Rumors

Former Heat player Norris Cole joined Dominican team Metros de Santiago for the remainder of the 2025 season.

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Myke Henry, a former Grizzlies player, joined Dominican team Marineros de Puerto Plata for the remainder of the 2025 season.

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Former Clippers player Brice Johnson signed with Dominican team Metros de Santiago for the remainder of the 2025 season.

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Ex-Bucks player Larry Sanders joined Dominican team Club Sameji for the 2025 season.

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“We’re all looking at the next generation and enjoying the cookouts in the same backyard with the same basketball hoop I was playing with when I was dreaming of being an NBA player,” Karl-Anthony Towns told The Post. “And for my Dominican culture and my family, it hit me in a way that it’s like, these cookouts that I haven’t been around for, for a decade-plus, I have a chance to make them now.” Towns, a product of Piscataway, never lived in the Dominican Republic. His Spanish is spotty, at best. But the center’s link to the community is powerful and mutual, solidified by a decision to represent the Dominican national team despite overtures from powerhouse Team USA.

New York Post

His mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, died from COVID-19 at just 60 years old in April 2020. She was responsible for not only the Dominican bloodline, but also exposing Towns to the culture that was important to his decision to represent the nation at the 2023 World Cup. Just last month, Towns announced plans to build a basketball facility in his mother’s hometown of Santiago. He called it a tribute to Jacqueline. “She was such an amazing lady. She was wonderful. She is what you would call a true Dominican mom, with all the whistles,” said Felipe Lopez, the former St. John’s star who met the Towns family over a decade ago.

New York Post

Karl-Anthony Towns was born in New Jersey, went to college in Kentucky and has spent the entirety of his NBA career in Minnesota. His roots, however, are in the Dominican Republic. To continue paying homage to his late mother's homeland, Towns announced plans Thursday to help build a state-of-the-art basketball training facility in the country, one where children will get top-notch coaching and access to physical therapy, classroom space, meeting space and more. Groundbreaking in Santiago, Dominican Republic, is set for next year, with plans calling for completion in 2026.

ESPN

Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader awarded Al Horford with the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella in the degree of Knight -- the country's highest honor. Horford, who was accompanied by his wife and kids and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla on his trip home, was overwhelmed with emotions upon receiving the honor.

CBS News

"I knew I was going to come meet the president, but I didn't know I was gonna get the highest award for the country," said Horford. "So, very special for me, very special for my family. I feel very proud right now. Very overwhelmed with a lot of emotion. Very, very special day for me today."

CBS News

Noa Dalzell: Al Horford received the Dominican Republic’s highest honor today: “I knew I was going to come meet the president, but I didn’t know I was gonna get the highest award for the country.” “Very overwhelmed with a lot of emotion. Very, very special day for me today.”

x.com

Boston Celtics forward Al Horford returned to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday as an NBA champion and he brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy with him. Accompanied by his wife and children, Horford carried the NBA Finals trophy off the plane with pride to kick off a special homecoming.

NBA.com

“I left here 24 years ago,” Horford said. “It’s crazy … and to be able to come back here with the trophy in hand is something that’s special to me and to my family.”

NBA.com

Former Pistons player DaJuan Summers signed with Dominican team Club Rafael Barias for the 2024 season.

HoopsHype

Former Clippers player Branden Dawson signed with Dominican team Indios de San Francisco for the remainder of the 2024 season.

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