Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns said on Friday that his test was positive for COVID-19.
The diagnosis is especially difficult for Towns, whose mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, died at age 59 on April 13 of complications from COVID-19. She had been dealing with the virus for a month.
Towns said before the season that six other family members also died from complications of the virus.
“Before tonight’s game, I received another horrible call with a positive COVID test,” said Towns in a shared statement on social networks. “I will isolate immediately and follow all protocols. I pray every day that this virus nightmare will subside and I beg everyone to continue to take it seriously, taking all necessary precautions. …
“It breaks my heart that my family, and particularly my father and sister, continue to suffer from the anxiety that accompanies this diagnosis, as we know very well what the end result may be. For my niece and nephew … I promise you I will not end up in a box next to Grandma and I’ll win this. “
Minnesota announced earlier that its Friday night game against the Memphis Grizzlies was postponed because of contact tracking in the Timberwolves’ organization.
Gersson Rosas, the team’s president of basketball operations, said at a news conference on Friday that the organization has had two positive tests in the past two days and that a player is in the league’s contact tracking protocols.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Rosas of Towns’ diagnosis. “For him to have to go through this, for Karl Sr., his sister and nieces, it’s heartbreaking.”
Towns, 25, lost six games this season due to a wrist injury, but returned to the court last week. He averages 22 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in four games.