Aniya Harvey might be looking for love in the Fiji villa, but her family tree is seriously impressive. The Love Island USA contestant casually dropped during the season eight premiere that her dad, Donnell Harvey, played in the NBA — and fans immediately wanted the full story.
Donnell is a retired NBA player who entered the league in 2000 as a first-round pick for the New York Knicks. He was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks and went on to suit up for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and New Jersey Nets before hanging up his sneakers in 2005.
Donnell didn't grow up dreaming of basketball. "I never paid any attention to basketball back then, wasn't into it at all," he told the Orlando Sentinel in 2003. "I grew up a football fan." Everything changed when the 6'8" athlete hit a growth spurt and discovered he had serious hoop skills.
After a stellar college career leading the Florida Gators to an NCAA championship in 2000, Donnell played five NBA seasons and then went international, playing in China, Turkey, and Greece.
Today, Donnell runs the Reconstructing Youth Foundation, a non-profit helping kids from humble beginnings access resources and opportunities to chase their dreams. Aniya is involved in the charity herself.
While Aniya is coupling up with KC Chandler in the villa, her dad is building legacies off the court.
