Nathan Barrett, the younger brother of RJ Barrett, the small forward for the Toronto Raptors, tragically passed away on March 12, 2024, at just 19 years old. He was studying at Montverde Academy in Florida with aspirations of becoming a pilot. However, in early February 2024, he fell ill and returned home to Toronto, where he was admitted to intensive care at Sunnybrook Hospital.
Despite the best efforts of medical professionals and his family, Nathan’s condition worsened, and he passed away a month later.
Nathan Barrett’s Passing Was a Heartbreaking Loss for the Barrett Family
The Raptors recently honored the late younger brother of their guard on the anniversary of his passing. At Scotiabank Arena, a touching tribute appeared on the big screen, displaying a heartfelt image of Nathan and RJ. The moment served as a reminder of the deep loss suffered by the Barrett family and the love and support surrounding them.
Nice gesture from Raptors on anniversary of Nathan Barrett’s passing. RIP. pic.twitter.com/Prl48w0He3
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) March 10, 2025
At the time of his death, the Barrett family released an emotional statement describing Nathan as “a God-fearing young man of strong character” and remembering him as “thoughtful, kind, and loving.”
“While our family is devastated by this great loss, we will continue to cherish the memories and time spent together,” the statement read. “Nathan was a God-fearing young man of strong character. He was thoughtful, kind, loving, compassionate, creative, admirable, and driven.”
The family did not disclose the cause of death, but the loss was deeply felt across the basketball community. RJ Barrett was devastated by the passing of his younger brother and took time away from the team to grieve with his family. When he eventually returned to the court, he spoke about how basketball became a source of comfort for him.
“It helps me every day to be here, and also just be on a schedule and just be around the guys. Hanging out with your teammates… they’re funny, you get to hang out with them, you get to go practice and even support the guys when I’m not playing. Whatever it is, just being around has been helping a lot.”
Nathan Barrett’s Basketball Journey Was Promising
Nathan Barrett shared his family’s passion for basketball. His father, Rowan Barrett, is Canada Basketball’s general manager.
He attended Montverde Academy, a prestigious institution known for its elite basketball program. Standing at 6-foot-1, Nathan played as a guard for the Center for Basketball Development (CBD) team during his freshman year. His aspirations were clear—to improve his shooting skills and eventually play college basketball, with dreams of reaching the NBA.
Montverde Academy also paid tribute to Nathan, remembering him as a kind and hardworking individual.
“Nathan was a valued member of the Montverde Academy community. He was a kind, wonderful person and a bright, hardworking student with a cheerful smile.”
Though his journey was tragically cut short, Nathan Barrett’s memory continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Meanwhile, RJ Barrett has continued his journey with the Raptors.