Former NBA star Larry Johnson recently came to an unorthodox resolution to settle an outstanding child support debt he had of nearly a million dollars.
According to TMZ, the mother of Johnson’s child, Laura Tate, had filed a motion to have the assets of the former Hornets and Knicks star liquidated to settle the $900,000 he reportedly owed her in child support.
In an effort to keep the case out of court, Johnson in turn made Tate an offer that she couldn’t refuse: his house.
Reports indicate that Johnson himself had documents filed to turn over ownership of his Orange County, California, home estimated be worth over $800,000. With the house taking care of the lion’s share of the debt owed, Johnson has agreed to pay Tate an addition $1,500 per month until the total amount is paid.
Earlier this year, Johnson filed for bankruptcy claiming that his reason for falling into debt was the strain that his child support payments have had on his finances. He has five children with four different women.
Tate says she made the liquidation request because “some of the other baby mamas are getting more” than she was and she didn’t think it was fair.
Johnson, 46, was selected first overall in in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets after a historic run as part of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. He played in the league from 1991 until 2001 splitting his time between Charlotte and the New York Knicks. Over the course of his career, he made millions in salary and product endorsements.
Tate’s lawyer, Harold Becks, says the romance between his client and Johnson could be described as whirlwind at best.
“Their relationship lasted for 14 months prior to November 1996. He would call her up when he came to town, and he would invite her to New York and other places.”
In an interview with the New York Daily News years ago, Tate revealed that Johnson had originally wanted her to have an abortion when he found out about the pregnancy.
