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Rex Chapman, one-time NBA guard turned opioid addict, is using his fame to help others.
The former Kentucky standout and current Wildcats TV and radio announcer has become a star again with his funny “Block or Charge?” Twitter videos that has been turned into a 30-minute blooper show on Adult Swim. The former sharpshooter also posts videos of heartwarming (“This is the content I’m here for”) and funny moments.
The 52-year-old is hoping to put that to good use as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down the country.
He posted a video on Twitter to his over 575,800 followers, announcing he was partnering his Rex Chapman Foundation, which helps young people battle opioid addiction, with the Blue Grass Community Foundation in Kentucky to support coronavirus research and help those in need.
“I want to try to raise a bunch of money,” he said. “Just know, coast to coast, wherever you donate, wherever you are, if you donate to this fund, it will be able to be dispersed to any and all non-profits in every state in this country. So donate if you can. If you can’t, don’t. But if you can afford it right now, let’s do some good.”
Rex Chapman waves to Kentucky crowdGetty ImagesChapman, who spent 12 years in the NBA with the Hornets, Bullets, Heat and Suns, noted hours later that he already had over 1,700 donations totaling just over $100,000.
At the start of the video, Chapman offered insight into his own struggles, recalling how he was once living out of his own car, and only got back on his feet after so many people helped him. In 2014, he hit a low, charged with nine counts of retail theft and five counts of trafficking stolen property. He checked into rehab and remade his life.
“There were times when I thought I would be way happier and healthier if I just stayed off of social media,” Chapman told the LA Times in November. “Now I see it’s really what you make it. You can focus on the negative and get yourself down or you can focus on the stuff that makes me and others feel good. I’ve had enough negative stuff… I’m happy I get a chance to be a small part of the good.”
Now, he wants to help others in this crisis.
