In 2017, Kevin Porter Jr. was a four-star recruit trying to lead the Vikings to a 5th championship.
Today, the talented basketball player plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, honoring his father at every chance.
He has not hidden the fact that he battled through much in his life. Losing a father at a young age did not help either.
However, it seems like these challenges made him stronger as he’s lived up to his father’s sports career. The basketballer has talked so much about his father that people are wondering about him.
His father’s best sports in high school were baseball and football. So, who is the talented basketballer’s father?
Who is Kevin Porter Jr.’s dad?
Kevin Porter Jr.’s dad is Bryan Kevin Porter Sr., who died in July 2004 from five gunshot wounds. At the time of his death, Kevin was only four years old.
Kevin Porter Jr.’s dad was a great athlete during his schooling days and played various sports at Rainer Beach High School.
His son later attended the learning institution and was teammates with Jamal Crawford, another famous NBA player to come out of the school.
People that knew Bryan Kevin Porter senior state that he was an immensely talented player.
But he allowed himself to be caught up in the life of the streets of Seattle. At 19 years of age, the same time that Kevin Porter Jr. was drafted into the NBA, Bryan was convicted of first-degree murder.
Bethea, Kevin Porter Jr.’s high school coach who coached the basketball player and his son, had the following to say about Bryan Kevin Sr.:
“His dad’s main sport wasn’t basketball, but his dad was a freak athlete. Kevin’s dad could’ve been an NFL linebacker, but his main sport was baseball.
When Big Kev was in little league, he was throwing 80 miles per hour. To me, he was relentless, like Ben Wallace out here.
Big Kev brought [Porter Jr.] to the school a couple of times actually when he was younger, and I had met him. “
What Happened to Kevin Porter Sr?
Kevin Porter Jr.’s father was charged with first-degree murder in August 1993. It was just 15 months after Kevin Jr.’s oldest sister, Keayanna was born.
The primary witness in the case told the police and jury that Bryan had threatened to shoot a girl while in his car. He later pulled the trigger, killing her in the process.
Fortunately for Bryan, the witness later recanted the story and gave another version. It was claimed that she was pressured to say the things she said by the family of the young girl that was murdered.
According to her new story, the young girl with Bryan in the car requested to see his semiautomatic weapon. But, unfortunately, the gun was loaded and cocked, and as she touched it, it accidentally discharged.
And that is how the young girl died. Kevin Porter Jr.’s dad pleaded guilty to the charge leveled up against him.
He was given a four-and-a-half years prison sentence.
When was Kevin Porter Sr.’s son born?
After Bryan was released from prison, he got a second daughter and became pregnant with their third child. Kevin Porter Jr., was born in May 2000.
The couple was happy to have a boy after having two daughters. Kevin Jr. spent a lot of time with his father.
When did Bryan Kevin Porter Sr. die?
Ayanna, Bryan Kevin Porter Sr.’s wife, got a phone call on July 17, 2004, and was informed that her husband was shot.
She rushed to the incident spot, a bar, and found Bryan still breathing with the police and medics at the scene already.
Bryan had been shot five times. According to the story, witnesses told her, he was trying to help a friend who was in trouble.
But unfortunately, he died from five gunshot wounds. Later, Ayanna had to inform the children that their father was not coming home.
She prevented Kevin Jr. from attending the funeral as she did not want him to remember his father that way, lifeless, lying in a casket.
Kevin Jr. wears No.4 to honour his late father
Over the years, Kevin Porter Sr. has been taking advantage of any opportunity he gets to honor his late father. First, he attended the same high school as his father to honor his legacy.
Then now in the NBA, him also wearing a No.4 jersey that holds significant meaning is a tremendous act.
His father was killed when Kevin Porter Jr. was four years old, and he wears the jersey number to commemorate the unfortunate incident.
Also, by virtue of his name, Kevin Porter Jr. carries his father with him everywhere.
So today, it is not strange for him to be stopped in the streets by someone comparing him with his dad, Big Kev.
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Who is Kevin Porter Jr.’s mother?
Kevin Porter Jr.’s mother is Ayanna, who has played a pivotal role in his life.
She was left with the responsibility of raising Kevin and his siblings when their father died, and she did a great job.
Before meeting Kevin’s dad, Ayanna was homeless, fending for herself to take care of her little brother. Unfortunately, she was a victim of her neighborhood as her parents used drugs her entire life.
Her mother went to prison, and she ended up in the system with an aunt who didn’t provide her with the support she desired.
After Ayanna and Kevin started dating, she got pregnant with her first child, and Kevin Sr. took responsibility.
Kevin Sr. was fortunate to grow up with his parents and wasn’t going to allow the mother of his children to be out by herself.
Also Read: What Happened to Luke Bryans Dad?
Who is Kevin Porter Jr.’s brother?
Kevin Porter Jr. celebrated Jamal Crawford for getting signed to play in the NBA. He refers to him as his brother because of the close ties they have.
They went to the same high school in Seattle. This is his family and he grew up threw a highly traumatic life from his very younger days.
Kevin Porter Jr knew his father for only four years, but his passionate dedication throughout his basketball career makes it sound like he knew the man more.
Kevin Porter Jr.’s association with basketball has a close connection to the memories of his father.
Therefore, his journey to the heights of the National Basketball League is both exciting and emotional. Hope you enjoyed this article. Share with us your feedback in the comments section below.
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