Tragic Loss: Nathan Barrett, Brother of NBA Star RJ Barrett, Passes Away

Nathan Tyler Barrett, the younger sibling of former Knicks standout and current Raptor RJ Barrett, tragically passed away on Tuesday, as confirmed by statements from both the Raptors and Canada Basketball, speaking on behalf of the Barrett family.

Nathan’s departure occurred in the presence of his family, church community, and friends, according to the statement. No specific details regarding the circumstances of his passing have been disclosed publicly.

Expressing their profound grief, the Barrett family emphasized their commitment to treasuring the moments shared with Nathan, portraying him as a young man of devout faith and exceptional qualities, including thoughtfulness, kindness, love, and ambition.

While requesting privacy during this challenging time, the family expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers extended to them.

Ahead of Thursday’s game in Portland, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau offered condolences to the Barrett family, acknowledging Nathan’s loss and extending sympathy from the entire organization.

Nathan Barrett had a background in basketball, having played as a guard at Montverde Academy, but he also harbored aspirations of becoming a pilot, according to reports from TMZ.

Chris Stewart, Nathan’s former youth coach, commemorated him in a heartfelt Instagram post, reminiscing about their time together and emphasizing the tragic nature of a parent having to mourn their child.

RJ and Nathan Barrett are the sons of Rowan Barrett, the general manager of Canada Basketball. RJ, who achieved the third overall draft pick by the Knicks in 2019 and spent several seasons with the team, notably did not participate in Wednesday’s game for the Raptors, and it is anticipated that he will be absent for Friday night’s game as well.

RJ’s transition to the Raptors occurred in December as part of a trade deal that involved OG Anunoby moving from Toronto to New York.