Former Mizzou star Tamar Bates’ NBA dreams fueled by his biggest purpose: being a dad

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Over the years, former Mizzou men's basketball star Tamar Bates has taken and made a great deal of difficult shots. Whether it was clutch buckets on his way to 29 points in a court-storming win over the No. 1 team in the nation or the routine shots he mastered from the charity stripe, Bates has tackled it all.

However, on Wednesday night, he will take a shot unlike any other he's taken in his basketball career: a shot at the NBA.

"To be able to see my name get called in Brooklyn, at the Draft, that would be just a testament to the work that I've put in," he said.

Bates is one of two former Tiger standouts who hopes to be one of the few to hear their named called in the NBA Draft. If he accomplishes the feat that so many hoopers dream of, he will be the second player under head coach Dennis Gates to get drafted to the NBA.

"I'm probably going to be in tears...I know I'm going to be emotional. I think that's going to be a huge moment in time for him and our family," Tamar's dad Tyrone Bates said.

Although less than two percent of the seniors who play NCAA basketball end up getting drafted, Bates has done the work to give himself the best shot possible. After turning heads at both the Portsmouth Invitational and G-League Elite Camp, the Kansas City native earned an invite to the NBA Combine. In a scrimmage up in Chicago, Bates went up against some of the best and tallied 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting, which helped his draft stock continue to surge.

"You just saw a young man come into his own and you saw people respect it," Coach Gates said. "My phone started ringing a little bit more."

Following a successful appearance at the NBA Combine, Bates continued on to the next phase of the pre-draft process, as he worked out for several teams around the nation, including the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz.

The grit, motivation and drive that it takes to make it in professional sports is uncommon. However, if one thing is for certain, Bates is not lacking in any of those categories.

Pictured above is Bates' daughter, Lelani, who also happens to the guard's biggest motivator.

"I'm doing this for her," Bates said. 'l'll never be in a position to where she gets older and whatever she decides she wants to do...it wouldn't be right of me, being her dad, being able to tell her, you got to this and you're not doing this right...if I didn't do it myself." 

"I'm extremely proud that he understands the responsibility. It's not anything that you take lightly," Bates' dad said.

Lelani was born in March of 2022 and had a front row seat to Bates' entire career in Columbia, taking her first steps at Mizzou Arena during his official visit, joining him on the court after wins and even taking the podium with him during postgame press conferences.

"You can tell the amount of love that they have for each other," Gates said.

After leaving her mark at Mizzou Arena, Lelani is now fueling her dad's next chapter.

There are a lot of players entering the 2025 NBA Draft who have talent, including Bates, himself. But, when so many prospects bring that level of competition, you have to look at other factors that set them apart. In Bates' case that's been his maturity, consistency and, mostly, his heart.

"I think his natural makeup also is to be responsible, you know, be outspoken and be a leader," Tyrone Bates said.

"I've been knocked down, I've faced adversity and I didn't quit," Bates said. "I know for a fact that, you know, being drafted would just be a testament to that and my story and that would only be the beginning." 

If Bates earns a selection in the NBA Draft, he will be the first Tiger player drafted since 2023, when fan-favorite Kobe Brown went in the first round.

"Y'all about to start to realize that we are the hidden pro university. It's not gonna be a secret anymore. We won't be the hidden pro university, we'll just be the pro university," he said.

However, whatever the result ends up being in Wednesday and Thursdays action, Bates can rest assured that he's made both his family and his coaches proud.

"Tamar Bates is a selfless human being. He is really, really a team guy, family guy, he loves with his heart, he gives his very best everyday. Everyday that is something that he does," Gates said.

Bates has the courage to take some of the most difficult shots...mostly because he is hoping to inspire others, including his daughter, to take those kind of shots, as well.

The first round of the NBA Draft will tip off at 7 p.m. CT on KMIZ.

Tune in to ABC 17 News at 6 p.m. to watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full story on Bates, which will come to you live from the Bates family home, where they plan to watch the first round of the NBA Draft.