.
“It was really important for me to give back to my community, a country that’s given me everything, gave me my mother, and gave me this love of the game of basketball. It’s given me the word love, both of family and understanding how to treat people,” said Towns.
He hopes that the new facility will provide more opportunities to youth who are looking to get into sports and open up a world of possibility for them, the same way the game of basketball has done for him.
“To be able to give these kids a chance to dream and to really think of the dream – maybe they don’t make the NBA, the WNBA, professional baseball, become a professional volleyball player or a great soccer player – but now they get to dream. For them to be able to grow their life skills, their social skills, and also to learn how to have a passion and to be determined about something and have dedication, I think this is amazing,” Towns told reporters.
The new basketball facility is set to break ground next year in Santiago, Dominican Republic, with a scheduled completion date currently set for sometime in 2026.
Cover photo: Karl-Anthony Towns Opening Youth Basketball Facility in Dominican Republic in Honor of Late Mother/Photo credit: Getty Images/Olympics