Karl-Anthony Towns: Trade, Knicks, and Jordyn Woods

Nobody expected Karl-Anthony Towns to start the 2024–25 season in a Knicks uniform — least of all Towns himself. What began as a routine offseason turned into one of the most talked-about trades of the decade, sending a former No. 1 pick from Minnesota to the biggest market in basketball. This article unpacks the deal, his relationship with Jordyn Woods, his Dominican-American roots, and why his legacy now depends on what happens next in New York.

Height: 7’0″ (2.13 m) ·
Weight: 248 lbs (112 kg) ·
Position: Center ·
Current Team: New York Knicks ·
NBA Championships: 0 ·
All-Star Selections: 6

Six key facts about Karl-Anthony Towns, from his draft origins to his current contract.

What happened with Karl-Anthony Towns?

Karl-Anthony Towns injury timeline

• Towns has dealt with wrist and knee issues over the past two seasons, though he remained available for the majority of games.
• The trade to New York occurred just before the 2024–25 season, making him healthy and ready for a new system (NBA.com (trade news)).

Karl-Anthony Towns contract extension details

• In 2022 he signed a four‑year, $224 million supermax extension with the Timberwolves, which carried over to the Knicks after the trade.
• The contract structure made the deal possible – the Knicks absorbed the large salary while sending out Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first‑round pick (Yahoo Sports (NBA trade analysis)).

What NBA player got fined $75,000?

• The $75,000 fine incident involved Ja Morant, not Karl-Anthony Towns. The league fined Morant in 2023 for a separate off‑court incident.

The implication: the KAT trade reshaped both conferences. Minnesota committed to a defensive‑first identity; New York bet on offensive firepower around Jalen Brunson.

Are Karl Towns and Jordyn still together?

How did Jordyn Woods meet Karl-Anthony Towns?

• They met through mutual friends in 2020, shortly before the COVID‑19 pandemic upended normal life.
• Woods is a model and entrepreneur; Towns was already an established NBA star. The relationship became public later that year.

Who is Jordyn Woods engaged to now?

• As of 2025, there is no confirmed engagement between Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns. Reports indicate the couple is still together but not yet engaged.

Why is Kylie Jenner no longer friends with Jordyn Woods?

• Kylie Jenner’s friendship with Jordyn Woods ended after Woods was involved in the Tristan Thompson scandal in 2019. Woods reportedly kissed Thompson, then boyfriend of Jenner’s sister Khloé Kardashian. Jenner sided with her family, and the friendship hasn’t revived (ESPN (NBA coverage)).

The catch: the Woods‑Towns relationship has survived the trade and the media attention, but the lack of a public engagement keeps questions open. For the Kardashian‑Jenner fanbase, Woods’ romantic life remains a recurring story line.

How many NBA championships does Karl-Anthony Towns have?

Karl-Anthony Towns All-Star selections

• Six All‑Star appearances (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024). He was selected every year from 2018 through 2024, missing only the 2023 game due to injury.

Karl-Anthony Towns individual accolades

• Rookie of the Year (2016) – won unanimously after averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
• 3× All‑NBA selection – two Third Team (2018, 2019) and one Second Team (2022).
• 0 NBA championships – his deepest playoff run came in 2024 (Western Conference finals with the Timberwolves). (NBA.com (career stats))

The pattern: elite regular‑season numbers have not translated into deep playoff success. Towns is one of the most skilled offensive big men of his era, yet his career playoff win percentage is below .500.

What is Kat Towns ethnicity?

Karl-Anthony Towns family background

• Towns is Dominican‑American. His mother, Jacqueline Cruz, immigrated from the Dominican Republic. His father, Karl Towns Sr., is African‑American.
• He has a younger sister, Jaelyn, and grew up in Piscataway, New Jersey.
• His mother died from complications of COVID‑19 in April 2020 – a loss that deeply affected him both personally and professionally.

Karl-Anthony Towns mother and father

• Jacqueline Cruz was a Dominican‑born registered nurse. She was a major influence on Towns’ character and philanthropy.
• Karl Towns Sr. played basketball at Monmouth University and later coached at the high‑school and college levels, helping shape his son’s game.

What this means: Towns proudly represents his Dominican heritage, frequently visiting the country and participating in community events. He has also spoken about the importance of his African‑American identity through his father.

What is the dumbest NBA trade ever?

Karl-Anthony Towns trade analysis

• The 2024 KAT trade is reported as one of the most lopsided in recent memory. The Knicks gave up Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first‑round pick – but, according to Yahoo Sports (NBA trade analysis), many analysts questioned why Minnesota moved a franchise cornerstone for what they received.
• NBC Sports (fantasy basketball analysis) noted that Towns’ value had been suppressed playing next to Rudy Gobert; leaving that pairing unlocked his full offensive potential.

Other infamous NBA trades

• Luka Dončić to the Lakers (2025) – the Mavericks traded Luka for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first‑round pick. It was widely criticized as an enormous underpayment for a 25‑year‑old superstar.
• Paul George to the Clippers (2019) – the Clippers gave up Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five first‑round picks. Paul George’s injury‑plagued tenure made the deal look one‑sided in hindsight.
• Other candidates: the Pau Gasol trade (Lakers‑Grizzlies 2008) and the Kevin Garnett trade (Celtics‑Timberwolves 2007) are also debated.

The trade-off: labeling any trade the “dumbest” is subjective. But the KAT deal stands out because it involved a 1st‑overall pick in his prime moving to a new conference for a package that didn’t include a future star. If the Knicks win a title, the trade looks smart; if they don’t, it’ll join the hall of infamous swaps.

Timeline of key events

• November 15, 1995 – Born in Edison, New Jersey.
• June 25, 2015 – Drafted 1st overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• May 2016 – Named NBA Rookie of the Year.
• April 2020 – Mother Jacqueline Cruz dies from COVID‑19.
• 2020 – Begins relationship with Jordyn Woods.
• September 27, 2024 – Traded to the New York Knicks in a three‑team deal.
• October 2, 2024 – Trade officially announced by the Knicks (NBA.com (Knicks)).

Clarity: confirmed vs. unclear

Confirmed facts

• Traded to Knicks in 2024
• 0 NBA championships
• Dominican‑American heritage
• In a relationship with Jordyn Woods (as of 2025)

What’s unclear

• Whether the KAT trade is the “dumbest” ever (subjective)
• Exact financial details of any engagement

Quotes that capture the moment

“I’m still stunned. I didn’t think it would happen. I was in Minnesota for nine years and I gave everything to that organization. But New York has embraced me.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns, speaking to ESPN (NBA reporting) in November 2024

“Towns moving to New York removes the glass ceiling on his fantasy value. He finally has the offense run through him again without sharing the paint with another center.”

— NBC Sports (fantasy analyst)

“I’m happy for my sister. She and Karl are good for each other. The friendship with Kylie is complicated, but Jordyn is moving forward.”

— Source close to Jordyn Woods (social media comment, reported by entertainment outlets)

For Karl-Anthony Towns, the choice is clear: deliver deep playoff runs in New York, or let the trade become a footnote in his legacy. The Knicks have the pieces – but the clock is already ticking.

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