Karl-Anthony Towns has experienced immeasurable heartbreak in the past 14 months. His mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March 2020 and placed in a medically induced coma. She died 19 days later, on April 13, at age 58. Towns lost six more family members, including his grandmother, to COVID-19 and then endured his own “scary” experience with the disease that caused him to miss 13 games early in the season. He was also hit by a car during the offseason.
Through it all, Town’s father has been a source of strength for him.