NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns has declared his plans to contribute to the construction of a cutting-edge basketball training facility in the Dominican Republic as a memorial to his mother.
Despite being born in New Jersey, attending college in Kentucky, and playing his whole NBA career in Minnesota, the forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves has never forgotten his roots in the Dominican Republic.
Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, his mother, passed away in April 2020 as a result of COVID-19-related complications. She was her son’s rock, the mother who taught him about religion and family, sacrifice, and hard work.
In honor of his mother, Towns has competed at the junior level for the Dominican Republic in several international competitions since 2011. He most recently played a standout role for the island nation in the Philippines during the 2023 World Cup, averaging 24.4 points throughout five games.
Towns will collaborate with GO Ministries and World Youth Clubs to establish the facility. He told the Associated Press, “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.”
Towns, who is set to begin his tenth professional season and is a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA pick, believes the facility will be an atmosphere where children can receive excellent coaching along with physical rehabilitation, classroom space, meeting space, and other amenities.
The property that houses this basketball facility is also home to four baseball fields, two soccer fields, covered outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, and an educational building.
The 28-year-old said it took time to identify the right people to carry out the programs on the ground. Nevertheless, he indicated that the “building blocks are set” at this point.
“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.”
He said of the facility, “It is the safe haven for some of these kids who have found themselves in different situations and have a lack of resources.”
“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.”
The facility is expected to be completed in 2026, and groundbreaking is scheduled for next year in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
