It’s finally happened for Kevin Knox II. After all the hard work, bouncing from team to team and playing in the G League- he’s signed a rest-of-the-season contract with the Golden State. After a fantastic season for the Santa Cruz Warriors, he signed a 10-day contract with the main team. It’s just been confirmed today that Kevin will be a part of their playoffs push.

The journey has been all about perseverance for the young American – something he knows all too well, being part of a family with roots in professional sports. On account of his achievement, we look into his upbringing.

Where is Kevin Knox II from? What is the Warriors star’s nationality?

Kevin was born on August 11th, 1999 in Phoenix, Arizona. But his family soon relocated to Tampa, Florida during his childhood. The city’s deep rooted athletic culture got him his relentless work ethic. It’s no secret that his father is Kevin Knox, the wide receiver who played for a variety of teams in the NFL like the Arizona Cardinals and current champions Philadelphia Eagles. But most notably, he was one of the main men in the Florida State Seminoles, winning a national championship in 1993.

A ‘never say die’ attitude was pretty much instilled into Junior by his dad. He has a saying – “nobody worked harder than the Knoxes.” Any surprises? Despite all the setbacks and all the waivers, Kevin still finds himself in one of the best Association teams. And it makes sense that the whole family looks up to Kobe Bryant – not just by the African-American heritage they share or the work ethic that they abide by. Senior has named one of his sons – Kevin’s brother – ‘Kobe’. His passing hurt their family like it was one of their own.

How were they able to get through such a tragedy, you ask? Well, Michelle Knox a psychology major. That was the only remaining piece in Kevin’s life. He had the athletic roots and wisdom from his dad. The other part of the game – the mental game – was squarely in his mother’s ballpark. She contributed to the family’s focus on mental resilience, especially nurturing a family full of athletes.

It’s no surprise that Kevin’s brother Kobe is also an aspiring hooper – a 6’5” shooting guard who played at Tampa Catholic High School and committed to a Division I program. But his other siblings are also following the same path as Kevin and his father. Karter Knox is still a student-athlete at Tampa Catholic, while Ashley participated in youth basketball a while back. When you get 4 kids with the work ethic of ants on the court together, there’s only one outcome- a sibling rivalry that was “always in the gym shooting”.

He has not openly discussed his Catholic beliefs yet, but the $2 million dollar donation to Tampa Catholic—a Diocesan school—suggests alignment with Catholic values. The donation funded a facility emphasizing community and athletic development, reflecting his parents’ emphasis on ‘faith, excellence, and family’.

Which college did Kevin Knox II attend?

Kevin Knox II was a sensation at Tampa Catholic’s Crusadors. He was a five-star recruit averaging 30.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game and was regarded as one of the top players in the 2017 class. Despite offers from the Blue Devils, Seminoles, Tigers and the Tar Heels, he chose to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Knox was unbelievable in his sole season at the team. In the 2017-18 season under coach John Calipari, he averaged 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16. And what do you know- He was named SEC Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-SEC honors. After this, he chose to forgo his remaining college years, making himself eligible for the 2018 NBA draft.

His career hasn’t gotten off quite how he’d have wanted, being waived and released by multiple teams. But his work at the Santa Cruz Warriors was enough to get him into the majors. “All season, worked on his game after bouncing around the league a little bit and not experiencing the success that he wanted. I thought that showed great fortitude and resilience for him to go to Santa Cruz, put the work in, be patient, come up here with a great attitude,” says Warriors coach Steve Kerr on their decision to bring him into the main 15.

Kevin Knox II’s life journey till now has instilled exactly what his parents have taught him growing up. You don’t become a fanatic of the Black Mamba if you don’t believe in his perseverance and work ethic. Kevin’s career has just started. This is a call to the rest of the teams: don’t underestimate him, and if you do, its at your own peril!