Filed under: Gossip, Basketball
Four months pregnant Laura Govan, who already has three children with NBA superstar Gilbert Arenas, is now accusing him of abandoning his family by abruptly putting an end to their nine-year relationship.
Laura Wright, a publicist for Govan, told the Washington Post that Arenas has not only put the brakes on the relationship but left Govan and their three children without a penny. The former Washington Wizards now Orlando Magic guard has also not been in contact with Govan, who is the sister of famed VH-1 reality hit show "Basketball Wives" diva-with-a-serious-'tude, Gloria Govan.
In an e-mailed statement to the Washington Post, Wright commented that Arenas did not communicate with Govan throughout the entire month of December. "Govan and the children feel like they have been abandoned." The publicist went on to divulge that Arenas left his family with "no money to purchase food or Christmas gifts."
Reportedly the couple hit the skids around Thanksgiving. The baller also recently alluded to the fact that he had been staying with his former fellow Wizards teammate Nick Young. After his December 20 debut with the Magic, the 28-year-old player told a Washington Post reporter that after he was traded to Orlando, he hightailed it and bought a same-day ticket to Florida. "I went to the airport and left. I didn't have a chance to say bye to anybody. I didn't even say bye to the kids. I'm going somewhere I wanted to be. I couldn't ask for more."
The young couple were primarily known to be homebodies. They've also experienced a few public battles like after 31-year-old Govan gave birth to their daughter Izela in 2005. There was a knock-down, drag-out child support battle after the birth which resulted in a reconciliation of the two. Two years later, another baby entered into the picture, son Alijah. Just months after the birth, another bitter public breakup ensued with a makeup a year later in 2008 followed by a proposal from Arenas to his beloved sparring partner.
Arenas threw a super elaborate engagement party complete with gourmet chefs, DJ, pool, moon bounces, ice sculptures, and he even blogged about the gathering. Arenas stated on his website at the time the reason why he knew Govan was "the one": "I've done kicked her out of my house almost every weekend, yet she's still here and she still believes in me," he wrote.
Last year Arenas and Govan's relationship was strained by a few, again, very disturbing public situations. Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other in the team's locker room during a Christmas Eve dispute over a gambling debt. Reportedly, Arenas drew his gun first and Crittenton brandished his firearm afterwards. Arenas was arrested and charged with a felony gun possession and then suspended from his team. Luckily Arenas avoided jail time but received two years of supervised probation and 30 days in a halfway house.
Rumors ran amok also last year when Govan was accused of allegedly having an affair with the then very married basketball great Shaquille O'Neal. Govan and Shaq have allegedly been friends in public and more than friends in private for the past 5 years. Supposedly they've been flying to each others' towns and meeting up at different events. They even allegedly spent time together last Christmas when Shaq was still playing in Phoenix.
A gossip website even posted some inappropriate emails that went on between Govan and Shaq. The relationship between the alleged paramours reportedly sparked Shaunie, who had been married to Shaq for nearly seven years to file for divorce. It was also reported that Arenas demanded that one of his children be subjected to a paternity test as well.
And the drama continues...stay tuned.