And I think the reason she is who she is today, and the reason why her sons are, because they saw the pain that she went through. Durant makes clear that he reveres Curry: "He didn't have to work this hard, but yet he does.". Kevin has three half-siblings from his mothers second marriage: Brianna, Rayvonne and Tony. In 2016, a biopic titled The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story was made based on the life of Wanda Durant. Rating: NR (LogOut/ Wanda Durant had raised Kevin and his older brother, Tony, as a young, single mother in challenging conditions in Prince George's County, Md. Moreover, he is involved in philanthropy, including photographer and writer for the players' Tribune. Organize and share things you love. A mother of two, Joie Chavis is now a popular Instagram model, having a massive following of 1.6 million subscribers on her social media account. I think this movie shows how sensitive she is and how vulnerable she was. She later married the father of her son and then came the birth of Kevin Durant. The lowest moment in the movie is when she tries to commit suicide. THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BLACK HORROR, Follow Black Cinema Connection on WordPress.com. Although they rarely shared panel time in the 616 Universe, Marvel allowed Jean and Wanda to be friends during the X-Men First Class comics. At that time, Wanda was just 21, and it was difficult for her to look after two children alone. So I was just like, cool!, Kevin shared in his interview with GQ. However, the Knowles family simply abandoned both singers and excluded them from the band, replacing them with Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams. She wasnt out clubbing. As of 2023, Wanda Durant is 55 years old. So Kevin and LeToya split after 10 months of dating, in October 2012. As a single mum of two by the time she was just 21, Wanda tirelessly worked to make ends meet and put a roof over the heads of her young sons. At the age of 21, Wanda Durant was raising two boys on her own in Cheverly, Maryland, and trying to instill in them a sense of purpose and drive. Based on her own experience and realizing that lots of women who have been abandoned by their husbands or the single mothers struggling to take care of their children needed help, she has been dedicating her time to ensure they get the necessities and be able to do things that they want. We had a lot of help. That was always at the forefront with regards to him playing basketball. The inspiring true story of NBA great Kevin Durant's mother Wanda and her dedication to raise one of the greatest basketball players in the world. Sometimes children internalize things in a very peculiar way. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Durant, a single mother, said she did her best to stay engaged as a parent and demand the best from her two sons. And I just did it. Cast: Daniel Bellomy (Kevin Durant), Cassandra Freeman (Wanda Durant), Romuald Hivert (Joel), Tracie Thoms (Demetria), Pauletta Washington (Barbara). Next comes Rayvonne Pratt, whose information is not so much on media. After her separation from her husband, Wanda had been through a tough phase raising her kids. Born on 14 June 1990, Rachel Annamarie DeMita comes from Barberton, Ohio USA. Jasime Shine was the prior entry on the Kevin Durant girlfriend list. Who is Wanda Pratt? However, her son, Kevin Durant, is a multimillionaire with a net worth of around $200 million. Story: Basketball great Kevin Durant of The Oklahoma City Thunder captured the hearts of the nation when he accepted the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player Award with his emotional speech crediting all of his success to his mother, Wanda, naming her the real MVP.. Is Greg Newsome Related to Ozzie Newsome? Moreover, she is the CEO of the motivational platform called Hope, Dream, Believe, and Achieve (HDBA), which she created herself. You kept us off the street. And also it makes me look at my relationship with my mom and look at my sister oh my gosh! In 2015, American model Joie Chavis was rumored to have had a fling with Kevin Durant. Wanda Durant, Kevin's mother, announced the tragic news in an Instagram post on Sunday afternoon. 'I Knew Something Was Wrong': Wanda Durant On Life With Graves' Disease "The real MVP" is bringing awareness not only to Graves' disease, but also the thyroid eye disease often associated with. Wayne, who is in his 50s as for now, left the family, when he was 23. It portrayed the inspiring story of Wanda as a single mother and her struggle while raising one of the greatest NBA players in history. The couple had a child before they officially got married in 1986. You sacrificed for us. Wanda Y Durant, 58. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even that New York Times article that came out and its the same thing. Since Wanda Durant's exact financial details aren't present, instead we decide to display her son income, who is considered one of the highest-earning basketball players worldwide. Wanda Durant attend the 2017 NBA Awards live on TNT on June 26, 2017 in New York, New York. After winning the NBAs Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2013-14, Kevin said his mother, Wanda, was the real MVP for sacrificing everything to raise them. Wanda Durant was born in Cheverly, Maryland, the United States, on September 7, 1967. However, she is barely active on Facebook, and her latest post dates back to 2021. She started playing professional basketball when she was a high school student of Forest Park High School. However, Tony did not pursue a basketball career. And for me that was really hard because your body doesnt know that youre just pretending. I wanted people who would help me carry out the plan and strategy that I had for my sons. And also Pauletta Washington is in this, who is serendipitously Denzel Washingtons wife, and literally from day one, she plays my mother in the movie and you realize that shes the other real MVP in the story. The only way I even got through this was, between takes Id just make jokes. Hes brought such a level of authenticity to what we were trying to work with. The couple was alleged to have known one another for quite some time, with Terezowens.com called the couple an "on again off again" pairing. When Durant was still a newborn, his father, Wayne Pratt, abandoned thefamily. After releasing two albums, Destinys Child and The Writings on the Wall, LaToya and her band mate LaTavia Roberson asked for their own managers to represent their interests beside Beyoncs father, Mathew Knowles, claiming that they felt insecure due to lack of communication between them. She even got the Lifetime movie treatment, details ESPN, such were her remarkable efforts in setting her boys up for successful lives . I went up to her house, we went out for food. Whenever Kevin Durant speaks about his achievements, he never fails to thank his mother, Wanda Pratt. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We was just hanging out, chilling. Durant, whose drafted team of All-Stars will face the one selected by fellow captain LeBron James, has been sidelined with a knee injury since mid-January. Its so interesting. Lastly, Brianna Pratt is the only daughter and sister of three. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Wanda Hyde (Durant, Oklahoma), born in Hayward, California, who passed away on March 22, 2021, at the age of 74, leaving to mourn family and friends. He is also serving as the head coach of the Baltimore Thrill basketball team. 12Sports spoke with Wanda 'Mama' Durant on Thursday at the Footprint Center. "It is with great sadness that we share with family and friends that our Dear Sweet Mama,. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. She is relatively less active on her Twitter handle than on Instagram. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Pratt worked overtwo decades for the federal government and provided for her children. During college, he played for the Texas Longhorns for a season before going for the NBA draft. Today, Pratt and Kevin Durant are close as father and son and also friends. She also helps run The Kevin Durant Family Foundation, through which she tries to help underprivileged families transition into permanent housing. As mentioned above, Wanda married Wayne in 1986 after they fell in love in their teenage days. The couple separated in July 2014, and the next year was even harder for Monica, as she injured her knee while playing for the Seattle Storm. After high school, Durant went to the University of Texas at Austin for his higher education. This statement alone shows how strong the bond is between Wanda and her kids. Facebook is a social network where users can create a profile, add friends, exchange messages, and join common interest user groups. Durant has also developed a close friendship with Houston Rockets guard James Harden. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Wanda Durant struggled to support her children, receiving help and support from her mother and best friend, who are also portrayed in the Lifetime movie. The community didnt always recognize him other than being Kevins brother. Another is Tony Pratt, who is also popular in social media as he is active in it and often spotted attending his brother Kevin's game. Today, he is an entrepreneur businessman and has done really well for himself. Allen Iverson Net Worth: Is the NBA Hall of Famer Broke? In addition, she has a Twitter account that goes by the name Wanda Durant and has 50k followers as of July 2022. Wanda Durant and her two sons Tony and Kevin. She inspires thousands of single mothers worldwide and guides them in their parenting process. Kevin Durant's Mother: The Wanda Durant Story The Real MVP Cassandra Freeman and the real Wanda Durant - Day 15 of 19, February 22, 2016, Langley, BC, Canada, Daniel Bellomy and Cassandra Freeman in The Real MVP - Day 15 of 19, February 22, 2016, Langley, BC, Canada. Menu Named a WBCA All-American, Monica scored 11 points in the 2006 WBCA High School All-America Game, earning MVP honors. But I recognized his talents. She was able to get my voice just from that limited interaction we had, Durant explained. BY . Get Your Teen Weekly Newsletter in your inbox! She is an inspirational speaker and is a supporter of The Kevin Durant Foundation, Foundation, The Tony Durant Reach Higher Foundation and Single Parents Network among many. After the arrival of their first kid, the former couple then decided to tie the knot officially. Thats the ultimate acting job. Wanda served as a federal government officer for 20 years and raised her kids to be successful people. Wanda Durant (aka Wanda Pratt) is the mother of Kevin Durant, the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player. Tracie Thoms plays my best friend. Monicas coach Cheryl Reeves shared that she noticed Kevins interest in womens basketball, as Durant attended many games, and even stated that he wanted to draw some attention to female players, as they deserved some credit. So if youre crying everyday for one month, I dare you to pop right out of that in a week. Resides in Rocky Mount, NC. Durant: He was teased for being tall. A post shared by Can't Retire Doc (@cantretiredoc). I think thats why [the experience] resonated with Kevin so profoundly because I wanted it to be that moment; that we had our own home finally, the three of us, she said. And I felt the energy. God is GOOD and His PEACE comforts all of us. Girlfriends List, Dating History. View more. Any super hero character you ever learn about, whether its Superman or Batman, you always learn that some tragedy happened at a young age and thats what created this person. Durant believes Flava Unit did an outstanding job, especially in casting Cassandra Freeman, who plays her in the film. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. She did! In an interview, Wanda once said her kids were the ones who saved her during difficult years of her life. When Durant was still a newborn, his father, Wayne Pratt, abandoned the family. Durant shared her memory the experience, I had lived with my mom and stayed with other people for short periods of time. Reflections, Perceptions and Misconceptions of Black Culture in Film, Release Date: 5/7/16; Lifetime They are very close and work together now. Her mother was Barbara Davis. Brad Johansen Leaving NBC4 Columbus: Where Is the Anchor Going? Wanda has an Instagram account that goes by the name therealmamadurant and has over 70k followers. This was a very emotionally draining role for me and to know that at the end of the day, I had those two to talk to, lean on, have dinner with, that just made everything. Video and words from the speech immediately went viral, inspiring millions of people, Mothers Day commercials and ultimately, the development of a film, "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story," which aired Saturday night on Lifetime. He was also a part of other high schools teams like Oak Hill Academy and Montrose Christian Academy. Moreover, She also has a Facebook page named Mama Durant, with around 1.8k followers. That best version of the Lakers got a much-needed win over a stumbling Pelicans team on Wednesday night, 120-102, the kind of closeout before the All-Star break they needed. Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) is embraced and kissed by his mother, Wanda Pratt, after the Thunder's 109-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals, Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Oklahoma City. Related To Benjamin Durant, Alanda Durant. She said that if he were to quit basketball, he would have to wait until the end of the season to do so, and gave him a choice between playing the piano orplaying basketball. It also just made me realizeman, I could go off and do a speech on what you practice. You know I meditate and work out and I still meditated and worked out during the film but if you are meditating and working out but still your everyday life is about suppressing pain and crying, that will still win because you still spend more hours doing that. She was drfted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2010, but in the off-seasons she went to play for Lotos Gdynia in Poland, then Bota SK in Turkey, later moving to the Dandenong Rangers in Australia. Currently, she is an independent, strong woman. Her hard work paid off as her son Tony earned basketball scholarships and graduated from college while Kevin pursued his dream of playing in the NBA. Friend zoning techniques. Though there were many obstacles to overcome,Pratt did not give up and stayed strong for herself, and her sons. I want to reboot the Ally McBeal show but instead of a White girl leading it, its me. I wish everyone else could feel this free to tell people that theyre not doing so good right now. Durant has won four scoring titles and was named the league MVP in 2014. The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story Premieres Saturday May 7 at 8/7c on Lifetime. Mother of professional basketball player Kevin Durant, Wanda Durant visits the SiriusXM Studios on May 04, 2016 in New York, New York. I didnt know what it was I wanted to be or do. 27111_003 Rachel is also famous for producing a video game entitled NBA 2KTV, so she interviewed Kevin while actually playing the game with him. On Monday, after giving a shout-out to his old . As she is a very successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, it is not surprising that she is rich. Kevin Durant, the son of the basketball legend, has a net worth of around $200 million. When Kevin was named NBAs Most Valuable Player, he dedicated his speech to Wanda, naming her the real MVP for all of her sacrifices that allowed him to pursue his dreams. Tell us what drew you to the role of Wanda Durant. I mean, youve played a Rwandan activist so what was it about this one that really took you through it. They appeared together in public in September 2014, letting the rumors of their affair go around. Its next to impossible not to notice that Kevin almost always remembers his mom while having any conversation. Hopefully Lifetime will do a good job with this one. She has more than 30k followers on Twitter where she keeps her admirers up to date with her schedules and programs. Durant's basketball resume can only be rivaled by the best to play the game. If there are not already enough facts about her to deserve respect from us, the one thing that really cant go unnoticed is that she is the mother of the famous and highly skilled basketball player Kevin Durant. Like his younger brother, Tony also played college basketball at Towson University. Monica Wright where r u (love n basketball), he wrote on his official Twitter account the same day their engagement was publicly announced. Coming from Houston, Texas, LaToya dreamt of becoming an opera singer, and even took vocal classes from when she was a teenager, but her passion for singing developed much earlier, when LaToya was an elementary school student. I started to realize my purpose in life and share my life story to inspire people dream, believe and achieve., Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Assistant Producer, NBC BLK, Speaker, Career Strategist. Weird Bruno Mars Relationships, Girlfriends, Wife, Married, Dating History, Who has James Charles dated? Yet her touring schedule was too tight to make it possible for them to date, so they waited for two more years to officially call themselves a couple, in December 2011. Learn how your comment data is processed. "It is with great sadness that we share with family and friends that our Dear Sweet Mama,. Activities had helped them keep off from the street life. Kevin kept silent and didnt comment on the rumors of his fling with Apryl, yet they appeared true about Lil Fizz, The Game and some other celebrities Apryl mentioned in her list. He said, We wasnt supposed to be here. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); BOO! The adult Kevin and Tony will be played by Bellomy and Few, respectively, and Mack . We want to thank everyone for their prayers, condolences, and well wishes. I often said, she made my story believable to me, and I know the story, Durant shared. Black women Wayne was two years older than Wanda at that time. We just went our separate ways. Moreover, she also has her official website. Thoughts The movie begins with Kevin Durant giving a speech at an MVP Basketball induction. I think its the opposite of what you think. The American National belongs to African American ethnicity. Wayne was two years older than Wanda at that time. Wanda was just 18 years old when they started dating. Wanda Durant is also known as Mama Durant was born in Cheverly, Maryland, United States. NBCBLK28: Rosalyn Gold-Onwude: Sideline Reporter Holds Court. ? But it makes sense. It was really humbling. Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has recently become one of the most influential sportsmen, as through his success in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Prior to his friendship with Monnie [Monica Wright], I think KD is known as somebody who is extremely supportive of women playing basketball, Reeve said in her interview with Fox Sports, but hardly could he imagine Kevins interest was also based on Wright personally. As a teenager, after a relationship with Wayne Pratt, she gave birth to her first child Anthony. He was very successful. Her hard work paid off as Tony earned basketball scholarships while Kevin headed to the NBA. Wanda Durant is a very professional woman and is actively working in various fields. However, back in 2018, in an interview, Kevin hinted he is thinking of officially retiring after he turns 35. And in the movie you see her dealing with so much self doubt and depression. The advocate, leader, and philanthropist have traveled all over the country as a motivational speaker. That is whybasketball player always acknowledges his mothers immense contribution to his success every chance he gets. It took LeToya two years before starting a new relationship with Rob Hill Sr.; the couple became engaged in 2015, and secretly married in January 2016. Pinterest is an online pinboard. RELATED: NBCBLK28: Rosalyn Gold-Onwude: Sideline Reporter Holds Court. Beginning from the first, she and Wayne Pratt had been in a relationship while in their teenage years. Hes amazing. Durant didnt treat his fans with many details about his personal life too often, so the way he proposed to Monica Wright was amusing for most of his followers many of them couldnt even think Kevin could be so romantic. wanda durant best friend. However, the relationship did not last long, as Wayne abandoned his children and wife after three years of marriage. She went on developing her sports career while studying at the University of Virginia. 1 of 5 Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) is embraced and kissed by his mother, Wanda Pratt, after the Thunder's 109-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA basketball . I am not too happy about that because I am ready for two daughters and then grandchildren. Likewise, she supports various other foundations such as Baller Moms, Positive Tomorrows, The Boys & Girls Club of America, etc. The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story is the inspiring true story about the mother of NBA Superstar Kevin Durant. 24 court search results for people named "Wanda Durant" in the United States. When we were together for that day [the first day they met] it was like we were old friends like I was her older cousin or her auntie. Dixon, 32, grew up in Suitland, Maryland, where he was a childhood friend of Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant. And so, as an actor to have to explore and deep dive into my own personal pain and my own personal imagination to get into that pain and to do that for a monthAnd the funny thing is, even though we worked on this for a month, I was cast in this is December but we didnt even shoot the first scene until February 1. As if wanting to find a soulmate with a similar working schedule, to make it easier to spend quality time together as often as he wanted, Kevin Durant started dating Monica Wright, another American basketball player. So, now that Im out of this movie Im just trying to absorb a new routine emotionally so I can get back right because right now, I will cry over anything. The children also appreciated their mom's sacrifice till now. . Kevin Durant won the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award and the hearts of people around the world when he acknowledged his mom: You sacrificed for us. You know tv movies can be either hit or miss so what let you know that this was going to be done the right way? As a single mother with two boys at the age of 21, life wasnt easy for Mama Durant as she is affectionately called. You made us believe. With the support of her mother and her best friend, Wanda focused all her energy on keeping her boys out of trouble and on the basketball court, selflessly putting aside her own dreams and desires to make sure their goals could be achieved. When Kevin was around six years old, his father abandoned the family and divorced Durants mother; however, when Kevin turned 13, Wayne reconnected with his son, supporting him while travelling around the US as Kevin competed in various basketball tournaments. A Chicago native, Apryl Shantell Jones could be seen in various TV shows and contests, such as Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. . The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. As stated earlier, Wanda Durant is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who sees herself as an advocate for underprivileged children, single mothers, and underserved communities. Whats the next thing, instead of whats the big question that youre dealing with right now. And Im like, Oh my God, that scenes in the movie! Her story is just the quintessential story of raising your kid on your own, or just trying to raise your kid with a job. He later suffered injuries on his left knee and was diagnosed with a Sprained Medial Collateral. To do whatever it takes. It was there that she met Beyonc Knowles and became friends with her. In 2017 The Christian Post also wondered if Kevin would ask for Jasmines hand in marriage, but no announcements were made by the couple. So I know what its like to have to keep things together but to be a parent, you just dont get off the clock. It wasnt just me. I feel that humility is one of the prizes of life. She was literally like my life support getting through this film. Durant: Initially the foundation of my parenting style started from my mom and my grandparents and the women in my family. Seattle Anchor, Travis Mayfield Leaving KCPQ. They wanted him to present the donation but he suggested that I do it since it would be more relevant to me, because it was for single parents., She was surprised at the reactions from the audience and her desire to share her story with others grew. Out there with my son after an outstanding performance, A post shared by Wanda Pratt (@wanda.pratt) on Apr 1, 2016 at 10:48am PDT, While growing up, Durant thought of quitting basketball. In addition to her health initiatives, Durant is the president and CEO of motivational platform "Hope, Dream, Believe, Achieve" (HDBA, LLC) where she shares her blueprint for parenting that she. Words can not describe how our family feels doing this time. The Christian Post called Kevin and Jasmines relationship an on again off again one, but other open sources lack detailed information on the time Durant and Shine actually met and started dating. Priscilla Clarke PR A moment between Durant and her sons in an empty living room is reenacted in the film and can be seen in the trailer.. Wanda was married to Wayne Pratt, with whom she had four children; Anthony, Rayvonne, Brianna . She really is like a solider. And its good for women to see that real women deal with this and they can come out it too. Genre: Drama/Biography So, playing a soldier and pushing through is different on the screen than playing someone who is also strong and struggling but you get to see her pain. Her ex-spouse serves as a police officer at the Library of Congress. The former Houston Rockets had incredible duels. Kevin Durant gets long-awaited NBA championship after Warriors win 2nd title in 3 years over Cavs Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry lead Warriors to NBA title "On the court I was very demanding in practice and workouts. After leaving Wanda, her ex-husband, Wayne, married another woman and had two children with his second wife. Furthermore, Wanda met her boyfriend Wayne when she was a teenager, and they started their relationship at a young age. After Wayne abandoned her two children, Wanda took care of her children as a single mother. Because I love that show and its a dramedy. And the second big reason is because of who the director is, Nelson George. Moreover, she weighs around 190 lbs (86 kg). In 2017 Kevin Durants name entered the list of men who allegedly wanted to get with her, along with The Game rapper, Nate Robinson, Shiggy Show and Paul Pierce. Im already a sensitive spirit anyway. Tony went off to military school when he was 15 years old. This is the second time Ive worked with her and shes really great at picking content. Furthermore, Tony has enough time to take a break from his busy schedule and give some hours to his childhood passion, basketball. If we have to state fewer names than the names like Apryl Jones, Cassandra Anderson, Brittney Elena, Jasmine Shine, Dai Frazier pops up. After his successful performance at the 2006 McDonalds All-American Game Kevin was named the Most Valuable Player, as well as the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year. A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our . I never thought that him mentioning me in a speech for an award he deserved the accolades for would inspire a movie about my life, Wanda shared. When on 7 July 2013 Kent Youngblood, the writer from Star Tribune, tweeted about Monica and Kevins engagement, Durant couldnt help quoting the movie in his confirming tweet: Or maybe I need a basketball playing girlfriend hmm lol.