Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns is a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. His professional basketball career began when he was selected as the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA draft. A testament to his instant impact, Towns was unanimously named NBA Rookie of the Year in the 2015-2016 season. Throughout his time with the Timberwolves, he consistently showcased his skills, setting franchise records for points in a season and most double-doubles and earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. He also made history as the only player with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 100 3-pointers in a season.

Over the years, Towns' performance on the court has earned him four NBA All-Star titles and two All-NBA Third Team honors. He demonstrated his versatility and prowess by winning the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge in 2016 and the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2022, becoming the first center to do so. Towns also played a pivotal role in ending the Timberwolves' long playoff drought in 2018, and he led the team to the Western Conference finals in 2024, their first appearance in two decades. Before the 2024-2025 season, Towns was traded to the New York Knicks, where he continues to leave an indelible mark on the game.

Apart from his athletic prowess, Towns has shown a commitment to social justice, as evidenced by his receipt of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award in 2024. This award recognized his advocacy for voting rights and his support of Minnesota's state legislation that restored the right to vote to formerly incarcerated people. In addition, he produced a short documentary about the justice system, "Forgiving Johnny." He has represented the Dominican Republic internationally since 2012, highlighting his commitment to community and global engagement.