It has been a year since Canadian NBA star RJ Barrett lost his younger brother, Nathan Barrett, whom he regarded as his best friend.
Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett shared an unbreakable bond with his younger brother, Nathan Barrett, who passed away on March 12, 2025, at the untimely age of 19.
According to reports, RJ Barrett’s younger brother Nathan fell ill for several weeks before he took his last breath at their home in Toronto.
RJ had the opportunity to see his brother before he passed away. He played a game in Denver on March 11 and received news the following morning that Nathan’s condition had worsened.
Upon hearing this, RJ immediately flew back to Toronto and was able to see his brother, who unfortunately passed away later that same day.
Nathan’s passing was a heartbreaking loss for RJ Barrett and his parents. RJ remained silent for weeks, making no public comments about his brother’s death, and took a break from his games.
However, he returned two weeks after his brother’s death and made his first appearance since Nathan’s passing.
In an interview, RJ stated:
“He was my best friend, I’m always missing him. I still text him. I still call him sometimes, It’s just a tough time, but I’m thankful for all the support from everybody.”
NewYork Times
RJ further recalled his brother’s exceptional skills and stated,
“I got basketball, but he got everything else. I can’t draw, I can’t do anything else. I can play cards, though – I can compete, I’ll tell you that. But he had everything else. Whatever he wanted to do, whatever he put his mind to, he could do.”
Moreover, RJ also talked about his late brother’s athletic skills and stated that he was an exceptional basketball player.
Like RJ, Nathan also attended Montverde Academy, where he excelled in basketball. He dreamed of being a pilot and was studying aviation.
Nathan also aimed to play college basketball and pursue a career in the NBA like his elder brother RJ.
He was known for his athletic skills and cheerful and kind nature, and he will always be remembered.
RJ Barrett And His Late Brother Nathan Followed In Their Father Rowan’s Footsteps In Basketball
RJ Barrett was born Rowan Alexander Barrett Jr. on June 14, 2000, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to athletic parents Rowan Barrett Sr. and Kesha Duhaney.
Moreover, RJ Barrett and his late brother Nathan followed in their father Rowan’s footsteps in basketball.
RJ’s father, Rowan Barrett, is a Canadian former professional basketball player who played college basketball at St. John and played for several professional basketball teams, including Lucentum Alicante, Keravnos, Dafni, and many more.
RJ’s father, Rowan, won the Silver Medal in the 1999 FIBA Americup and 1993 Summer Universiade while representing Canada.
He has been executive vice president and general manager of Canada Basketball for over 12 years.
Before that, he served as the Branch Manager and RBC Olympian for RBC and played basketball for 11 years.
Similarly, Rowan is a Scarborough Walk of Fame Inductee, a Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, a Commonwealth Champion, a National Champion, and a World Champion.
While his mother Kesha, a native of Brooklyn, New York, didn’t play basketball, she was a nationally ranked sprinter and long jumper for St John’s University, where she met her husband.
Kesha later pursued her career at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
RJ Barrett’s parents have always been his constant source of support through all his good and bad times, and he often credits them for his successful basketball journey.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- RJ Barrett’s roots trace back to Jamaica through his father, who was born to Jamaican parents.
- His maternal aunt Dahlia Duhaney was a Jamaica team 4 × 100 m relay member that won a gold medal at the 1991 IAAF World Championships.
- RJ Barrett, representing Canada, won the gold medal in the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup and a silver medal in the FIBA America U16 Championship.
