Brooklyn Nets visit cancer patients at Maimonides

They’re giving back off the court.

Four Brooklyn Nets players visited pediatric and adult cancer patients at the Maimonides Cancer Center, 6300 Eighth Avenue, on Monday, March 27 with gifts in hand and trying to spread some good will during trying times for the patients.

As part of the Brooklyn Nets Foundation, guards Sean Kilpatrick and Joe Harris, center Justin Hamilton, and forward Quincy Acy talked to children, played some games, gave out bobbleheads and autographed t-shirts throughout the day, hoping to do anything they could to brighten the patients’ day.

“It means a lot,” said Hamilton while visiting the pediatric center. “My family has been affected by different illnesses, somewhat what these kids are going through, and it’s really nice to be able to meet these kids and give them a little positivity and help them recover as fast as possible. Just for us Nets to come here, it means a lot for myself and the team. We really appreciate them having us here and we love it.”

Kilpatrick shared the sentiment. “It’s huge  to be able to come here and really try to make their day,” he said. “I think it’s something that’s really important, not only for us but for them and their families. I want to thank (Maimonides) for having us in the Brooklyn Nets family come here and show these guys love. I just want to continue to making these guys proud and happy. We know that they’re fans and support us from a distance and it’s really important for us to come here and see these guys’ faces and let them know that we’re here for them as well.”

The children were appreciative of the players taking time out of practice to mingle with them and their families. “To me, it’s an exciting moment since this is an opportunity that you just don’t get everyday,” said 13-year-old patient Jeffrey Rivas. “Just talking to them is a dream come true.”

“I was really looking forward to this day and it was really nice meeting the players,” added 11-year-old Krystian Charubin. “I like how they have important jobs but they still had the time to come here and visit us. I showed them a firetruck that took me about a day to make. They autographed it and I was really happy they liked it.”

Kilpatrick was touched. “When he showed us the truck that he made, it was something really inspiring for us,” he said. “It may not mean something to the person outside of this building, but it means a lot to us.”