Karl-Anthony Towns has entered the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Towns' mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, died at 59 last year from complications with COVID-19. Towns said before last season that six other family members had also died from complications with the virus.

Towns missed 13 games last season after testing positive for COVID-19 in January 2021.

"I am a high-risk case," Towns said of his experience with the virus after returning. "COVID did not treat me well whatsoever. A lot of scary nights."