Nuggets Forward Braxton Key Explains The Importance Of Financial Literacy

When you get to the big leagues in professional sports, you are granted the unique opportunity to use your platform to help others. For Denver Nuggets forward, Braxton Key, using his status as an NBA player to help raise awareness of academic achievement and and financial literacy is important.

“I was fortunate enough to go to a private school, but a lot of African American children are never taught about the importance of academics and financial literacy,” Key told me in an interview for Forbes. “You get taught academics in school. But no one ever truly explains how important those two things are to your future.”

According to Investopedia.com, financial literacy is defined as: “the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.”

In a poll conducted by Ipsos in 2022, it was found that 36% of Americans are not financially literate. That number is even lower among Black Americans.

On top of that, those who are financially literate likely didn’t gain that fluency from school. According to an article published by Civic Science, in 2023, only 21% of people who said they were financially literate said they acquired those skills in school.

That’s why Key decided to dedicate a day in late September (September 29th, to be exact) to come out to John F. Kennedy High School in Denver to speak with the 2023-2024 boys and girls basketball teams about the subject matter.

“When it comes to financial literacy, it isn’t about just having money,” Key explained. “Most of them have part-time jobs. You also need to be smart with your money and know not to spend it all, especially on stuff that isn’t sustainable.”

Key felt that speaking to the kids would be more beneficial in the long run than just simply stopping by and handing out gifts.

“I thought about it from my perspective. I wouldn’t want someone to come in and just give me some gifts and leave,” Key said. “I would want someone to come in and take the time to speak to me.”

Now, that isn’t to say that Key let them go home empty-handed. Along with his words of wisdom, Key gave each child a pair of shorts, a bag, a water bottle, and a clipboard (all from Adidas). He also joked about having to school some of them in hoops after a couple of kids challenged him to a game of one-on-one.

At the end of the day, Key’s goal was to leave a long-lasting impact on the kids. And by the looks of things, that is exactly what he did at John F Kennedy High School.

“[Key’s] presence on campus and the time he dedicated left a profound impact on both the students and the community. Mr. Key’s influence went beyond the realm of basketball, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present,” Matthew Phillips, John F Kennedy High School’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director, told me in an interview.

Phillips continued, “What set Mr. Key apart was his remarkable ability to connect with each student on a deeply human level, transcending his identity as an athlete. The students greatly appreciated the one-on-one time he devoted to them, and this has generated considerable excitement around the basketball program. This impact is particularly notable for a smaller, compressive high school like John F. Kennedy High School, where it has had a substantial effect on school morale and the surrounding community.”

“Furthermore, Mr. Key and his foundation have not only raised awareness within the school but also among their peers and colleagues in the wider basketball community. His warm welcome and personal interactions with the students, including a friendly game of one-on-one, made everyone feel valued and seen.”

“I think it is important to give back,” Key told me. “You never really know what kids go through on their day-to-day. Who knows, maybe a professional athlete coming in to speak to them changes their entire life. Maybe one or two of those kids hear me and get the confidence they need to be where I’m at someday.”

Moving forward, Key hopes to continue teaching children about the value of financial literacy. However, he also has his sights set on participating in initiatives to help more Americans acquire good and affordable health insurance.

“One issue I’ve noticed is how hard it is for some people to get quality insurance. The next step in my charity work is getting involved with how to help more people obtain quality insurance.”

Meanwhile, on the court, his goal is to do whatever is necessary to help the defending champions go from one-hit wonders to the next great NBA dynasty.

“This is my first year with the team,” Key explained. “But there has been a lot of talk about running it back and starting a dynasty, like the 1990s Chicago Bulls or the old-school Boston Celtics. My goal is to help us get to that level someday.”