Karl-Anthony Towns, born on November 15, 1995, discovered his love for basketball early on in his life — a love that would lead him to become one of the most talented players in professional basketball today. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2015 N.B.A. draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and went on to be named N.B.A. Rookie of the Year for the 2015–16 season. He has received three All-Star selections. He also won the 2021–22 N.B.A. Three-Point Contest. You can celebrate his special day with us right here.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Karl-Anthony Towns
Nickname:
KAT, Big KAT, Special-K, Katmandu, The KAT-man
Birth date:
November 15, 1995
Age:
28 years, 5 months
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Height:
6' 11"
Relationship Status:
In a relationship
Net Worth:
$9.0 million
Background
Karl-Anthony Towns has proven to be a true force in professional basketball. A talented player, he has certainly been a valuable addition to every team he’s been in. He was born on November 15, 1995, in Edison, New Jersey. His zodiac sign is Scorpio and his ethnicity is Dominican and African-American. He is the son of Karl Towns Sr. and Jacqueline Cruz, and he has two sisters named Lachelle and Malaika. His father was a basketball coach at Piscataway Technical High School, where Towns practiced with the junior varsity team as a fifth-grader. While attending St. Joseph High School, Towns led its team to state titles three times and earned the top position on the ESPN 25 national ranking of high school players. He was also selected at the age of 16 to play on the Dominican Republic national basketball team.After graduating high school, Towns enrolled in the University of Kentucky, where he studied kinesiology for one year. During his time there, he played for the Kentucky Wildcats, managing to impress scouts, and establishing himself as the consensus first overall pick leading up to the 2015 N.B.A. draft. He was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves, signing his rookie scale contract with the Timberwolves in July and making his N.B.A. debut in the Timberwolves’ season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers in October. In the following game against the Denver Nuggets, his 28 points and 14 rebounds propelled the Timberwolves to their first 2–0 start with two wins on the road in team history.In 2016, Towns became the third-youngest player in the last three decades to have at least 45 points and 15 rebounds in a game at 21 years old. He had his 100th career double-double in the win, becoming the second-youngest player in league history to reach that mark, behind only Dwight Howard. In 2017, he finished in the top 10 in almost every statistical category in N.B.A. history compiled before his 22nd birthday. In 2018, he became the youngest player with 50 points and 15 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O’Neal. That same year, Towns signed a five-year, $190 million super-maximum extension with the Timberwolves. In 2020, he became one of the only five players in N.B.A. history to accumulate over 8,000 points, 4,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in 360 games or less. In 2022, Towns became the first player in franchise history with multiple 50-plus point, 10-plus rebound games, as well as joining Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain as the only centers in the history of the N.B.A. to have a 60-point, 15-rebound outing.
Career timeline
Towns enrolls in Kentucky University and plays for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Towns is selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the first overall pick in the 2015 N.B.A. draft.
Towns signs a $190 million super-maximum extension with the Timberwolves.
Towns records a career-high and Timberwolves franchise-record 60 points in a 149–139 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Karl-Anthony Towns FAQs
Does Karl-Anthony Towns have two last names?
He doesn’t. His last name is Towns, with Karl-Anthony being his full first name.
Can Karl-Anthony Towns speak Spanish?
Being raised by a Dominican-American mother, Towns can understand Spanish, but he can’t speak it well.
Does Karl-Anthony Towns have any tattoos?
No, Towns has not gotten any tattoos yet.
5 Surprising Facts
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He is a record-breaking rookie
Towns earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in each of the 2015-16 season's six months, becoming the first Timberwolves player to do so.
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He has partnered with big brands
Towns has tied up with some major brands which include Nike, Gatorade, Beats by Dre, 2K Sports, Cue Health, ASUS, State Farm, Panini, and more.
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He has had T.V. fame
Off the court, he is known for his acting appearances on “National Champions,” “What Men Want,” Netflix's “High Flying Bird,” and Disney's “Big City Greens.”
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He is minting millions already
Towns’ contract is worth a whopping $158.3 million, making him one of the highest-paid big men in the N.B.A.
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He wants to be a doctor
He hopes to become a doctor after he retires from professional basketball and continues to take online university courses to earn his degree.
Why We Love Karl-Anthony Towns
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He has precocious talent
Practicing with a junior team as a fifth-grader and being selected for a national team in his teenage years, it’s no secret that Towns was ahead of his age. This was a key element in making him the successful professional he is today.
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He is a social media sensation
With so many achievements before even turning 30, it’s easy to see why Towns is making waves in the online world as well. He is big on social media, with over 3.5 million followers on Instagram, over 750,000 followers on Facebook, and almost 700,000 followers on Twitter.
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He gives back to society
He founded the KAT Team Foundation, whose mission is to create a scholarship fund for young adults across the United States and increase literacy in underserved communities. He has also donated to and shown support for several charitable organizations.
Karl-Anthony Towns’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | November 15 | Tuesday |
| 2023 | November 15 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | November 15 | Friday |
| 2025 | November 15 | Saturday |
| 2026 | November 15 | Sunday |
