Turns out Iman Shumpert's basketball career was secretly prepping him for another equally important job: playing obstetrician as his wife, Teyana Taylor [1], gave birth. The former NBA star delivered both of his daughters, 6-year-old Junie and 1-year-old Rue [2], at home and recounted the wild experiences during a recent appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Chatting with guest host and fellow Dancing With the Stars competitor JoJo Siwa [3], Shumpert said he initially thought Taylor was having Braxton Hicks contractions [4] around baby Junie's due date, but they quickly realized it was the real deal.
"If I have another kid, I gotta have 'em in the bathroom."
"She yelled out, 'I think I see her head!'" he recalled of Taylor's reaction. He then stopped putting together their overnight hospital bag, sprang into action, and delivered their first child in the bathroom. A modest king, Shumpert added, "I didn't have to do too much but catch, so don't give me too much credit. I got great hands." When Taylor was expecting their second child [5] in 2020, they planned to welcome her into the world the same way as her older sister, and it's now become a family tradition of sorts.
"If I have another kid, I gotta have 'em in the bathroom. I'm hoping it's a boy," Shumpert said.
Back in September 2020, the day after his second daughter was born, Shumpert announced the news on Instagram [6], writing, "Now...when we buy homes, we always find a bathroom with great energy... but not in a million years would you be able to tell me we'd deliver both of our daughters in a bathroom without the assistance of a hospital!" Now that, folks, is what we like to call a dream team.
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