NBA Legends Who Shockingly Disowned Their Children for Unbelievable and Controversial Reasons Revealed
Beyond the Highlights: 11 NBA Legends Who Failed as Fathers
When he showed up at my game, I was so mad.
For all their skill and success on the court, many NBA stars have stumbled in their most important role off it: being a parent. From Larry Bird to Dwight Howard to Dennis Rodman, these 11 players’ stories reveal the painful gap between public triumph and private struggle.
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1. Larry Johnson: The Grandmama Who Let Down His Kids
Larry Johnson’s charismatic “Grandmama” persona hid a much darker reality. By the late 1990s, Johnson had fathered five children with four women, including two with his wife Celeste. But his relationships outside marriage led to years of legal battles and allegations.
Angela Jeffris, a flight attendant, gave birth to Johnson’s daughter Gabrielle on the same day Johnson signed a record-breaking $84 million contract. Yet, she and her daughter struggled on welfare for nine months before the court ordered $4,000/month in child support. Johnson was virtually absent—by age three, Gabrielle had met her father only three times.
Another woman, Laura Tate, claimed Johnson begged her to have an abortion. After their daughter Taylor was born, Johnson was ordered to pay nearly $9,000/month in support plus nanny fees. As his career faded, Johnson filed for bankruptcy, owing over $120,000 in unpaid support and facing accusations from four women of being a deadbeat dad.
Yet, Johnson’s first child’s mother publicly defended him, showing his relationships with his children varied widely. He eventually settled his debts, transferring his Las Vegas home and cash to resolve the claims.
2. Chris Bosh: Custody Battles and Legal Drama
Chris Bosh’s troubles stemmed more from legal disputes than outright abandonment. His ex-girlfriend, Allison Matthysse, accused him of abandoning her during pregnancy and failing to pay adequate support for their daughter, Trinity.
Bosh argued he paid voluntarily and covered medical and educational expenses. The courts sided with him, setting lower support payments than Matthysse sought. The battle dragged on for years, with disputes over custody, reality TV appearances, and even attorney fees. Bosh has emphasized his commitment to fatherhood, but the legal wrangling left a lasting impact.
3. Royce White: Mental Health and Missed Payments
Royce White’s NBA career was brief, but his struggles with mental health and child support have lasted far longer. White advocated for mental health awareness, but his fear of flying and career setbacks led to missed payments and mounting arrears—over $100,000 owed to one mother.
White has defended himself, blaming the court system and claiming he made overpayments. Yet, critics and court records paint a picture of sporadic involvement and persistent debt.
4. Jimmy Walker: A Legacy of Abandonment
Jimmy Walker, the No. 1 pick in 1967, fathered up to 13 children but rarely provided support. His son, Jalen Rose, grew up without meeting Walker, motivated by the hope that his absent father would one day know his name.
Walker sent a letter expressing pride, but Rose waited seven years to open it. They spoke by phone but never met; Walker died before their planned reunion. Rose’s story is a poignant example of generational abandonment—Walker’s own father was absent, too.
5. Dwight Howard: Five Kids, Five Women, and Public Scandals
Dwight Howard’s family life has been marked by allegations of neglect from multiple ex-partners. Royce Reed, mother of Howard’s oldest son, called him “evil and neglectful,” linking her own legal troubles to Howard’s inconsistent involvement.
Other mothers have accused Howard of reducing support payments and using legal tactics to limit access. Howard admits he hasn’t set the right example but insists he provides for his children and regrets his approach.
6. Jason Caffey: Ten Children, Financial Ruin
Chicago Bulls champion Jason Caffey fathered ten children with eight women, leading to child support obligations that drained his $34 million career earnings. He was jailed for unpaid support and forced into bankruptcy.
Caffey later sought redemption, crediting the mothers for his children’s successes and warning young athletes not to repeat his mistakes.
7. Karl Malone: A Troubling Past and Late Reconciliation
Karl Malone’s case is disturbing—he impregnated a 13-year-old when he was 20. The family didn’t press charges, concerned for Malone’s future. He denied paternity for years, provided minimal support, and only reconciled with his children decades later.
His twins with a high school girlfriend also grew up without his involvement. Malone began building relationships with all his children in the late 1990s and 2010s, publicly admitting his past mistakes.
8. Greg Minor: Absentee Fatherhood and Legal Battles
Greg Minor, a Celtics reserve, had three children with his college girlfriend. After their breakup, he ceased contact, justifying his absence by citing ongoing disputes and other priorities.
Financial issues compounded the emotional neglect, with child support fluctuating wildly based on his NBA earnings. Minor eventually reflected on fatherhood as a humbling, ongoing process.
9. Shawn Kemp: Strained Finances, Strained Relationships
Shawn Kemp, a dominant power forward, reportedly fathered seven children with six women. Child support obligations contributed to his financial struggles, but some mothers praised his involvement.
Kemp’s career earnings were eroded by support payments and personal challenges, but he remains connected to several of his children, including those who’ve pursued basketball careers.
10. Larry Bird: The Legend’s Strained Family Ties
Larry Bird, one of the greatest ever, had a distant relationship with his daughter Cory, born after a brief marriage. Bird denied paternity, provided only financial support, and rarely responded to Cory’s attempts to connect.
They eventually met as adults, forging a cordial but not close relationship. Bird has been more engaged with his adopted children, creating a stark contrast.
11. Dennis Rodman: Generational Pain and Public Criticism
Dennis Rodman’s relationship with his children, especially soccer star Trinity Rodman, is perhaps the most painful. Trinity has publicly called Rodman “not a dad, maybe by blood, but nothing else,” detailing years of abandonment and hardship.
Rodman responded with apologies, acknowledging his own absent father and the difficulty of breaking the cycle.
The Hidden Cost of Stardom
Behind every highlight reel, there are stories of children waiting for a call that never comes, carrying the weight of a father who chose everything else over being there. The next time you watch an NBA game, remember: greatness on the court doesn’t always translate to greatness at home.
