Ex-NBA player sorry for daughter's 'sucker-punch'

3 years ago 378

Former NBA subordinate Corey Benjamin has issued an apology aft seeing a viral video showing his teenage girl sucker-punch an hostile during a Southern California girls' hoops game.

"As a father, I'm shocked and disappointed astatine my daughter's behaviour arsenic this is not a reflection of the values and standards that my household holds. Nor does it exemplify the values, quality and tone of sportsmanship that the crippled of hoops requires," Benjamin said successful a connection obtained by quality media Thursday.

The punch was thrown Sunday arsenic 2 nine teams played during a tourney astatine the MAP Sports Facility successful Garden Grove.

The stroke knocked 15-year-old Lauryn Ham to the ground. Her mother, Alice Ham, told KNBC-TV she considers it to beryllium an battle and has filed a constabulary report. She and her lawyer allege that the parent of the miss who threw the punch told her girl to deed the different girl.

"To the young woman who was punched by my girl during a younker hoops game, I sincerely apologise to you and I americium praying for your implicit healing some physically and emotionally," Benjamin said successful the statement. "To her family, I profoundly apologise and regret that this happened to your girl arsenic she did not merit this to hap to her. Finally, I apologize to each of those who person been impacted and wounded by the actions of my girl arsenic good arsenic those of her mother."

Benjamin said helium was "committed to getting my girl immoderate assistance she whitethorn request and enactment her successful taking accountability for her conduct."

Kevin Hahn, an lawyer representing Ham, told US TV presumption KNBC that the apology was "a start."

"We privation the parties liable to beryllium held accountable," Hahn said.

AVAC United, the radical that organised the tournament, besides issued an apology, KABC-TV reported.

"We instrumentality these matters earnestly and person taken enactment to prohibition this subordinate and her parent from participating in, and oregon attending immoderate aboriginal tournaments hosted by our organization," Gary Thomas, CEO of the organization, said successful a statement.

Benjamin's pro vocation included stints with the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and overseas teams.

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