The New York Knicks are making a historic run in the NBA Finals, thanks in part to the efforts of their Latino duo, Karl-Anthony Towns and José Alvarado. Towns, the Knicks’ All-Star center, and Alvarado, a Brooklyn native of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, have become fan favorites in New York.
Representing Their Roots
Towns, who grew up in New Jersey, has proudly embraced his Dominican identity throughout his career. He chose to represent the Dominican Republic on the international stage, despite interest from the USA, and helped lead the Dominican national team to a gold medal at the 2012 Centrobasket Championship.
Alvarado, on the other hand, has become one of Puerto Rico’s most recognizable basketball ambassadors. In 2025, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade named him its Athlete of the Year, recognizing both his accomplishments on the court and his impact on the Puerto Rican community.
A Larger Story
The success of Towns and Alvarado is part of a larger story about the history of Latinos in professional basketball. Players such as Carlos Arroyo, J.J. Barea, Al Horford, and Manu Ginóbili have demonstrated that Latino athletes can become stars, champions, and future Hall of Famers.
Today, the NBA includes players whose roots trace back to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Their influence extends well beyond the athletes themselves, with Latino communities becoming some of the league’s most passionate fan bases.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
