Good Sports: Fresno native, NBA player AJ Johnson visits Valley Children's Hospital

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- This week astatine Valley Children's Hospital, AJ Johnson was giving back.

The Fresno autochthonal conscionable wrapped up his 2nd twelvemonth successful the NBA.

AJ went to San Joaquin Memorial, wherever helium played with chap NBA subordinate Jalen Green.

When COVID hit, AJ transferred to Taft High successful Los Angeles.

Johnson went successful the archetypal circular to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier being traded this past twelvemonth to the Washington Wizards.

As helium settles into different city, he's remembering his roots.

"It means everything to me," Johnson said. "This is wherever I'm from, particularly Valley Children's. They took attraction of my member erstwhile helium was eight, truthful I've ever got emotion for them."

AJ's youngest member was treated for diabetes.

"It was a agelong journey," says their mom, Ashley Bufford. "It's bully to spot my babe coming backmost to springiness backmost to the kids that are here. Brings backmost a batch of memories."

Now, determination are affirmative memories for the patients going done their ain battles.

"They were truly benignant astir it to travel to the hospital," says diligent Rilee Mejia.

"They've been great, and having this visitant has truly been day-brightening," says Elizabeth Whiteman, a parent of a patient.

A erstwhile five-star enlistee is showing what it means to beryllium a prima successful the NBA.

"Proud of his (AJ's) accomplishments, however focused and however helium keeps astonishing america with everything that he's accomplishing, going retired determination and tackling the world," Bufford said.

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