SANTO DOMINGO (NBA) - The presence of Karl Anthony Towns would not have guaranteed the Dominican Republic a spot in the Final of the FIBA Americas Championship last month in Mexico City.

Nor would it have assured the Dominicans of a top-five place in the tournament that was needed to clinch a place in one of next year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

But one thing is for certain.

Towns would have made the Dominicans better.

And rest assured, making them better in future tournaments is what he intends to do.

The big man missed the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup to focus on the 2014-15 season, his one and only year with the Kentucky Wildcats in American college basketball.

And being selected with the first overall pick in June's NBA Draft by Minnesota, he again declined to take part in the FIBA Americas Championship in order to get ready for his first campaign with the Timberwolves.

He had played at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and the year before that, Towns was in the squad that competed at the OQT in Caracas, Venezuela.

"Of course, I will play [for the Dominican Republic] again soon," Towns said.

"There are two things.

"First, the Dominican Basketball Federation gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level possible when I was 15, 16 years old.

"I had a great experience. It really helped me build character, to learn, to see how leaders operate."

As a teenager, Towns had a chance to play alongside Al Horford, Francisco Garcia and Jack Michael Martinez in the Dominican team.

"And also, the fans of the Dominican Republic deserve to have the best team possible at the Olympic Games and the World Cup," he added.

The Dominican fans are excited to see Towns perform in the NBA.

He will have an compete alongside some of the most talented young players in the sport as a member of the T-Wolves.

While it is just the pre-season, Towns has already provided plenty of evidence that he is going to be a very, very good player in the league.

FIBA