Highland broke down in tears as he spoke about firefighters who saved his life in 2018

Bones High stole the show in the Nuggets’ 114-110 win over the Sixers in Philadelphia, scoring 21 points and a deciding three-pointer in the final. And he did all of this about 30 minutes from where he was born in Wilmington, in front of about 700 of his own people. Among them were the firefighters who saved his life in 2018.

Highland was in high school when his house caught fire. He was in his room, with his grandmother and two cousins ​​(11 months and three weeks old) in the next room. The Nuggets guard could never go to them. Eventually he had to jump from the 2nd floor of his apartment building, which resulted in a serious injury to his right knee (patellar tendon). His 11-month-old cousin and grandmother could not take it and died while his three-week-old cousin lived. Both children were found in the arms of Highland’s grandmother trying to protect them from the exhaust fumes. Four years later, Highland is in the NBA.

In one of the strongest moments this season in the NBA, the Nuggets guard first saw the firefighters and rescuers who gave their lives to present him with a commemorative firefighter jacket.

After the fight – and while he was being idolized – he was invited to speak at the press conference about what the bond he has formed with these people, but also with his entire neighborhood, means to him. And then he could not bear it and bent down.

“It means everything to me to play in front of so many friends and family. “I came back to my hometown and played well, it’s a dream come true for me.” he then said as he calmed down a bit and avoided talking more about the subject. He couldn’t help it with all the memories flooding his mind.