"Basketball Wives," Gloria Govan on Rumors, Being A Basketball Wife

Peep a few excerpts from Honey Magazine’s interview with Gloria Govan.

You and your sister are launching a series of events to empower women at risk and their families. Can you tell us a little more about this project?
All of the proceeds from these events will be going to women at risk, women who have children in unfortunate circumstances, and underprivileged children. It’ll help out with basic needs: diapers, formula – whatever they need, we’ll definitely do our best to get it for them. Louis Vuitton is doing a grand opening that I’ll be hosting in Orlando on June 17th. We’ll be doing other events in Washington, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. The Atlanta event will be on June 24th.

We’ve recently read that you won’t return for a second season of Basketball Wives. What did you find most disappointing about the show?
I think the general idea of how they represented the basketball wives. I wasn’t really happy with how they portrayed us, and that was most disappointing. When I originally signed up to do the show, I was told it was supposed to be about independent women trying to step outside of the shadows of their significant others. Matt and I were approached about it and found [the concept] exciting. But when the show came out, and the basis of [it] was the drama and unnecessary situations that the girls are creating for themselves. I don’t like that. That wasn’t what I wanted to be associated with.

So, you’ve found that editing really does make a big difference in reality TV?
Yeah, absolutely. I think the wives of current basketball players now are nothing like that. We are educated, we’re trying to bring something to the table, and we don’t have our hands out all the time. A lot of us are going back to school, a lot of us have careers, some of us are stay-at-home moms – which is a job in itself. That’s what I was excited [for] people to see. Not the shopping and the spas and the [confrontations with] groupies.

What’s the most difficult thing about being a basketball wife?
I think the stereotypes. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear that people think I’m a gold digger, or think I’m with Matt for his money, or that I’m uneducated and that we don’t do anything with ourselves. Also all the “he said, she said” can get into your head and really mess up a good relationship.

How has your sister’s engagement to a ball player brought your relationship closer? Is it because she understands the lifestyle?
Definitely. I think both of us being involved with basketball players has definitely brought us closer. She’s definitely a role model and someone I can call immediately if I have issues or questions, because she’s been with her fiancé for over nine years now. She’ll always give me an honest answer, even if it’s not what I want to hear. It’s nice to talk to someone who knows exactly what I’m going through. Full interview here.

Here’s an older photo of Gilbert Arenas and Gloria’s sister, Laura Govan.

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