From winning multiple medals to earning international praise, WNBA player Brittney Griner established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the basketball world.
However, she wouldn’t have been able to reach such heights without the support of her father, Raymond Griner, who realized her potential early on.
That said, their father-daughter relationship wasn’t always perfect. What does that mean? Who was Raymond Griner? And how was his relationship with Brittney?
That’s what we’re about to explore! Stick around.
Raymond Griner’s Early Life
We don’t know much about Raymond Griner’s early life. However, we know he served in the American Army and fought in Vietnam for 2 years (68-69).
Although he decided to retire, Griner wanted to take a job that would allow him to employ everything he learned in the military. So, he became a deputy sheriff at Harris County in Texas, where he served for almost thirty years before retiring.
After marrying Sandra Griner, Raymond had four children. Despite being an army veteran with a celebrated career, his fame stems from being the father of his youngest child, Brittney Griner.
Raymond Griner: Father of Brittney Griner
Image source: Instagram
Early on, Griner recognized his daughter’s athletic abilities. So, not only did he teach her how to defend herself, but he also supported her when she tried various sports, like Volleyball and Soccer.
Even when Brittney decided to switch to basketball in high school, it was Griner who drove her to practice games and stood by her when she was wronged.
When Brittney’s school refused to give her time off to participate in the McDonald’s All-American game, Griner called the school’s authorities out for standing in the way of his daughter’s career.
With her father’s support, Brittney became a dominant force in the basketball world, playing in various international tournaments and setting several records.
Her presence was most prominent in the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Championships, where she helped her team win two gold medals.
Despite supporting his daughter’s career, Griner’s relationship with Brittney took a big hit in her senior year of high school.
Raymond Griner on Brittney’s Coming Out
Image source: Instagram
Throughout school, Brittney faced a lot of bullying for having a masculine physique and a low voice. It was hard for her to confide her gender identity to anyone. It was a heavy burden that she couldn’t carry for long.
She needed to tell the two people who have always supported her in whatever endeavor she tackled: her parents. Brittney came out to her mother first, who accepted her wholeheartedly, easing the burden on her shoulders.
However, she hesitated to tell her father, which was a valid concern. Brittney had several teammates who were openly gay, and Griner didn’t like them. He suspected Brittney was gay, as he kept throwing hints here and there.
However, he resisted the idea, believing he was raising a “normal girl.” So, when Brittney came out to her father, he didn’t take the news well, banning her from inviting her friends to the house.
As things escalated, Griner told his daughter that he wasn’t going to raise a gay girl and asked her to pack her things and leave the house. For 6 weeks, Brittney lived with her college coach, Kim Mulkey, without hearing a word from her parents.
Eventually, Griner caved in and called Brittney, asking her to return home. While they didn’t return to being best buddies right away, their relationship gradually improved. As Brittney’s career progressed, Griner realized that her gender identity won’t hold her back.
Now, Brittney uses her social media platforms to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights knowing she has her parents’ support. Despite the tension that Griner caused, Brittney admitted that her father’s reaction prepared her for what to expect in the real world.
Raymond Griner on Brittney’s Arrest
Unfortunately, his daughter’s sexuality isn’t the last tension-incentive piece in Griner’s puzzle. In 2022, he discovered that his daughter was arrested in Russia.
Brittney was caught in an airport with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. The Russian authorities accused her of smuggling drugs into Russia and detained her for ten months. Brittney faced ten years of imprisonment.
However, she stood her ground and faced that ordeal bravely—like father, like daughter. That’s right, Griner also believed that Brittney would come home. As a religious person, he prayed for her return, leaving the matter in God’s hands.
He stated that he felt a 500-pound brick lift off of his shoulders when his daughter was released and that having her home was more important than anything he’d done in Vietnam.
Raymond Griner’s Net Worth
As an army veteran, a retired sheriff, and the father of one of the most successful WNBA players, Raymond Griner’s net worth is around $1 million.
Wrapping Up
Now you know who Raymond Griner is. Recognizing his daughter’s athletic potential, Griner supported Brittney’s basketball career from the beginning, standing up to anyone who hindered her career.
Although his relationship with his daughter faced a few hiccups, Griner, eventually, accepted Brittney for who she was and prayed for her when she needed it.
