Dewayne Dedmon is a 35-year old American basketball center. Over the years, ‘the mechanic’ as he is referred to build a successful career with teams like the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 78ers.
The 6 ft 10 inches tall man may be a stellar player on the court, but outside of it, he is a family man who is married to Kayla, the mother of his two children, Dewayne Jamal and Raymon Alexander. Away from this, there is so much about the player that keeps making fans and followers curious.
Dewayne Dedmon was Raised By a Single Mother After his Father’s Death
Dewayne Dedmon was born on August 12, 1989, in Lancaster, California to Gail Lewis and Thomas Dedmon. The mother of the 35-year-old raised him and his two sisters, Sabrina and Marina after their father committed suicide. Perhaps due to her own commitment to serving God, Gail trained her children under a strict observance of religious belief. This training as we would see later had an impact on his career.
Regarding his educational pursuit, he attended Lancaster High School where he developed an interest in basketball. After he graduated he moved to Antelope Valley College as a part-time student. However, he did not complete his studies there as he soon got a spot to play collegiate basketball at the University of Southern California.
The NBA Player is Married to Kayla Dedmon
The basketball player has been married to Kayla since August 21, 2019. Pertaining how they met, this remains unclear but a look through Kayla’s social media reveals she was once a cheerleader for the jaguars. Based on this, it is assumed that their paths may have crossed through their love of sports.
While not much is not about Kayla, it is believed that they have been together since 2015 based on the loved-up images that they share.
He Has a Net Worth of $24 million
Dedmon has an estimated net worth of $24 million which he made in his career of a decade with seven teams. Following his signing as an undrafted player in 2013 by the Golden State Warriors, he went through several teams before his career took off with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014.
Moving forward, he did not end much due to the many changes in his contract. For some, he signed contracts that lasted for 10 days while others extended into years. Thusly, one of the notable signings he made was $17.6 million with the Atlanta Hawks while his highest salary was $6.5 million which he made in 2022. Looking at the most recent signing he made with the 76ers for the 2023 season, his fortune is likely going to increase.
If you are wondering how the player spends his fortune, it is not far from where he lives. In 2020, he purchased a farmhouse worth $3.29 million in Encino, California. Aside from this, he also spends money on family visits to fun places.
He Stands at a Height of 6 feet 10
Dedmon’s height of 6ft 10 inches is one of the most impressive in the NBA. While he is not as tall as the Sudanese player Manute Bol with a height of 7 feet 7 inches, his height remains an important skill set. According to some studies, the height of a basketball player gives an advantage in scoring, blocking, and recovering a ball.
Time again, avid followers have seen this play out as it marked defining moments in a game.
See Also: Kahlil Whitney: Bio, Career, Other Unknown Facts About The Basketball Player
Other Facts About Dewayne Dedmon
1. His Faith as a Jehovah’s Witness Almost Prevented Him From Playing Basketball
Dedmon is one of the few witnesses in the NBA franchise and like many witnesses, he almost lost the opportunity to follow his dream. As captured earlier, his mother trained him and his sisters as witnesses. She was so strict that she did not allow him to play basketball so he can concentrate on worshiping God. In his younger years, his not playing ball surprised his classmates and coaches. At the time, his height which he had grown to almost 7 ft did not help matters as he stood out among other students.
Thankfully, the towering player decided to follow through with this as soon as he turned 18 and could use his age of majority. One would wonder if this upbringing accounts for the low number of witnesses in the NBA. Notably, there are less than 10 witnesses in the franchise as of this writing.
2. The Mechanic Learned How to Play Basketball in his Senior Year in High School
Unlike many players who spent years honing their skills, Dedmon only started to concentrate on learning the game in his senior high school year. After graduating from Lancaster, he did not play basketball in his freshman year since he was a part-time student. Nonetheless, he picked up and went on to represent the school till he moved to the University of Southern California.
3. The Basketball Center was Ejected for Throwing a Massage Gun in the Middle of a Game
Dedmon raised eyebrows during a January 2023 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he threw a massage gun on the court. The handheld device which reduces muscle pain and tension had moved over the Heat bench onto the court in their face-off with the visiting OCT. Moreso, Dedmon’s who had a misunderstanding with coach Erik Spoelstra poured his frustration on the device by dropping it on the court. In his defense, the head coach explained that the action was due to the combative nature of Heats, it led to Dedmon’s ejection causing more losses for the team which was already short of many players at the time.
In reaction, the NBA demanded his suspension as punishment for such an unsportsmanlike action from the veteran player. The team ended up suspending from a game with no pay.
4. Dewayne is a Father of two Children
Together with Kayla, Dedmon has two children. Their oldest child named Dewayne Jamal Dedmon was born on Nov 15, 2018, a year before their marriage. After his birth, the basketball center has continued to show a patient side of him as he teaches his son how to do different things. In fact, the 9-year-old is part of his basketball routine. Dedmon revealed that he plays with his son before and after his games.
While their daddy and son goal is not lost on many fans of the California native, he has another son that is added to the mix. His second child is also another son named Roman Alexander who was born on Feb 21, 2022. Since he joined the family, he has also joined the routine between the former Miami Heats player and his older brother.
5. Dedmon is also Passionate About Golf
When Dedmon is not on the court shooting the ball, he can be found playing golf. He revealed that this is one of the things he loves doing. While he may not be seen playing at some of the big golfing tournaments, he still has a set of customized golf clubs.
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