NBA Star Karl-Anthony Town Announces Heartbreaking Personal News

Karl-Anthony Towns, the centre for the New York Knicks, missed his team’s game against the Golden State Warriors earlier this week for personal reasons. It has since been revealed that he was attending the funeral of his long-time family friend, Sarah Holtzman, who had been battling breast cancer.

After taking time to grieve, Towns returned to play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. “I had to be there for my family and for the kids who lost someone really special to them,” he said.

Towns and his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, were close to Holtzman. Woods shared her grief on social media, posting: “(expletive) cancer” after Holtzman’s passing.

Throughout his career, Towns has faced significant personal loss, including the death of his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on these tragedies, he said, “All the losses I’ve had have taught me to appreciate life and find joy in my work. Not many people get the chance to play basketball for a living.”

Towns returned to the team on Thursday with a heavy heart, contributing 12 points and 14 rebounds in 42 minutes of play.