Raptors’ RJ Barrett Faces Personal Loss with Brother’s Passing

The Toronto Raptors and the Barrett family are in mourning following the untimely death of Nathan Barrett, the younger brother of NBA player RJ Barrett.

Nathan passed away on Tuesday, with the family and Canada Basketball, where their father Rowan Barrett serves as general manager, announcing the sad news on Thursday.

The cause of death and Nathan’s age were not disclosed in the statement. The Barrett family expressed their profound grief, remembering Nathan as a deeply principled and caring individual.

“While our family is devastated by this great loss, we will continue to cherish the memories and time spent together,” their statement highlighted. It went on to describe Nathan as a “God-fearing young man of strong character,” known for his thoughtfulness, kindness, compassion, creativity, and drive.

RJ, a key player for the Raptors with an average of 19.5 points per game this season, sat out during Wednesday’s game against Detroit and will also be absent from Friday’s matchup against the Magic due to his brother’s passing.

Nathan shared his brother’s passion for basketball, having played at Montverde Academy in Florida, the same high school RJ attended. RJ moved on to Duke University for a year before entering the NBA draft, where he was picked third overall by the New York Knicks in 2019.

The family has asked for privacy during this troubling time. It remains to be seen when Barrett will rejoin the Raptors to resume his 2023-24 campaign.