NBA star Kyrie Irving purchased house for George Floyd’s family

NBA star Kyrie Irving purchased a home for the family of George Floyd, the Black man whose death last year sparked months of nationwide demonstrations calling for widespread policing reforms. 

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who was a close friend of Floyd’s, revealed the gift on an episode of “The Rematch” podcast.

Asked about Floyd’s daughter, Gianna Floyd, Jackson said that the 7-year-old recently celebrated a birthday party in Atlanta and said that friends and family “are doing a great job keeping her lifted, keeping her spirits high.” 

“I think the fact that she’s getting so much love from not just us, but from people all around the world, support. I’m just continuing to do what I said I was going to do. I said I was going to be my brother’s keeper, take care of his daughter, make sure that her next days are her best days,” Jackson said.

“And I have a lot of my friends. Kyrie Irving bought them a house. Lil Wayne’s manager bought them a Mercedes-Benz. Barbara Streisand gave them stock in Disney, so I think God has definitely blessed her, and right now she’s doing the best she’s ever done,” he continued.   

On @etanthomas36‘s podcast, Stephen Jackson revealed that Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) bought a home for George Floyd’s family. @DaTrillStak5 also thanked @lilbaby4PF (who paid for Gianna Floyd’s birthday party), @BarbraStreisand and more.

FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/b7PS3C4Y6h pic.twitter.com/tHHe2T9Kyy

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 18, 2021

Irving on Tuesday was asked about the gift, saying that “I just want to keep continuing to fulfill our purpose in serving a lot of the underserved communities,” CNN reported.

A reporter asked Kyrie Irving about the house he purchased for George Floyd’s family: pic.twitter.com/Rp4eAWwgYR

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 19, 2021

“Those don’t necessarily get the same attention from just others around,” he continued. “So just trying to do my part with service, that’s all.”

Jackson said in a statement that Irving had previously asked how he could help Floyd’s family, CNN reported.

“He wanted to help George’s family and I let him know that a house was what they needed at that time and he made it happen in a heartbeat,” Jackson said. 

Floyd died in May after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes during an arrest.

Chauvin is set to be tried later this year on charges of unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers were fired in the wake of Floyd’s death and are facing charges.