Former Detroit Shock star Kara Braxton‘s son, Jelani Thurman, expressed his feelings via social media amid his mother’s recent passing.
Thurman, a tight end for North Carolina, wrote “Imma miss my queen,” via his Instagram story on Sunday. Braxton, 43, died of undisclosed causes, and Thurman highlighted moments from his life with his mother in the Instagram story. That included a picture of himself with her No. 45 Shock jersey.
In addition, Thurman posted a video of himself talking with reporters about his mother when he played for Ohio State in the 2024 season. He transferred from Ohio State to North Carolina in January.
“Man, she taught me always go hard,” Thurman said . “There’s one goal, you know what you need to go to do.”
Thurman didn’t put up big numbers at Ohio State, but he was part of the Buckeyes national championship team in 2024. He looks to build his career with Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels next and carry the memory of his mother along the way.
Thurman’s father, Odell Thurman, played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kara Braxton Won 2 Championships Herself
Thurman wasn’t the first to win a championship in his family, as Braxton won two WNBA championships during her professional career from 2005 to 2014.
The Shock drafted her with the No. 7 selection in 2005, and the 6-foot-6 center made the All-Rookie team. She played for former Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer and helped the team win the WNBA title in 2006 and 2008.
Braxton was part of talented teams that featured Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith. A former Georgia women’s basketball standout, Braxton had an additional Ohio State tie besides her son since Smith serves as an assistant on the Buckeyes’ women’s basketball staff. Nolan now owns Vino & Vibes win bar in Michigan.
In 2006, Braxton contributed five points and 2.8 rebounds per game on the way to the championship. She played a bigger role in the 2008 title run with 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per night.
Braxton’s time with the Shock lasted until 2010. The then-Tulsa Shock traded Braxton to the Phoenix Mercury during the 2010 season. She averaged 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in her six seasons with the Shock.
Kara Braxton’s Lone All-Star Appearance Came With Shock
Braxton actually produced her best numbers for points, 11.1 with the Mercury in 2010, and rebounds, 6.6, with the New York Liberty in 2013, but her lone All-Star game appearance came in 2007 with the Shock when she averaged 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
“I was totally surprised because there are so many good centers and players in the league,” Braxton said in a 2007 WNBA.com interview. “I was grateful just to have my name amongst the other names on the ballot. But to be voted as a starter and to have the most votes at my position in the conference, I was really shocked.”
“My coaches told us all in a team huddle. I wasn’t even expecting it,” she added. “I mean, I knew about the All-Star Game, and I knew about the selections and the votes were going on, but I had no idea how well I was doing. (Coach Bill Laimbeer) just updated us like, ‘Oh yeah, Kara, you’re leading in votes,’ and I was like, ‘huh?’ So it was kind of funny.”
Kara Braxton’s Son Sends Heartfelt Message Amid Mother’s Death