The NBA World Reacts To The Tragic Passing Of Karl-Anthony Towns Mother Due To Coronavirus

The NBA world was given some awful news Monday, as it was announced that Jacqueline Cruz, the 58-year-old mother of Karl-Anthony Towns, passed away following her month-long battle with COVID-19.

Via a statement from a Towns family spokesperson:

“Jackie, as she was affectionately known among family and friends, had been battling the virus for more than a month when she succumbed on April 13,” the statement read. “Jackie was many things to many people — a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. The matriarch of the Towns family, she was an incredible source of strength; a fiery, caring, and extremely loving person, who touched everyone she met. Her passion was palpable and her energy will never be replaced.”

Towns’ father, Karl Sr., also contracted the virus, but was able to make a quick recovery.

Jacqueline’s death comes three weeks after Towns revealed his mother was placed under a medically-induced coma due to worsening symptoms. The 24-year-old then announced that he was donating $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic to help speed up the development of a test for the disease.

All corners of the NBA world expressed their condolences upon hearing of the tragedy.

As it stands today, 23,000 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S. with more than 120,000 worldwide.