Former NBA player Corey Benjamin is apologizing for his daughter’s behavior after a much-circulated video shows her sucker-punching an opposing basketball player.
The apology comes as a second video surfaced of a similar incident a few months earlier which also involved his daughter, reports NBC LA.
“This is not how I raised my daughter,” he said. Benjamin said the video from a game in Orange County, CA saddened him.
The Chicago Bulls drafted Benjamin in the first round in 1998 ane he also played briefly for the Atlanta Hawks.
“To the young lady who was punched by my daughter during a youth basketball game, I sincerely apologize to you and I am praying for your complete healing both physically and emotionally,” he said. “To her family, I deeply apologize and regret that this happened to your daughter as she did not deserve this to happen to her. Finally, I apologize to all of those who have been impacted and hurt by the actions of my daughter as well as those of her mother. I am here for your family and wish only the best for you.”
The opposing player has been identified as Lauryn Ham. An attorney representing Ham’s family says they have filed a police report and want Benjamin’s daughter and her mother prosecuted.
As AsAmNews previously reported, Alice Ham says the offending player’s mother can be heard encouraging her daughter to hit Lauryn.
Attorney Kevin Hahn says there is another video showing the same girl hitting opposing players two months earlier.
“My understanding is that organization that held the tournament banned her and suspended her from any other tournaments in their organization,” Hahn said.
Hahn called Benjamin’s apology a start.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story, or making a contribution.