Karl-Anthony Cities, the Minnesota Timberwolves middle, spoke with Sports activities Illustrated concerning the struggles he endured throughout the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons following the grief introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, COVID-19 took the lifetime of his mom, his uncle and 5 different relations. This was a nightmare of a illness for Cities as he struggled coping with the grief of dropping a lot household, particularly his mom.

2021 from the beginning hasn’t been a lot simpler for Cities. On Jan. 15, Cities examined optimistic for COVID-19. He quarantined for a number of weeks and even acquired remedy in a hospital. By the point Cities rejoined his workforce on Feb. 1, he had misplaced 50 kilos. 

After lacking simply 5 complete video games mixed over his first 4 seasons, Cities missed 37 video games in 2019-20 and 22 extra in 2020-21, an abrupt departure for one of many NBA’s most constantly out there gamers.

Cities turns 26 in November and — hardened by the trials and tribulations of a tumultuous two seasons — seems prepared to maneuver ahead and go away his troubles behind.

“I’m like, ‘I’m prepared. If we needed to begin immediately. I’m greater than ready. I’m mentally ready to go to Minnesota, dwell in Minnesota, play this recreation of basketball.’ I’ve been working tremendously onerous this offseason. I’ve been engaged on not solely my physique however simply engaged on me,” Cities stated in his interview with Sports activities Illustrated. “I believe I discovered some consolation in the place my life is correct now.”

On Monday afternoon, Cities spoke with press throughout Timberwolves media day the place he was requested concerning the workforce nearly being totally vaccinated and the way he feels about different NBA gamers being vocal about not getting vaccinated. He emphasised the way it’s everybody’s option to get a vaccine, however he’s uninterested in individuals making up excuses that make no sense, equally to what he expressed on Twitter a pair weeks in the past.

“I am very appreciative of these two gamers coming ahead and clearly understanding that every thing’s a alternative. I am by no means going to remove anybody’s alternative. I can strongly recommend one thing,” Cities stated. “Shoutout to these gamers for seeing how necessary it was to me and this group that they went ahead.”