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.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tndmh4xcTPU
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.