Athlete Dads Who Are Embracing Fatherhood
The common sports fan may see these athletes as stars on the court or field, but at home these athletes take on the star role for their children.
Lebron James
Lebron James has dominated the game of basketball for a little over a decade and has gained a vast array of accomplishments including being a 15-time NBA All-Star, 3-time NBA champion, and 4-time NBA MVP. Used to taking on the captain role in a team, Lebron had no problem in translating his skills from on the court to fatherhood for his three children. Lebron is not afraid to show love for his family and children with frequent social media posts reiterating the image of him being a dedicated family man. James has said himself that growing up without a father has motivated him to be the best father he can be and give his children what he couldn’t have. Whether he is cheering on the sidelines as an AAU dad/coach for his son Bronny James, or being a judge of an at-home slam dunk contest between his kids; James embraces fatherhood with the #JamesGang.
“I wanted to be a part of the statistics that breaks the mode of fathers running out on their kids. That was something that I obviously went through and I knew from Day 1 that wasn’t going to be me. So, to have a family and be there for them and be there on a day-to-day basis is important. I know I travel a lot but I’m a staple in the household and it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to my kids.”- Lebron James in his interview with cleveland.com
Steph Curry
Steph Curry has been an instrumental piece to arguably the best dynasty in NBA history with the Golden State Warriors and is commonly regarded as the best shooter to grace the sport of basketball. He plays a vital role at home as well, where he is the father of three children with his wife Ayesha Curry. One of the most viral and unforgettable displays of his fatherhood was when then 2-year-old Riley Curry, took over the after-game press conference during the 2015 NBA Finals.
“Being a father kind of gives you something more to play for. I think off the court, it just grounds you every day, because no matter if I have a good game, bad game, score 40, score 10, I think my daughter’s going to be happy to see me when I get home, and that kind of makes everything all right … So I rarely ever have a bad day, regardless of what happens on the court. It just gives you something more than basketball to kind of play and live for, and it’s pretty special.” — Steph Curry in his post-game presser for the 2015 NBA Finals
David Beckham
The English football icon has been retired from the sport since 2013, but keeps busy with his four children. As seen from his Instagram post, he embraces his role as dad while his wife, Victoria Beckham, expands her own empire. Seemingly always on the move, photos show him all over the world, starting up his new MLS franchise in Miami, all the while with his full family in tow.
“Time goes by really fast. One minute you’re holding them in hospital for the first time and then, the next minute, they’re driving their car. But it’s the most special thing, I would never change anything.”- David Beckham in his interview with UNICEF
Devon Stills
“No matter what the doctors were saying, no matter what I read on the internet, no matter how stressed I was, no matter how much pain we were in, no matter how many treatments failed, no matter how many times I felt like giving up, as long as Leah was alive, we still had a chance, we were Still In The Game!”- Devon Still in his book “Still in the Game”
2014 was a year filled with trial and tribulation for the then Cincinnati Bengal defensive end. News broke when Devon’s 4-year-old daughter, Leah, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and given a 50–50 chance to live. No amount of football drills, practices, or huge moments in games would have prepared him for the journey he was about to embark on. The love and compassion he displayed to his daughter were evident in the number of supportive posts displayed on his social media pages. The love and compassion from her father was witnessed nationally and fast forward 4 years later, Leah has been cancer free for 3 years straight. Devon has since retired from the NFL, but has dedicated his time to helping other families dealing with childhood cancer. In 2015 he started the Still Strong Foundation which helps alleviate any non-medical costs so the families can devote as much time to helping their child to a victorious fight against cancer. Still recently appeared on the Today Show for a touching interview with daughter Leah, where she poignantly advised kids facing cancer: “I would say stay strong and it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, it matters what’s on the inside. And you’re not fighting this alone, ever.”
It’s refreshing and important to see athletes beyond their roles on the playing surface of their choice, and overall as human beings. From the Global Sport Institute, we hope all fathers out there, athlete or not, have a wonderful Father’s Day!
