Baron Davis

Being in this survival mode, right, where it's like you don't know what's going to happen the next day. Like, you don't know what's going to happen. You know what I mean? It's like you wake up and you're like, okay.

You're waking up not knowing what the hell you're gonna do. You go to school, if it wasn't for school, that was, but kids in third, fourth grade, they ditching, cutting class, getting suspended. So that shit was normal. That was normal.

You're waking up not knowing what the hell you're gonna do. You go to school, if it wasn't for school, that was, but kids in third, fourth grade, they ditching, cutting class, getting suspended. So that shit was normal. That was normal.

So my dad passed away. He actually passed away the night before a Laker game. And that was the first game that I had invited him to.

So my dad passed away. He actually passed away the night before a Laker game. And that was the first game that I had invited him to.

Yeah, I got to a point where, you know, I hated my dad a lot. I hated him a lot, and I didn't want nothing to do with him, I was embarrassed, and like, you know, it's one of those things, it's like, damn, like, oh, now you wanna show up, because I'm balling in high school, I'm about to go pro, you know, and,

Yeah, I got to a point where, you know, I hated my dad a lot. I hated him a lot, and I didn't want nothing to do with him, I was embarrassed, and like, you know, it's one of those things, it's like, damn, like, oh, now you wanna show up, because I'm balling in high school, I'm about to go pro, you know, and,

for him, I just think he was really just like always happy for me and was like, oh shit, this is my son, you know what I mean? And it was like three or four years I was in the league and then something hit me and I was at a game and I was like, yo, everybody here got dads. All my teammates had dads. Like fathers, like real, I was like, damn. You know, Paul Silas, you got Steve Silas, it was like,

for him, I just think he was really just like always happy for me and was like, oh shit, this is my son, you know what I mean? And it was like three or four years I was in the league and then something hit me and I was at a game and I was like, yo, everybody here got dads. All my teammates had dads. Like fathers, like real, I was like, damn. You know, Paul Silas, you got Steve Silas, it was like,

They going to dinner with their dad. Their dad come in. I was like, shit, man. I ain't got no goddamn daddy. I do have a daddy. Maybe I can help him. And so I went. I called my dad. I was like, bro, don't even trip. I forgive you. It could be because if you chose a different path and you chose to be active in my life or try or even give an inkling of trying, I probably wouldn't have made it.

They going to dinner with their dad. Their dad come in. I was like, shit, man. I ain't got no goddamn daddy. I do have a daddy. Maybe I can help him. And so I went. I called my dad. I was like, bro, don't even trip. I forgive you. It could be because if you chose a different path and you chose to be active in my life or try or even give an inkling of trying, I probably wouldn't have made it.

So I gotta thank you, bro, for showing me all this shit, putting me through all that shit, because it made me who I am. And I don't hold any more animosity to you because I made it. So it wasn't like a despite. It was just like you helped me get to where I needed to go because of how you were.

So I gotta thank you, bro, for showing me all this shit, putting me through all that shit, because it made me who I am. And I don't hold any more animosity to you because I made it. So it wasn't like a despite. It was just like you helped me get to where I needed to go because of how you were.

And on top of that, I'm about to do you one better, homie. I'm about to come back. Now, you about to get your shit together. And I want you at these games because I want people to say, oh, this is my daddy. You know what I mean? And I got questions. You know what I mean? I got questions. do you got a lump right here on the back of your neck? I got questions, like who am I in relationship to you?

And on top of that, I'm about to do you one better, homie. I'm about to come back. Now, you about to get your shit together. And I want you at these games because I want people to say, oh, this is my daddy. You know what I mean? And I got questions. You know what I mean? I got questions. do you got a lump right here on the back of your neck? I got questions, like who am I in relationship to you?

And so when I made amends, and we were talking, you know what I mean? It was awkward, but it was also like, damn, I know that was him, I didn't pick up the phone on the first one, but I'll call him back, you know what I mean?

And so when I made amends, and we were talking, you know what I mean? It was awkward, but it was also like, damn, I know that was him, I didn't pick up the phone on the first one, but I'll call him back, you know what I mean?

It was almost like if they were proud of me, I would have been more upset. Why is that? Because that's where my angst, like that's where my interpretation, you got to think, I'm trying to interpret this shit myself. So if they would have been proud, like my dad showed up to the game, I remember in high school, and he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It was almost like if they were proud of me, I would have been more upset. Why is that? Because that's where my angst, like that's where my interpretation, you got to think, I'm trying to interpret this shit myself. So if they would have been proud, like my dad showed up to the game, I remember in high school, and he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

He was like rooting for me and shit, cheering for me, telling people he was my dad. And I kicked his ass. I told him, man, you got to go, bro. Like you tripping. You know what I mean? Like, you ain't been around. Oh, I see. And you gonna pop up and you cheering for me like, get your ass out. You haven't earned this. You've been embarrassing me. I was just mad. You know what I mean?