Raymond Griner: Father of WNBA star who initially disapproved of her being gay

While Brittney Griner’s arrest in Russia made headlines in 2022, her parents, Raymond Griner and his wife, were left distressed for several months, occasionally making the news for expressing their feelings concerning their daughter’s arrest.

Although not much is known about the man who birthed one of the most talked-about athletes of the year 2022, Raymond Griner has played a pivotal role in her life and career. He has been a constant source of support and guidance, helping her navigate the ups and downs of life as a professional athlete, including her biggest challenge so far, her infamous arrest.

Table of Content hide 1 Raymond Griner biography 2 Raymond Griner career 3 Raymond Griner’s net worth 4 Raymond Griner family 5 Brittney Griner arrest 6 Raymond Griner age 7 Raymond Griner height 8 Raymond Griner ethnicity

Raymond Griner biography

Raymond Griner is an American deputy sheriff and a military veteran who served in Vietnam on two different tours. While his precise date of birth is still unclear, Griner was born and raised in the United States of America in the 1960s.

The Vietnam War veteran is most famous for being the father of famed women’s basketball player Brittney Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). His daughter garnered international attention in early 2022 after being detained and then found guilty of possession of cannabis oil in Russia.

Griner is a Christian and is said to hold a high value for his religious beliefs. He is also a huge fan of basketball and has been known to support his daughter Britney’s career path since she was just a little girl with dreams.

He is happily married and blessed with four children, including Britney Griner. He currently resides in Texas, where he enjoys a peaceful life with his family.

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Raymond Griner career

Griner always had a penchant for law enforcement duties from an early age. As a young man, he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed to Vietnam alongside other soldiers and took part in combat. He went on a combat tour in Vietnam on two different occasions.

Upon his return to the U.S., Griner worked as a deputy sheriff for several years at the Harris County sheriff’s office in Texas. Thanks to his military skills, the job was a perfect fit for him and worked for over three decades.

Currently, the dad of the famous basketballer is retired from active duty and focused on being a husband and father while enjoying the benefits of the years of work he put into serving his community.

Raymond Griner’s net worth

Griner, according to reports, is estimated to be worth $1 million. He generated his earnings working as a sheriff and his retirement benefits are also likely to play a major role in the military veteran’s net worth.

Raymond Griner family

As earlier mentioned, Griner is happily married to his wife, Sandra Griner. The couple has been together for several decades and their union remains stronger as the days go by. Together, they have four children, a boy and three girls. Their son is named Decarlo Griner, while their three daughters are named Shkera Griner, Pier Griner, and Brittney Griner. Brittney is the youngest and most popular of the couple’s children.

His wife, Sandra, is not much of a public person. She lives a quiet life and is said to be around 55 years old.

Brittney Griner, his daughter, is a professional basketball player who has made a name for herself as one of the most dominant forces in women’s basketball. Born in 1990 in Houston, Texas, Brittney Griner began playing basketball at a young age and quickly established herself as a standout athlete. She went on to attend Baylor University, where she set numerous records and earned national recognition for her exceptional skills on the court.

Brittney Griner has also had success playing internationally, representing the United States in numerous competitions and helping the team win gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Championships.

In addition to her basketball career, Brittney Griner is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has used her platform to raise awareness about issues facing the community. She once revealed that her father was initially not pleased about her sexual orientation while growing up, letting it be known that he is “not raising a gay girl”. However, he subsequently eased up and supported her through her life and career journey.

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Brittney Griner arrest

In February of 2022, Raymond Griner’s daughter, Brittney, found herself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. She had been playing overseas for a Russian team during the WNBA break and was arrested at an airport for carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.

Brittney pleaded guilty to smuggling drug products into Russia and was detained for nearly 10 months on drug charges. During her detention, her wife, Cherelle Griner (nee Watson), advocated for her spouse’s release.

The United States government classified her detainment as unlawful and worked to bring her home safely. Brittney’s detention was extended until December 2022, and she faced up to 10 years in a penal colony if formally convicted and sentenced.

As an NCAA, WNBA, and Olympic champion, Brittney’s case raised concerns about the treatment of athletes and foreigners in Russia. There were fears that she was being targeted because of her high profile and success on the basketball court.

Throughout her ordeal, Brittney remained strong and focused. She knew that her situation was far from ideal as she was caught up in the tangled web of international politics and legal systems, but she refused to let it break her spirit.

Finally, after months of uncertainty and stress, Brittney was released from her nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony in December 2022 through a prisoner exchange, with American officials confirming the release of a notorious Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

It was a bittersweet victory for Brittney and her supporters. While they were thrilled to have her back home, they also knew that her experience had exposed some serious flaws in the Russian legal system.

Raymond Griner age

Currently, there are no confirmed records of Griner’s extant date of birth. However, he is believed to be in his 60s.

Raymond Griner height

Griner currently stands at 6 feet 2 inches in height.

Raymond Griner ethnicity

Raymond Griner is of African-American ethnicity, and he is an American citizen. His wife, Sandra, is of mixed ethnicity (Black and Caucasian).

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