Former NBA player, Brooklyn native gives back to his community through basketball

A Former NBA player and Brooklyn native gave back to his community with a basketball event at Kaiser Park Sunday.

Isaiah Whitehead, who played for the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2018, held the Isaiah Whitehead Annual Cookout for the fifth year to say thank you to the community that paved the way for his success.

"Just a day for everyone to come out have fun and don't worry about no money and just come out and enjoy themselves with their family and that's about it," says Whitehead.

The event included basketball games, food and more—and it was all free.

This year for the first time, the event also served as the backdrop for championship tournament games for basketball leagues that have been playing the entire summer.

Whitehead grew up in the Surfside Garden Houses and attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. He then attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey before heading to the NBA.