Who is Gary Payton Jr.'s mom, Monique James? All you need to know

Gary Payton Jr.'s mom, Monique James, is a successful businesswoman who is also following her passion for art. She is also a loving mother to a current NBA champion and the ex-wife of a Hall of Famer.

While most might think he got his athletic gifts from his father, Gary Payton Jr.'s mom was a star at one point as well. During her high school years in Oakland, she ran track and played basketball.

As most know, Gary Payton Jr. is a second-generation player in the NBA. His father played in the league for 17 years and was a nine-time All-Star, one-time Defensive Player of the Year, and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.

Gary Payton Jr.'s mom married his father during the height of his career in 1997. By the time they tied the knot, they'd been together for a decade and were getting ready to have their third child together. Sadly, this love did not last. Monique James filed for divorce due to infidelity issues and the two eventually split in 2012.

Gary Payton Jr.'s mom is a loving mother above all else

Right now, Monique James puts a lot of her energy into the "Outta Pocket Radio Show." It is one of the top sports talk shows in Las Vegas. But above all else, she is a loving mother to her children.

James often refers to herself as the "Mother of Champions." Part of this might stem from Gary Payton Jr., who won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors last season. After signing with the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason, he found his way back to Golden State at the trade deadline.

James has two more children, a son and a daughter. Raquel Payton prefers to stay out of the limelight as she leads a simple life. She is married and gave James her first grandchild.

Even with how things unfolded with her marriage, James considers family very important. Being a mother and grandmother is her top priority, and she always plans her life around that.