Knicks rookie RJ Barrett has given back in a very big way, donating over $250,000 in medical equipment and sneakers to help those fighting coronavirus on the front lines. And he's doing so in New York and his home country of Canada.
Per the Knicks, Barrett donated PPE to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in New York and 1,000 sneakers for medical workers in Canada. He also donated to the MSG Relief Fund as well as a food bank in Ontario.
"It's inspiring to see how many people and organizations are working together to help make this time just a little bit easier," Barrett said. "If I can be of any help to reduce the burden for even just one person then I'm doing my job."
Barrett joins NBA players like fellow rookie and Duke teammate Zion Williamson, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love, who all were giving back by helping pay the salaries of the workers at the arenas in which they play.
This pandemic may have cut Barrett's season short, but he isn't worried too much about it returning compared to his want to help those trying to flatten the curve.
The Knicks drafted Barrett to not only be a lethal scorer on the MSG floor for seasons to come -- he averaged 14.3 points this year -- but to develop into a leader on and off the court as well. This gesture already shows that the 19-year-old can do just that for his team while helping the communities he loves.
