Power forward Kris Humphries actually has a pretty successful career on the basketball court. He finished the NBA season with an average of more than 13 points and 11 rebounds per game for the franchise now officially known as the Brooklyn Nets. That doesn’t get you a championship ring…or even a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, in Humphries’ case. But only a handful of other players achieved those stats.
However, what he loves to do most is clearly overshadowed by his lightning-fast marriage and now bitter divorce wrapped in tabloid and online gossip wars with reality show star Kim Kardashian. Kardashian is already deep into a relationship with Kanye West, even speeding through the streets of Paris in a Lamborghini. But as divorce proceedings heat up and get downright dirty in the press, the 6-foot-nine-inch baller is now remaining mum on the topic…with a little help from his publicist.
Humphries went one-on-one with theGrio contributor Kafi Drexel at the Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT during a weekend publicity event promoting his role as spokesperson for Sector sport watches. The 72-day “Mr.” whose friends affectionately call “The Hump” opens up about where his head is now, growing up mixed race in a state where only just over 5 percent of the population is black, and trying to keep his focus on the game inside the sports arena instead of the one in the media.
theGrio: How would you compare where you are now to a year ago?
Kris Humphries: A year ago a lot of things were happening. Right now I’m in a good place.
I’m getting ready for free agency. I’m part of a great brand, Sector which I wasn’t a year ago and I’m just moving forward and enjoying life.
You had a major understatement there. “A year ago a lot of things were happening.”
Yeah.
Tell me a little bit more about Sector and how you got set up with the sport watch company.
I met the owner of Circa Jewels which represent Sector at the Bridgehampton Polo event last summer. And we just kind of hit it off. He’s a sports guy but also a very well dressed, well-spoken businessman and it all just came together naturally.
There a lot of cool people attached to the company like Veronica Webb, who is the creative director of the company. What’s it like being on the same team with a former Victoria’s Secret supermodel?
She’s been very successful in her career and she’s done a great job with Sector and it is real cool. The watches are cool.
Do you work out with them on or do you just wear them for fun?
I do everything. There are watches to work out in, for chillin’ with you in (laughs), and it is just a brand you can wear all the time and it is a nice watch. You know it is funny because I was telling someone this is the only watch I actually have because every time I’m around one of my friends wearing one I’m like “Oh you really like it. Okay take it.”
Generous man!
I end up with no watches!
Where can we usually find you relaxing?
On my boat in Minnesota.
Tell me about Minnesota. You could live anywhere you want live because you are an NBA player…
Because you are an NBA player, you have all the money in the world! (rolls his eyes sarcastically, laughs)
It’s not even about money. It’s about being able to go to a lot of different locations.
Well, I’m from Minnesota and I spend most of the summer in Miami where I’ve had a place for like five years. But I like both. Minnesota is great for 4th of July. There isn’t any other place I’d rather be than Minnesota out on my boat looking at the fireworks and chillin’.
I wanted to ask you about Minnesota and growing up there with your sisters Krystal and Kaela. A lot of people don’t know you are of mixed ethnicity. So what was that like for you?
Check out the hair. (Playfully lifts his cap and runs his fingers through curly locks)
Yeah, you’ve got the hair…tell me more about your background and what that was like for you and your sisters growing up in Minnesota.
Well my dad is black. His grandma was white. So he is mixed but way more black than white obviously. And my mom is white. You know, I don’t know. I love who I am. I love who my parents are. Growing up it was different because a lot of schools I went to people would see my dad and they would be like “I didn’t know you were black.” It was kind of a shocker. I love my dad and mom.
My dad always says I get my athletic ability from him but my mom was a great athlete too. I’m more like my mom. We grew up playing sports as a family and it was great.
I’m sure they want to claim a lot with you.
I know, right?
I would guess that your athletic ability was really helpful for you growing up.
My family was so active. My dad played football at the University of Minnesota. My mom was on the crew team so we are the kind of family that grew up playing two-on-two in the driveway or playing sports as a family or doing active things. It was a lot of fun and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.
What about this upcoming basketball season and what you are doing to prepare? I hear there are like 12 teams interested in you.
Right now I’m a free agent. It would be great to be back in Brooklyn because I’ve been a part of that process the whole way. I know that wherever I end up will be a great fit but it would be great to be in Brooklyn and just go from there.
One of your bosses would be Jay-Z.
He is involved with the team.
How would that be? Do you have any thoughts on that with everything that’s going on?
I think that Jay-Z has been brought in to help with the Brooklyn move. He’s from Brooklyn and I think he is doing a great job.
On the topic of Jay-Z and one of his best friends, Kanye, how are you feeling about your ex, Kim being seriously involved with him?
Publicist, Vivian Gomez of PublicityTalent Resources stops the interview: We’re not talking about that. We’re not asking or answering those kind of questions.
Kris Humphries: You tried though. You gotta try right? God Bless you.
You have to try and see if “The Hump” is okay.
“The Hump” is good. “The Hump” is always good.
Kafi Drexel is a journalist living in New York and former on-air Health & Fitness Correspondent for NY1 News, a 24-hour cable news channel in New York City.