As COVID-19 cases break records across the United States, Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns revealed he has lost seven family members to the virus.
I’ve been through a lot, obviously starting out with my mom,” Towns told reporters during a video call Friday.
“Last night I got a call that I lost my uncle. I feel like I’ve been hardened a little bit by life and humbled,” said Towns. “I’ve seen a lot of coffins in the last seven months, eight months. But I have a lot of people who have — in my family and my mom’s family — who have gotten Covid. I’m the one looking for answers still, trying to find how to keep them healthy. It’s just a lot of responsibility on me to keep my family well informed and to make all the moves necessary to keep them alive.”
Towns lost his mother Jacqueline last April, and his father, Karl-Anthony Towns Sr., contracted the virus but recovered.
The five-year veteran admitted this season will be a challenging one.
“I play this game more because I just loved watching my family members seeing me play a game I was very successful and good at. It always brought me a smile when I saw my mom at the baseline and in the stands and stuff and having a good time watching me play,” Towns said. “So it’s going to be hard to play. It’s going to be difficult to say this is therapy. I don’t think this will ever be therapy for me again. But it gives me a chance to relive good memories I had.”
Towns donated $100,000 to the Mayo clinic to help their COVID response.
The Timberwolves tip off their season at home on Dec. 23 against the Detroit Pistons.