Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns Reflects on Grief After Losing Mother to COVID-19

Towns opens up about the profound impact of his mother's passing and how her memory continues to guide him.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has shared his deeply personal journey through grief after losing his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, to COVID-19 in 2020. Towns reflects on the special rituals they shared during his games and the profound void he felt when she was no longer there to support him. Despite facing additional family tragedies related to the pandemic, Towns has demonstrated remarkable resilience, drawing strength from his mother's enduring influence on his life and career.

Why it matters

Towns' story goes beyond basketball, highlighting the human side of professional athletes and the lasting impact of a parent's love and guidance. His openness about his grief journey can help destigmatize discussions around mental health and inspire others who have experienced similar losses during the pandemic.

The details

Towns recalls his mother's ritual of standing by the stanchion and waving to him during warmups, a source of comfort and motivation. Returning to Minnesota for the first game after her passing was emotionally challenging, as Towns kept looking for her and realized her absence. Beyond the loss of his mother, Towns faced additional family tragedies related to COVID-19, but he has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with his mother's influence remaining the foundation for his personal and professional life.

  • Jacqueline Cruz-Towns passed away from COVID-19 in 2020.
  • Towns returned to play his first game in Minnesota after his mother's passing.

The players

Karl-Anthony Towns

A standout center for the New York Knicks who has experienced a profound grief journey after losing his mother to COVID-19.

Jacqueline Cruz-Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns' mother, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020, and whose enduring support and influence continue to shape her son's life and career.

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What they’re saying

“Usually, her ritual with me was, I'd be doing my warmup lines, we'd run out, we'd go into our two lines, and we'd start doing our layup lines. My mom made it her thing to stand next to the stanchion and just wave at me. It felt great, being your mom's there, nothing can be wrong. She got me.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns (theconwaybulletin.com)

“I remember that first game back in Minnesota, I kept looking and kept thinking someone's gonna show up, and no one's gonna show up, so it was a different feeling.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns (theconwaybulletin.com)

The takeaway

Karl-Anthony Towns' story serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact a parent's love and guidance can have, even after they are gone. His openness about his grief journey can help destigmatize discussions around mental health and inspire others who have experienced similar losses during the pandemic.