NEW YORK — The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) right this moment introduced New York Knicks heart and NBPA Vice President Karl‑Anthony Towns because the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for February. Towns is being acknowledged for his affect in the neighborhood, together with main a digital coat drive to help native households in want, investing in youth growth initiatives within the Dominican Republic, and serving as a constant advocate for social justice and underserved communities. In honor of his efforts, the NBA and the NBPA Foundation will donate $20,000 to Dominican Women’s Development Center.
This winter, Towns hosted a digital coat drive marketing campaign to offer coats to households in want throughout New York. In partnership with Operation Warm, Towns donated 500 coats valued at $12,500, with a further 162 coats contributed by means of his partnership with Target. All coats have been donated to the Garden of Dreams Foundation accomplice SCO Family of Services. Ahead of the Knicks’ Celebrating the Black Experience sport on Feb. 10, Towns met with youth from SCO Family of Services who acquired the coats earlier within the 12 months, additional reinforcing his arms‑on method to group engagement.
Beyond his work in New York, Towns has continued to show a deep dedication to world youth growth and his Dominican heritage. Towns performed a number one position in securing a $3 million funding for a state-of-the-art basketball facility within the Dominican Republic in partnership with Go Ministries to offer coaching and leisure alternatives for younger athletes throughout the area. In 2024, he pledged $1 million to assist break floor for the ability, and forward of the present NBA season, Towns traveled to the Dominican Republic, the place he met with President Luis Abinader to fundraise a further $2 million in contributions in the direction of the ability.
Towns has additionally remained an energetic chief and ambassador for social justice initiatives. He is a dedicated board member of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (NBSJC) and has performed a outstanding position within the 2025 – 2026 NBA/NBPA Pioneer’s marketing campaign – honoring the primary Black NBA gamers – that features former New York Knick Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton. As a part of his engagement, Towns contributed to digital storytelling content material highlighting the legacy of the NBA pioneers and took part in a particular meet‑and‑greet with a recipient of the Knicks’ Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award.
“Giving back to the community is very important to me and partnering with the Dominican Women’s Development Center in New York City will provide daycare for the mothers and kids as well as mental health and healthcare support to new moms and their children,” mentioned Towns. “I am incredibly grateful to receive this award.”
Additionally, whereas on a street journey in December, Towns hosted a particular group occasion in Minnesota, organizing a non-public film screening for greater than 100 youth from HopeKids, a company that helps households with kids going through most cancers and different life-threatening medical circumstances. The occasion underscored Towns’ continued dedication to sustaining significant relationships within the communities he’s performed in all through his profession.
This marks the second Community Assist Award of Towns’ profession, having beforehand earned the honour in November 2021. Towns was additionally named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion in 2024. The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office government and NBA Cares Ambassador for greater than 30 years. He had an unlimited affect on the NBA household and younger individuals globally, touring the world to show the values of the sport and making a constructive affect by means of his kindness and generosity. The legacy he constructed will proceed to reside on by means of the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award, which acknowledges the subsequent era of gamers’ dedication to positively impacting their communities all through the NBA season. Each NBA season has an offseason winner adopted by seven month-to-month award winners. The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier trophy, and every month-to-month winner receives the David Robinson trophy. The NBA and the NBPA Foundation additionally make a donation to the charity or basis of the participant’s alternative. To be taught extra, please go to communityassist.nba.com.
