When Millions Aren’t Enough: How Family Obligations Changed the Lives of NBA Players

Professional basketball is often presented as the ultimate financial dream. Multi-million-dollar contracts, endorsement deals, and global fame create the perception of lifelong security. Yet history repeatedly shows that even extraordinary earnings can vanish when personal decisions, legal obligations, and financial mismanagement collide.

From NBA champions to Hall of Famers and modern-day stars, family obligations—particularly child support and divorce settlements—have played a decisive role in reshaping careers, reputations, and post-basketball lives. This is not a story about judgment. It is a record of how rapidly wealth can disappear, and how personal responsibility off the court can be just as consequential as performance on it.

Jason Caffey: From NBA Champion to Jail Cell

Jason Caffey’s career arc once embodied the American sports dream. Raised in Mobile, Alabama, Caffey entered the NBA in the mid-1990s and won two championships with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan. Over his career, he earned approximately $34 million, a fortune by any standard of the era.

But Caffey fathered 10 children with eight different women, and the cumulative child support obligations consumed nearly all of his earnings. By the mid-2000s, the situation had become dire. He owed more than $200,000 in arrears and was jailed in Alabama for contempt of court when he failed to meet court-ordered payments.

In 2007, Caffey filed for bankruptcy, listing $1.9 million in debts against $1.15 million in assets. His NBA career ended at age 30. In later interviews, Caffey credited former Bulls teammates—including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman—for helping him through depression and giving him purpose during his darkest years.

Shawn Kemp: Stardom Undermined by Pressure

Shawn Kemp was one of the most electrifying players of the 1990s. A six-time All-Star who earned more than $91 million, Kemp’s dunks defined an era. Off the court, however, his personal life placed extraordinary strain on his finances.

Kemp fathered at least seven children with six women, and child support obligations reportedly became a major distraction during the 1997–98 season. According to reports, he borrowed $2.1 million from the Seattle SuperSonics to keep up with payments and eventually sought a trade to Cleveland for a higher salary.

While Kemp avoided bankruptcy and later stabilized his finances—his net worth is estimated at around $5 million—his peak performance never fully returned.

Larry Johnson: Losing a Home After Earning $83 Million

Larry Johnson, the former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star, earned approximately $83 million during his career. Yet in 2015, he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Johnson had five children with four women and owed nearly $900,000 in back child support to one former partner alone. To settle the debt, he transferred ownership of an $800,000 home and agreed to additional monthly payments.

His bankruptcy filing listed unpaid child support as the primary liability—a stunning outcome for a player once considered financially set for life.

Kenny Anderson: Collapse and Redemption

Drafted second overall in 1991, Kenny Anderson earned $63 million across 14 seasons and made an All-Star team. But seven children with four women, three divorces, and escalating support obligations led to bankruptcy in 2005.

By 2006, Anderson was labeled a “deadbeat dad” in court records, and in 2011 an arrest warrant was issued for non-payment to ex-wife Tammy Roman. The legal battles stretched nearly a decade.

Today, Anderson has rebuilt his life. He serves as head basketball coach at Fisk University, using his experiences to mentor young athletes and warn them about the pitfalls that nearly destroyed him.

Glenn Rice: Nearly Broke After a Championship Career

Glenn Rice earned roughly $68 million during a 15-year NBA career that included an NBA championship and an All-Star Game MVP award. By 2016, however, court filings described him as nearly broke.

With seven children from four women, combined with failed investments, Rice petitioned for reduced child support payments. His monthly obligation was lowered from $1,500 to $600 for one child.

Rice later rebuilt financial stability through work as a scout for the Miami Heat, with his net worth estimated near $25 million, but the collapse was a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can fade.

Eric Williams: From NBA Player to Homelessness

Eric Williams earned close to $40 million during his career. Yet by 2014, he told a court he was homeless, unemployed, and unable to meet child support obligations totaling more than $24,000.

His highly publicized divorce from reality TV personality Jennifer Williams compounded his struggles. As of 2025, there is no confirmed recovery from his financial collapse.

Allen Iverson: Saved by a Trust Fund

Allen Iverson earned more than $154 million in salary, plus endorsement income. Despite this, he faced repeated legal threats over unpaid child support for his five children.

At one point, Iverson owed $71,000 in arrears and faced jail time. What ultimately saved him was a $32 million Reebok trust fund, inaccessible until age 55, designed specifically to protect him from financial ruin.

In recent interviews, Iverson has spoken candidly about sobriety and rebuilding relationships with his children.

Dennis Rodman: Fame, Chaos, and $800,000 in Arrears

Dennis Rodman earned approximately $27 million during his NBA career, with additional income from endorsements and media appearances. By 2012, he owed more than $800,000 in child and spousal support.

Rodman publicly described himself as broke and battling alcoholism. His relationship with his children—particularly soccer star Trinity Rodman—has been strained, with Trinity openly criticizing his absence.

As of 2025, Rodman’s net worth is estimated at $500,000.

Calvin Murphy: Family Size and Legal Turmoil

Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy fathered 14 children with nine women, stretching his relatively modest career earnings of approximately $3 million impossibly thin.

His post-career life was further disrupted by serious legal accusations in the early 2000s, though he was ultimately acquitted. The reputational damage lingered, permanently altering his legacy.

Tyrone Nesby: When Modest Earnings Aren’t Enough

Tyrone Nesby earned an estimated $5–6 million in the NBA, but by 2011 owed nearly $1 million in child support arrears across multiple states.

He served jail time and received probation before rebuilding his life as a basketball coach, now using his experience as a cautionary lesson for young athletes.

Christian Wood: A Modern Warning

In late 2025, current NBA player Christian Wood faced headlines after the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a $25,000 monthly child support order. Missing an appeal deadline by one day proved decisive.

The support was backdated, potentially leaving Wood owing more than $1.5 million in arrears. His case underscores that these issues persist even in the modern NBA, despite financial education programs.

Blake Griffin: A Rare Positive Outcome

Blake Griffin earned approximately $258 million and faced public speculation over massive child support payments. Both parties denied exaggerated reports, and the settlement remained private.

Griffin retired in 2024, citing health and a desire to be present for his children. With a net worth near $100 million, his story stands as a rare example of successfully managing family obligations.

The Bigger Picture

These stories share a common thread: professional success does not guarantee personal or financial stability. Family obligations—when unmanaged or compounded by poor planning—can fundamentally alter careers and lives.

The NBA now emphasizes financial literacy, but the lessons remain urgent. Wealth is temporary. Responsibility is permanent.