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Karl-Anthony Towns Wins NBA Championship, Honors Late Mom

2026-06-23 · Karl-Anthony Towns · Player Focus

Karl-Anthony Towns won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks on June 13, and he honored his late mother Jacqueline Cruz-Towns in a postgame interview.

The Knicks' legendary NBA Finals victory was a special moment for Towns, who shared a message for his mother during an interview with ESPN.

Jacqueline Cruz-Towns passed away on April 13, 2020, due to complications related to coronavirus, after being admitted to the hospital and placed on a ventilator.

Towns was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the time of his mother's death.

Towns felt his mother's presence during the first game of the NBA Finals, and he said it gave him confidence and calmness.

He also said he always feels his mother's love and presence, especially in challenging moments like the NBA Finals.

The basketball player shared that losing his mother has shaped his life perspective and helped him prepare for the pressure of his first NBA Finals.

Towns said his mother was an incredible source of strength and a fiery, caring, and extremely loving person who touched everyone she met.

He also said he always looks for signs and prays to feel his mother's presence, and he feels her grace and patience in his life.

Towns' father was also infected with coronavirus but was sent home to quarantine, while his mother was hospitalized.

The New York Knicks' NBA championship win was a historic moment for the team and for Towns, who was able to honor his mother's memory in a special way.

Karl-Anthony Towns' statement about his mother's presence during the NBA Finals was a heartfelt tribute to her memory.

The NBA player's ability to feel his mother's presence and love has been a source of comfort and strength for him throughout his career.

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