The Drama Behind Draya Michele's Baby Daddy Has Been Laid to Rest
The 'Basketball Wives' star has two older children: Kniko Howard (22) and Jru Scandrick (7).
Mar. 8 2024, Updated 3:23 p.m. ET
When it comes to Basketball Wives, there’s always some sort of drama. Draya Michele, who starred in Basketball Wives from its premiere season, announced in March of 2024 that she's expecting a baby with 22-year-old basketball player Jalen Green. Draya has two older children: Kniko Howard (who is about the same age as Jalen) and Jru Scandrick.
Jru was born during her relationship with NFL player Orlando Lee Scandrick. But now that Draya has a new baby daddy, people are wondering about the father of her eldest son. Who is Kniko Howard’s father?
Draya Michele with son Kniko Howard
Contrary to rumors, Draya Michele’s baby daddy is not Gilbert Arenas.
For a long time, rumors swirled that Kniko Howard’s father was NBA player Gilbert Arenas, whom Draya was linked to shortly in 2008. In fact, Draya’s Basketball Wives co-star Jennifer Williams claimed that Gilbert was Kniko’s father, although she didn’t provide any proof.
For a long time, Draya did not dispute any rumors in order to protect her family’s privacy, but after the Gilbert rumors got out of hand, Draya had to speak up. People were suggesting that Draya made upwards of $40,000 from child support, which was simply not true. This rumor was an affront to Draya’s entrepreneurial spirit, so she set the record straight.
Kniko Howard’s father is actually a man named Kniko, who now lives in Pennsylvania.
In 2016, Draya shared a post on Instagram (via The Jasmine Brand) setting the record straight, although it’s since been deleted. Under a photo of her younger self, she wrote, “Here is Draya ….. At 17 years old I got pregnant by a man who became incarcerated for 10 when I was 7 months pregnant. With help from my mom, I was able to survive."
She continued: “Now, judging by how under-developed and young I was, besides living in a very small city in PA ... There’s no way in 2002 I got pregnant by some athlete. If I had, there’s not a chance in f--king hell I would have wasted seven years of my life working ‘in the club’ because clearly child support would be on fleek. I have never received A DIME of child support in my life and that’s OK. I have also NEVER attempted to say anyone other than who my son is named after (yes he’s a junior) was the father."
Her caption went on: “My son’s father lives in PA and makes an honest living being a barber … I’ve been quiet too long. I’ve also let people tell ‘my story’ on TV too many times. I’ll speak my truths ... You speak your own and keep whatever momentum going by doing that. God bless. Leave the kids out of it for heaven’s sake.”
Draya hasn’t spoken much about Kniko’s father since or about how involved in their lives he is, but her 2016 statement proves that they’re at least in touch with one another to a degree. Regardless of who her baby daddies are, Draya remains a role model for everyone as she catapulted from teenage mom to reality television star and businesswoman.
