Iman Shumpert is mourning a heartbreaking personal loss and recently shared an emotional message about the passing of his father.
During an emotional appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast “Club Shay Shay”, Shumpert recalls his late father’s love. “And our last convo, he just was like, ‘Man, you look good in them suits. Man, I like that you taking jobs now that you wearing that suit,’” he recalled.
The retired basketball star took time to reflect on the profound impact his dad had on his life, speaking candidly about the grief he and his family are currently navigating. Known for keeping much of his private life low-key, Shumpert offered fans a rare and vulnerable glimpse into his emotions as he honored the man who helped shape his journey both on and off the court.
“And then he told me, ‘Don’t come home, finish filming.’ Because we was filming the podcast. Told me and my brother not to come home, finish filming. He got to go in the hospital. He’ll be right back.”
Shumpert says his father played a pivotal role in his development, not just as an athlete, but as a man. He credited him as a steady source of guidance, discipline and support throughout his rise from a standout high school prospect to an NBA champion. The loss, he admitted, has been extremely difficult to process.
“I guess it’s like, the happiest hurt that you can have,” he said. “I know a lot of people didn’t have a father, and … I leaned on mine. I had friends that leaned on my father. And it’s like, it makes me happy as hell to say, like, he was a good man.”
He added, “But it’s like, within that same breath, it makes you cry like a little baby [because] I ain’t got him no more.”
Shortly after his passing, Shumpert took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late father.
“Down goes the King…a sweet goodbye to the greatest man I’ll ever know,” he wrote. “You can take your rest pop, u did ur sh-t I promise. I don’t know if I’ll ever fit ur shoes but ima have em on everyday anyway. I love you man. Rest In Paradise.”
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