Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns’ mother dies from COVID-19 complications

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced on Monday that superstar big man Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mother, Jackie Towns, due to complications from coronavirus.

Less than two weeks ago, Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Karl-Anthony Towns announced that his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, was in a medically-induced coma due to coronavirus, or COVID-19.

On Monday, a statement was released from a Towns family spokesman that confirmed the worst possible outcome had been realized, as Mrs. Towns passed away from complications of coronavirus.

Here are the statements, first from the Towns family and then one from the Timberwolves organization.

As noted in Towns’ Instagram video from nearly two weeks ago and in the family’s statement above, Karl-Anthony’s father, Karl Sr., also contracted COVID-19 but was discharged from the hospital over a week ago and has made a full recovery.

The passing of Jackie Towns is one of, if not the first death reported that is directly connected to the NBA and one of its current players or coaches. No doubt, this is news that hits close to home of so many members of the league, as well as anyone who covers the league or is a fan. Jackie Towns was only 58 years old.

Here are a few tweets players, including current and former teammates, and others around the league and their individual reactions following the devastating news.

Over the weekend, a popular New York City sports photographer, Anthony Causi, passed away due to COVID-19. He was just 48 years old and someone who was involved in the lives of players, coaches and executives in every major sport.

As expected, the coronavirus continues to impact the lives of plenty of people in the public eye. While obviously devastating, the hope is that, as Towns stated in his previous video, this will bring awareness to just how deadly this virus can be, and encourage folks to take it seriously.

As the pandemic continues throughout the world and the sports hiatus appears to still not quite have an end in sight, please keep the Towns family, the Causi family, and anyone else affected by the disease in your thoughts and prayers.