Here are full details on the parents of NBA player Terry Rozier (Terry Rozier III), focusing on his mother and father — Gina Tucker and Terry Rozier Sr. — and how their lives and circumstances shaped his upbringing.
Mother: Gina Tucker
Background
Gina Tucker is the mother of Terry Rozier III.
She was 19 years old when she gave birth to Terry (March 17, 1994) in Youngstown, Ohio.
Terry was the second of her three children.
Challenges & upbringing
Gina raised Terry essentially on her own for much of his early life, as his father was incarcerated soon after his birth.
She grew up (and raised Terry) in Youngstown, Ohio — a city with a challenging environment (high crime, socio-economic pressures). In a 2015 article she said: “In Youngstown, it’s like you’re stuck there… because it’s all you know.”
At one point, due to threats against Terry’s safety (linked indirectly to his father’s criminal associations), Gina made the difficult decision to have Terry move to live with his grandmother, Amanda Tucker, in Shaker Heights, Ohio when Terry was about six.
Relationship with Terry
Gina has spoken about the challenges of balancing hope and reality — raising a very “hyper” young boy (Terry described himself as mischievous) while trying to provide stability.
Terry, while growing older, came to deeply appreciate both his mother and grandmother for their sacrifices and stability. For example, he later tattooed both his mother’s and grandmother’s names on his forearms.
An article notes that Gina dropped out of high school and later obtained a GED, worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken and lived off welfare checks while trying to raise Terry.
Notable Facts
Gina’s tough decisions (such as relocating Terry to live with his grandmother) were rooted in protecting him from physical threats and instability at home.
The dynamic between mother and son changed over time — from early tension (Terry didn’t want to move) to later gratitude. As Terry said: “I’ve seen a lot. I’ve been through a lot.”
Gina also authored a book (mentioned in some sources) titled The Blaq Print, reflecting on motherhood and the decisions she made for her son’s safety.
Father: Terry Rozier Sr.
Background & legal issues
Terry Rozier Sr. is the biological father of Terry Rozier III.
Very shortly after Terry III’s birth (just two months old), his father was arrested for aggravated robbery and sentenced to eight years in prison.
After his release (approx. when Terry III was about five years old), Rozier Sr. got involved in a crime from 2003 (robbery/kidnapping) that led to the accidental death of an accomplice, resulting in his being sentenced to 13 years for involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Relationship with Terry
Rozier Sr. had very limited presence during Terry’s childhood due to these extended incarcerations. The article says he “was in prison for most of the younger Rozier’s life.”
There was a period when Terry spent a summer (around age 9) with his father after his release, which Terry later described as “the best summer of his life” even though that time together was brief.
Despite the distance and time apart, Terry maintains a perspective of understanding — using his father’s story as a motivator rather than bitterness.
Impact on Terry’s life
The absence and instability of a father figure became a driving force for Terry — pushing him to succeed and not repeat similar mistakes. As he said: “Other people had their dads around … and I just wanted my dad to be out.”
The links between his father’s criminal past and the threats to safety in Youngstown led to the decision to move with his grandmother, which changed the trajectory of his upbringing.
Summary & Why It Matters
Terry Rozier’s upbringing was marked by difficulty: a mother raising him in a tough environment, a father largely absent due to incarceration, relocation for safety, behavioral struggles as a youth, and a turning to basketball as both outlet and opportunity.
The sacrifices of his mother (Gina) and grandmother (Amanda) gave him a stable base when his biological father could not, creating the conditions for him to pursue higher education and eventually the NBA.
His father’s story is not ignored; rather, it is contextualized within Terry’s life as both a cautionary example and part of his identity (Terry even tattooed his father’s face with the word “motivation” above it).
Understanding these family dynamics helps one appreciate how resilience, environment, and family support shaped Terry Rozier’s character and career.