Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns reveals he tested positive for COVID-19

Karl-Anthony Towns has dealt with tragedy all year after losing his mother and six other family members because of the coronavirus. Now, the Minnesota Timberwolves center has more hardships after testing positive for the virus himself.

"I received yet another awful call that I tested positive for COVID," Towns wrote on his Twitter account Friday. "I will immediately isolate and follow every protocol. I pray every day that this nightmare of a virus will subside and I beg everyone to continue to take it seriously by taking all the necessary precautions."

The NBA postponed the Timberwolves' game for Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies because Minnesota did not have at least eight healthy players available due to contact tracing.

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Last week, 16 out of  497 NBA players tested positive for COVID-19. But Towns' infection highlights the virus' dangerous and unpredictable nature because of his family's history.

Towns' mother, Jacqueline Cruz, died on April 13, less than a month after Towns announced on his Instagram account that both of his parents contracted the virus. Towns' dad, Karl. Sr., has since recovered from the virus. But Towns revealed in early December that six other family members died from COVID-19.

"I’ve seen a lot of coffins in the last seven months," Towns said in early December. "I have lot of people who I have in my family — my mom’s family — that have gotten COVID and are still looking for answers and trying to find how to keep them healthy. It’s a lot of responsibility on me to keep my family well informed and to make all the moves necessary to keep them alive."

Karl-Anthony Towns revealed his positive COVID-19 test on social media Friday. (Photo: David Berding, USA TODAY Sports)

Since then, Towns has admitted that he hasn't been able to fully enjoy basketball. Though he has expressed appreciation for the support from the Timberwolves' front office, coaches and teammates, Towns has said he has not felt cathartic playing basketball. He has remained grief stricken by his family tragedies.

Towns has averaged 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds on 46% shooting in four games this season. But he has also missed seven games, including six related to a left wrist injury. 

Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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