Towns prefers to play for World Team if picked for All-Star Game

If given the choice, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns says he'd rather play for the World Team instead of the U.S. squad as part of the revamped 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

"One, I hope I make it," Towns told the New York Post's Stefan Bondy. "And two, I hope I'm on the World Team."

Towns, who was born in the United States but has represented the Dominican Republic internationally, is a five-time All-Star and has participated in each of the last two midseason exhibitions. His mother is from the Dominican Republic.

Towns first played for the Caribbean nation at the 2012 Centrobasket tournament as a 16-year-old, earning a gold medal. He then appeared at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, averaging 24.4 points over five contests.

The NBA All-Star Game will continue to have 24 players, chosen through voting by fans (weighted at 50%), media (25%), and players (25%). The only change to the selection process is the removal of frontcourt and backcourt position designations.

Early December projections by theScore had Towns among 16 players picked to play for one of the two USA teams. The new All-Star format will also feature an eight-player international squad.

"If the All-Star voting does not result in the selection of 16 U.S. players and eight international players (which can include American players with ties to other countries if necessary), then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum," according to an NBA statement on the new format.

Towns, 30, is averaging 22.3 points on 47.6% shooting with 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 29 contests for the Knicks this season. New York is 22-9 on the season and occupies the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings, 1.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons.