Karl-Anthony Towns, the New York Knicks star, featured for Team World at the game against Team USA Stars at the NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday in Los Angeles. Towns, who is known to be from Edison, New Jersey, caused a lot of confusion as many wondered why he is not in team USA Stars.
Karl-Anthony Towns was representing the Dominican Republic at the NBA All-Star weekend. Despite growing up in New Jersey, Karl-Anthony Towns has Dominican heritage as his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, is from the Dominican Republic. Towns identifies as a Dominican American. He has represented Dominican Republic internationally since age 15.
“Karl Anthony Towns was born in New Jersey what’s he doing on team world?” one user wrote.
“No hate but he’s born and raised in NJ. If we went by that logic wouldn’t everyone be team world? Couldn’t LeBron be team world because of African roots?” said another.
{{/usCountry}}“No hate but he’s born and raised in NJ. If we went by that logic wouldn’t everyone be team world? Couldn’t LeBron be team world because of African roots?” said another.
{{/usCountry}}“I’m so glad karl anthony towns don’t rep the US, dawg we cannot afford to watch that bullshit come Olympic time 😂,” joked one.
“I'm sorry but isnt karl anthony towns from new jersey?” wrote another.
“Karl Anthony Towns on team world is a double agent 😂😂😂 What he doing on team world,” said one.
Though Karl-Anthony Town's appearance on team World sparked a lot of buzz, he had a forgettable game as World lost to team USA Stars 37-35. Towns played eight minutes and scored 10 points. He hit two 3-pointers and three field goals.
French star Victor Wembanyama led the numbers for Team World with 12 points from two 3-pointers and four field goals.
Karl-Anthony Towns' Dominican Roots: What To Know
Karl-Anthony Towns' mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, was born in the Dominican Republic. However, publicly available sources don't specify the exact date or year she immigrated to the United States. Towns was born in 1995 in Edison, New Jersey, to Jacqueline and Karl Towns Sr., who is of African American roots.
Jacqueline passed away in 2020 from COVID-19 complications. Towns has honored by representing the Dominican Republic internationally in basketball since age 15.