Bonzi Wells: Bio, Wife and How he overestimated his net worth. His greatest regrets and 5 facts about Him

The former NBA guard Gawen DeAngelo Wells better known as Bonzi Wells played college basketball at Ball State University and was later drafted in the 1998 NBA draft. Between 1998 to 2008, Wells played in the NBA for five teams. He was active in his playing career from 1998 to 2010 and he played as the shooting guard/small forward.

The American former professional basketball player was known in the NBA for his fiery personality which got him into trouble occasional both on and off the court. Part of his achievements was being named the Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year in 1996 and 1998. He also broke the Mid-American Conference Record at Ball State scoring 2,377 points previously held by Ron Harper.

Bonzi Well’s biography

Bonzi wells was born on September 28, 1976 to Gawen Wells and Christine Scaife Coleman in Muncie, Indiana. He attended Muncie Central and Ball State from 1994-1998. After his incredible college career, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and New Orleans, Horrnets.

How Bonzi Wells overestimated his net worth and his greatest regrets

Bonzi Wells is one of the many NBA players who held out for big contracts that never materialize. Wells turned down a deal from his team then , the Sacramento Kings and it cost him more than $30 million in the end. His team then was impressed with his play so they decided to offer him a five-year contract worth $38.5 million the following 2005-2006 season.

However,  Wells put a higher value on himself that he turned down the offer made by the Kings. Wells was very close to one of his teammates, Ron Artest who according to reports, was willing to let go of his salary for the following season just for Wells to stay.

Wells had hoped that he would attract a more lucrative offer on the free market but unfortunately, he did not. He later signed a one-year deal worth $2 million with the Houston Rockets. Due to injuries, personal issues and other things, Wells did not play well in his new team so his contract was not renewed at the end of the year.

After several attempts of come-backs, Bonzi Wells’ career in the NBA ended at that time. At the end, instead of making a whooping sum of $38.5 million if he had stayed with the Sacramento Kings, he only made about $4.4 million in his last two years. His decision with the Kings ultimately cost him over $34 million.

Here are 5 fast facts about Bonzi Wells

1. Bonzi Wells’ name originated from his mother’s cravings

The former basketball player was named Gawen Wells after his father but his nickname, Bonzi originated from the cravings his mother, Christine Scaife Coleman had for ice cream bonbons when she was pregnant with him. So his parents decided to call him’ Bonbon‘ until he got to the age of two when it changed to ‘Bonzi’.

2. His hometown named its gymnasium in his honor

In 2003, Wells hometown Roy C Buley community center named its gymnasium in his honor. The gymnasium is now called the Bonzi Wells Gymnasium. Wells had once donated money to keep the gymnasium from closing and he explained he did it for the children who are the future.

3. Bonzi Wells has worked as position as sports envoy

Apart from looking for a future in coaching, Bonzi Wells was chosen to serve as a sports envoy to China for the U.S State Department’s Sports Diplomacy Office in 2019.

4. A lawsuit was filed against Bonzi Wells by an acquaintance

Wells addressed the claims made in a lawsuit filed by Rasul Shabazz and his mother Raushana publicly in May 2013. The incident happened when Wells’ 11-year old son and Rasul Shabazz clashed at the downtown YMCA on May 7, 2011. According to Shabazz, the basketball star came to his house in Muncie’s whitely neighbor, damaged a door, and threatened to kill Shabazz who was a YMCA employee at that time.

It was also alleged that Wells battered Rasul Shabazz some days later during an encounter in a ball state university athletics office. Bonzi wells stated he had settled with Shabazz before he received a letter from Shabazz’s attorney two years later telling him to pay $400,000 or he would be exposed or sued.

5. He has three sons

Bonzi Wells is the father of three sons: Duane, Gawen, and Christian. There is no record if he had been engaged or married before. It seems the player passed on his legacy to one of his sons, Christian Wells.  Christian Well joined the 2019 Vincennes University men’s basketball signing class. Christian’s high school coach had described his skill as versatile enough for him to go to any length he sets to in basketball.

Complete profile of Bonzi Wells