D.J. Augustin has 3,427 assists in his NBA career. But the Orlando Magic point guard is making bigger contributions in his hometown of New Orleans, which has been devastated by the coronavirus.

Augustin recently made a donation to Krewe of Red Beans that provided food for frontline hospital workers who are treating patients with COVID-19.

“They’re getting red beans and rice. They’re getting quality food,” Augustin told The Undefeated. “It’s not just McDonald’s or cold deli sandwiches. It’s quality food for these doctors and nurses to fuel their bodies for what they’re doing. Some of them were going all day without eating.”cheap nfl nike jersey

Augustin and his wife, Brandy, have been in Orlando, Florida, since the NBA suspended the 2019-20 season due to the coronavirus on March 11. They were alarmed by the effects of COVID-19 nationally, but especially in New Orleans, which has been one of the hard-hit cities in the country.

“I have so many family members and friends in New Orleans who are dealing with this every day. It’s different for me. It’s really scary. People don’t understand until it affects them directly,” Augustin said. “New Orleans is so community-based. Everybody knows everybody. It’s tough to deal with right now. But we got to get through it, and stay strong.”

Augustin, 32, was born in New Orleans and his family lived in the Gentilly neighborhood. The 2004 New Orleans Times-Picayune High School boys basketball player of the year won two state championships at Brother Martin High School. But the Augustin family was forced out of New Orleans and lost their home due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Augustin finished the final season of his high school basketball career in Houston before joining forces with NBA star Kevin Durant at the University of Texas.nike nfl cheap jerseys

Augustin still considers New Orleans home and gives a free basketball camp there every summer. Nightmarish memories of how New Orleanians were affected during the deadly Hurricane Katrina inspired him and his wife to help their hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My wife and I being New Orleanians coming from Katrina when we were young, we saw the aftermath is when people needed the most help,” Augustin said. “We were talking about it, seeing how we can help now and after all of this is over.”