Puerto Rico is currently a nation in distress after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island nation. But one of Puerto Rico’s native sons is looking to come provide aid to the country in desperation.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is loaning out the team plane to his point guard J.J. Barea to fly some supplies and pick up his family, presumably in the Mayaguez area. The 33-year-old member of the Puerto Rican national basketball team has been very active in efforts to help restore Puerto Rico one step at a time.
Barea confirmed at Dallas Mavericks media day on Monday that he was in touch with some of his family following the storm.
According to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, “They’re OK,” Barea said. “But it’s still rough there.”
Joining other athletes like Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Beltran, he has started a fundraiser to help out Puerto Rico and it has reached over $100,000. He’s now taking a page out of Tim Duncan’s book and going back to his homeland to give back to his people in person.
Following comes from Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Mark Cuban loaned the team plane to J.J. Barea to fly supplies to Puerto Rico. Barea will return tonight with his mother and grandmother.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 26, 2017
Cuban on Puerto Rico aid: "I was really proud of J.J. and how quickly he got involved and how hard he worked to make all of this happen."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 26, 2017
Barea’s wife also posted the following images on Instagram of Barea loading up the Mavs team plane with supplies for Puerto Rico.
Nicole Friedman of the Wall Street Journal reports the hurricane caused “estimated $40 billion to $85 billion in insured losses,” 85% of which occurred in Puerto Rico.
