Every successful Black athlete has had an influence in their life that starts their path to greatness whether it is their immediate family or a legal guardian. The presence of Black fathers at an early age of childhood development is often overlooked. Black fatherhood is important for the development of black children. The stereotype of Black fathers as “absent” and Black children as “fatherless”— was first introduced over 50 years ago and the myth is still prevalent to this day.
Many times, we hear the stories of athletes being raised by single mothers who are revered and celebrated for their hard work in getting their children to where they are. In the same breath, we hear the story of the absent father that’s not involved in the lives of their soon-to-be professional athlete children.
The truth is Black dads are involved. According to a 2013 report by the CDC, Black dads—whether they live with their children, or not—are more actively involved in their children’s lives than other races.
The report also says that Black fathers who live with their children are more likely than fathers of other races to provide physical care for their young children, read to their children, and help their children with their homework—all on a daily basis—than fathers of other races who also cohabitate with their kids.
Black fatherhood, in any capacity, brings a positive outcome on a child’s life. The report adds that, among dads who don’t live with their children, Black dads are more likely to be involved in care than any other race. The report always reveals that non-residential Black fathers are also the least likely to report that they’re not at all involved in the care of their children. These variables make one thing clear: Family structure doesn’t matter as long as the child has quality time and positive involvement with their father.
Just being involved provides a positive impact for childhood development. Serena and Venus Williams have dominated the tennis world for decades. Their dad, Richard Williams, recognized their raw talent at an early age but had it not been for his dedication to the sport and their disciplined childhoods, they probably wouldn’t have ever played tennis at all.
Richard never had any interest in tennis until one day while sitting in Long Beach home, he caught a broadcast of the prestigious French Open. It wasn’t the competitiveness that caught his eye but instead the prize money — $40,000 to the tournament winner — that garnered his interest.
That day, Richard decided that he’d raise champion tennis players, no matter what it took. The Williams sisters began their tennis lessons in their native Compton neighborhood. However, at that time, the neighborhood was plagued with drugs and violence throughout the 1980s as gangs tended to control the local parks and tennis courts, which were generally rundown.
Richard often had to argue with and even fight gang members in order to get court time. He was vigorously dedicated to turning his daughters into champions and he succeeded. Years later, the Williams sisters are arguably the greatest to ever play tennis.
The tale of Black fathers being active in their children’s lives continues with LaVar Ball who delivered on his promise of getting his sons into top NBA draft picks.
“It is not an accident,’’ said Mel Sims, who coached Lonzo, LaMelo and their brother, LiAngelo, when he was an assistant coach at Chino Hills High School in Southern California. “LaVar dedicated his life to his boys, developing them,’’ he told USA Today.
Over the years, LaVar was determined to help his sons with their growth. His wife, Tina, took care of the schoolwork and LaVar took care of basketball.
Sims was Tina’s basketball coach at Alta Loma High School and helped her get a scholarship to California State University at Los Angeles. That’s where Tina met LaVar, who was a member of the men’s basketball team. They married and had their three sons.
At Chino Hills High School, Lonzo and LaMelo became elite playmakers. LaVar pushed the coaching staff to use the same freewheeling style of basketball LaVar used when he was coaching his sons in AAU basketball.
However, it came with spats and disagreements between the two sides including shouting matches at summer league games and scrimmages.
In 2015-16, all three Ball boys played for Chino Hills and the team went 35-0 and won national championships. Lonzo ended up attending UCLA for one year before declaring for the 2017 NBA draft. LaMelo ended up playing overseas instead of enrolling in college. LiAngelo attended UCLA but was dismissed from the team due to disciplinary reasons that happened on an overseas trip.
Years later, Lonzo Ball, LaVar’s oldest son, the former No. 2 pick of the 2017 draft is on the New Orleans Pelicans. LaMelo Ball, LaVar’s youngest son, was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
This was achieved because of LaVar’s hands-on approach to the game of basketball. Ball exerted control over the direction of his children’s future. He taught his boys what they needed to know and trained them to handle competition against stronger and bigger players. He made sure they weren’t taken advantage of and were given the tools to succeed.
Many of us have seen first-hand what Richard Williams and LaVar Ball have done in developing their children. Both of those men saw the talent within their children and decided to take a hands-on approach to developing it.
As more Black fathers become involved in their children’s lives, we may see another Serena Williams or LaMelo Ball in their future. When that happens, we will have outstanding Black fathers to thank.
