It was an eventful season for Gary Trent Jr. Not only did he establish new career highs in minutes and points-per-game, but he was also traded for the first time: he went from Portland to Toronto in a deal at the NBA’s trade deadline. Trent was a good fit in Toronto, starting 15 of 17 games, and he seems to figure into the team’s long-term plans.
In an ideal world, he’d be sharing all of this with best friend Jordan Bolton. Trent and Bolton have been best friends since childhood, a friendship that they maintained through college even while playing for different schools and in different divisions.
But while Trent was destined for the NBA, Bolton saw his career cut short — and his life changed forever. A drug overdose led to an accident and a spinal cord injury and left Bolton paralyzed from the chest down. Doctors said he had a 5% chance of recovery.
Trent was at his friend’s side within weeks. And in the three years since the injury, he’s been a constant source of support. “The word friendship means being there for somebody, being accountable, and always being there for them: good or bad,” he told ESPN.
That’s meant phoning Bolton every day to check in on his rehab. And when time allows he’s at Bolton’s workouts in person, helping his friend slowly regain the use of his body.
“I really can’t put into words how much of a great friend and guy he is,” Bolton says. “He does a lot of things behind the scenes that people don’t see.”
