The former basketball player George Gervin and his wife, Joyce King, have been married for nearly five decades.
They are proud parents of three children: George Jr., Jared, and Tia.
Born on April 27, 1952, George Gervin is a former professional basketball player who competed in the National Basketball Association.
Nicknamed “The Iceman” due to his calm demeanor on the court, Gervin led the league in scoring for four seasons and was a nine-time NBA All-Star.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
Additionally, his #44 jersey has been retired by the San Antonio Spurs, and he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
George Gervin Wife, Joyce King
The 1980 NBA All-Star Game MVP, George Gervin, married his college sweetheart, Joyce King, on July 7, 1976.
After nearly eight years of marriage, the couple divorced on October 16, 1984.
Remarkably, just a year later, on October 09, 1985, they decided to give their love a second chance.
Their love story began during Gervin’s time in Eastern Michigan, where he first met Joyce, his future wife.
It was her freshman year, and it happened to be her first day at Eastern Michigan.
Gervin, then a sophomore, fondly recalls that moment as his favorite memory from his time at Eastern Michigan.
The couple has three children—George Jr., Jared, and Tia.
The eldest, George Gervin Jr. (affectionately known as “Gee”), made a name for himself by playing for the Harlem Globetrotters.
He earned fan-favorite status during his time with the Norrköping Dolphins in the Swedish League.
Eastern Michigan University Unveiled His Statue In 2023
In a momentous ceremony attended by over a hundred people, including former teammates gathered outside the basketball arena already bearing the name of the university’s greatest basketball player, Eastern Michigan University dignitaries revealed a lasting tribute to George Gervin.
The larger-than-life statue captures the essence of his iconic finger roll.
Expressing overwhelming emotions, Gervin addressed the crowd,
“I don’t want to sit up here and ramble, man, because I know I’ll start crying because this honor is unbelievable, man.”
Gervin’s journey from growing up in Detroit to playing at King High and initially committing to Cal State-Long Beach unfolded before he realized he belonged back home.
Later, he transferred to Eastern Michigan, where he excelled on the court.
He earned a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Eastern Michigan has retired his No. 24 jersey, and in 2021, during halftime of a home game, that surprised Gervin with the announcement that the Convocation Center would be renamed the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Beside him during the statue unveiling was his wife of 50 years, Joyce, whom he met on his first day at EMU.
Seated in the front row were their children, George Jr., Jared, and Tia.
