What makes an NBA star? Raw talent, relentless grind, or something deeper? For Bennedict Mathurin, it all started in a tough Montreal neighborhood, far from the flashing cameras and screaming fans of Indiana.

Behind the silky jump shots and fearless drives to the basket lies a story rarely seen on highlight reels. A story of love, loss, and family sacrifice. His roots? Haitian blood. Montreal grit. And a mother who played the role of an entire support system.

But who exactly is the woman behind this rising NBA star? And what heartbreak shaped the man we see today on the court? Because let’s be real, behind every success is a decade of unseen battles.

Who is Bennedict Mathurin’s mother, Elvie? What does she do?

Before Bennedict Mathurin became an NBA standout, he was a kid growing up in Montreal-Nord—a neighborhood filled with immigrant families, tight apartments, and constant noise. Through it all, one voice stood taller than the rest: his mother’s.

Elvie Jeune, a Haitian immigrant and single mom, didn’t just raise three kids; she carried them. A full-time nurse working long shifts, she also played chef, tutor, motivator, and protector. There were nights she walked to work through snow, skipped meals to feed her kids, then rushed back just to make Bennedict’s games.

What makes her story even more powerful is that she did all of this while grieving. In 2014, her eldest son Dominique, died after being hit by a car while riding his bike. The weight of that loss could’ve crushed a family. But Elvie kept it together.

“She’s everything,” Benedict has said. His confidence, his edge, his refusal to quit—all of it traces back to her. She didn’t just support his dream. She helped build it. But besides his other, he also a father, who is quite unknown.

Who is Bennedict Mathurin’s father?

Bennedict has been open about the fact that he never had a relationship with his father, who died in 2013. There are no quotes, no stories, no presence, just a gap.

But Elvie filled that space without missing a beat. She was mom and dad, soft and strong, calm and fierce. She raised her children in one of Canada’s most marginalized communities, doing everything possible to keep them off the streets and in the gym. It worked. Anyhow, this wasn’t the only loss for the hooper, he had more.

Who is Bennedict Mathurin’s late brother Dominique?

Dominique Jeune was the one who made basketball feel possible. He was older, wiser, and always watching out for Bennedict and Jennifer. On September 30, 2014, everything changed. He was just 15 when he suffered a fatal head injury after being struck by a car on his bike, and Bennedict was 12.

That day broke something in their family. But it also lit a fire in Bennedict. “It was our dream to make it to the NBA together,” he said. “Now I bring him with me wherever I go.” The reminder is permanent. Inked on his left arm: “02.12.1999, Dominique Jeune, 09.30.2014.” Inside his NBA Draft suit was a photo of himself, Dominique, and Jennifer as kids, tucked near his heart.

After Dominique’s death, Elvie and Bennedict moved in with Jennifer’s basketball coach, Michel Mettelus, in the safer suburb of Sainte-Catherine. It was there that the hooper began to grow, not just physically, but mentally. From that moment on, every layup, every sprint, every postgame quote carried a second heartbeat. Well, in the middle of all this, there is another strong lady who never gave up.

The sister who never stopped showing up

If Elvie was the rock, Jennifer Mathurin was the spark. She played Division I basketball at NC State and professionally overseas, but her biggest investment has been in her little brother. She introduced him to the game, taught him to compete, and now helps manage his career off the court. When Bennedict was drafted by the Pacers, Jennifer moved part-time to Indianapolis, leaving her job in Canada behind.

“She texts me before every game,” Bennedict said. “Just telling me to go have fun. I always read it.” She knows how heavy the spotlight can feel. So she shields him, handling agents, managing pressure, and, when needed, telling him the hard truths. Today, he might be one of the NBA’s top young scorers, but she still sees the 12-year-old who lost his brother. And she makes sure he never forgets why he plays.

Together, Jennifer and Elvie built a foundation most players don’t have. And Bennedict carries it with him every night, when he steps on the court, it’s not just for points. It’s for the people who sacrificed everything so he could dream out loud.