Key Takeaways
- Laura has Afro-American roots from her father and Mexican heritage from her mother.
- Her parents maintain privacy, rarely appearing in public.
- Raised with siblings Gloria and Lonnie, she experienced a strict upbringing.
Laura Govan, known for her role on “Basketball Wives LA” and her high-profile relationship with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, was born to her parents, Michael and Gloria Govan.
While Laura has shared parts of her family life with the public, her parents, Michael and Gloria, have mostly stayed out of the limelight.
Laura is close to her parents and often shares moments with them on her Instagram, giving fans a glimpse into their family bond.
Born on September 21, 1979, in Oakland, California, Laura embraces her mixed heritage, crediting her Afro-American roots to her father and her Mexican descent to her mother.
Laura’s diverse background and family dynamics have played a significant role in shaping her journey.
Growing up with her siblings, Gloria and Lonnie Govan, she faced both challenges and triumphs, including a life-threatening car accident at age 7, which left her in a coma for several months.
As she recovered, Laura had to relearn essential skills such as walking and talking, a transformative journey that built her resilience and inner strength.
Despite Laura’s public career, her parents have remained private figures, with little information available about their lives.
Raised in a strict household under her father, Michael’s disciplinarian style left a lasting impact on Laura.
In an emotional episode of “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” she confronted the effects of her father’s methods, which included waking her at 2 a.m. to finish household chores.
While Michael viewed these actions as instilling responsibility, Iyanla Vanzant, the show’s host, observed that such discipline left Laura feeling unheard and undervalued.
According to Iyanla, Laura’s struggles with self-worth and her constant need to prove herself stem from these early experiences, resulting in what she described as a “broken heart.” Iyanla said:
It broke her heart. Your daughter is so, so broken. And I think part of it is because she feels like she’s a problem, like her voice doesn’t matter. And that she’s got to fight for everything.
Via Oprah
In a 2020 interview with Chris Windham of Human Nature Magazine, Laura, then a participant in “Marriage Boot Camp: Family Edition,” reflected on her family’s transformative experience on the show.
Accompanied by her mother, Laura shared that publicly addressing their issues led to healing moments they hadn’t achieved privately.
Her mother noted the unique experience of being on camera, a setting familiar to Laura but new to her.
Laura’s sister, Gloria, also a television personality, was formerly married to NBA player Matt Barnes.
Their relationship grew strained after Laura accused Gloria of being involved with her ex-partner, Gilbert Arenas, in 2017.
Though both Gloria and Arenas denied these claims, the accusations strained family dynamics and sparked public interest, leading to tension between the sisters.
Nonetheless, Laura and Gloria have managed to maintain civility for the sake of their children, who reportedly share a close bond.
Laura Govan’s journey, from her struggles with her strict upbringing to her accomplishments in sports and television, reflects the influence of her parents and her determination to build her path forward.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Laura received a full basketball scholarship to New Mexico State University, completing a degree in International Business with a Marketing and Economics minor, and later earned a Master’s in Sports Psychology from JFK University.
- Laura and her ex-boyfriend, Gilbert Arenas, had four kids together: daughter Izela, born on December 24, 2005; son Alijah, born on March 16, 2007; daughter Hamiley, born on December 9, 2009; and son Aloni, born on June 1, 2011.
