Lisa Leslie Expecting Second Child – A Boy!

David Livingston/Getty

Tally up the score: Lisa Leslie is pregnant again.

The retired pro basketball star and husband Michael Lockwood are expecting their second child — a boy — in May, she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“We are excited,” says Leslie, 37, who found out she was pregnant in September during her last month as a player with the Los Angeles Sparks.

“When we found out he was a boy, Michael shouted, “Yes, thank you Jesus!” jokes the former forward, who received the news the day before Thanksgiving.

The couple plan to name their son Michael Joseph Lockwood, Jr., but will call him by the nickname M.J.

With the same initials as basketball legend Michael Jordan, Lisa suspects basketball could be in her son’s future.

“I imagine M.J. won’t be shorter than 6’6″,” says the 6’5″ three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist. Husband Michael, a pilot for UPS and a former Air Force Academy basketball player, is 6’7″.

“I’m feeling really good,” adds Lisa, who retired from the Sparks in October and is currently working in broadcasting and promoting a line of CieAura health products.

She and Michael, 44, married in 2005 and have a 2 ½-year-old daughter together, Lauren Jolie. Michael is also dad to two girls from his previous marriage — Mikaela, 15, is a high school junior, while Gabrielle, 18, is a freshman at Baylor.

The toddler – herself a tennis and swimming enthusiast — is looking forward to having a baby brother. “She’s thrilled; she says it’s her baby and I’m just carrying him,” laughs Lisa.

The former basketball star’s second pregnancy is different from her first in another respect — she’s showing much sooner. “As soon as I stopped playing, my belly popped right out,” she explains. “I wore a two-piece bathing suit with my first pregnancy after three months – but no way now!”

– Lorenzo Benet

Click below for a photo of Lisa, Michael and Lauren at the Hollywood Christmas Parade, held November 29th in California.

David Livingston/Getty

Comments

Can we say future ballers in this family or what, Lauren is so pretty and already SO tall for being only 2 1/2!!!

- Lady on December 9th, 2009

Ok I adore Lisa Leslie so I don’t want this to come off the wrong way…but I highly doubt her 2 1/2 year old tells people that the “baby is hers but mommy is just carrying him”…Now, at 2 1/2 I have definitely heard children call their little siblings “theirs”…I’ve heard ‘my baby’ instead of ‘my little sister/brother’ which is completely normal but that phrase “she says it’s her baby and I’m just carrying him”…that is just incredibly hard to believe.

I’m probably going to get picked apart for saying that but I just can’t imagine a 2 1/2 year old saying that whole sentence…but, regardless, congratulations to Lisa & Michael…I’m sure their little boy will be tall and gorgeous!

- Melanie on December 9th, 2009

I doubt that was verbatim!

- Forever Moore on December 9th, 2009

Congrats to them! How exciting!! What a great family photo.

- sat on December 9th, 2009

Melanie,I disagree with you,My nephew is 2 1/2 he’ll be 3 in may and he says whole sentences all the time.

- Katie on December 9th, 2009

I’m sure she wasn’t quoting her daughter exactly Melanie, she probably just summing up how Lauren feels about the baby lol.

I love the name Lauren Jolie & they are such a beautiful family.
I’m sure M.J. will be a cutie!

- Rhea on December 9th, 2009

Katie-
It wasn’t the fact that it was a whole sentence. My nephew is also 2 1/2 and I’m a nanny so I work with kids this age and I’m well aware that they can speak full sentences…it was that particular sentence. At 2 1/2, it would be INCREDIBLY shocking that any child would be able to acknowledge that a baby is “theirs” but mommy is just “carrying it”…that’s what I was referring to.

And if that wasn’t the exact quote, then why say it? It’s not like a sentence where a child says a few words and the parent can decipher what they’re saying and translate it into a full sentence..it was simply that I don’t think a child that age could acknowledge that the baby is theirs but mommy is carrying it..that’s all.

Like I said, I wasn’t trying to pass judgment but I doubt that was the actual conversation…

- Melanie on December 9th, 2009

I find it soooooooooooo irritating when boys are named after there fathers but daughters aren’t named after there mothers! I can’t believe people don’t see this as sexist. It always irks me everytime I hear someone naming a child Jr. or with numerals. Ick.

- Rye on December 9th, 2009

I don’t think that is a sentence that would never come out of a child’s mouth but I guess that is just my opinion. Rye I don’t know why that would irk you but obviously it is your opinion. I would never do that personally but my brother was named after my father, who was named after his father, etc. It seems to be more of a family tradition than anything else.

- Caroline on December 9th, 2009

Forget Michael Jordan, this kid will share a first, middle and nickname with Michael Jackson!

- Yoko on December 9th, 2009

I understand, but that traditition is sexist and too old fashioned. People always say, “it’s nice to honor the father that way” or, “it’s just tradition”…BUT, WHY???? Why is it nice to “honor” the father that way but not the mother?? Isn’t that degrading? The mother is the one who carries the child for over 9 months and goes through the pain of child birth…So, why aren’t there more Lisa Jr’s in the world? Why is it so OK to show such high regard to a man for being a father by actually naming a child after him but most people wouldn’t consider doing the same for a little girl?? And trust me, I understand how “the tradition” aspect goes…I come from an Italian family and there are about 7 Michael’s, 5 Anthony’s and 4 John’s (all named after fathers) and I am around it…but i still find it odd. that’s just me! haha

- Rye on December 9th, 2009

Completely agree with you, Rye. I’ve said it before, tradition is almost always rooted in patriarchy. The societies from which traditions were borne were incredibly patriarchal and sexist. I’m sure it will gradually change with time, though It’s already far less common than it was.

- Rebecca on December 9th, 2009

I don’t think its sexist, just not as common. My mom wanted to name my sister after her but didn’t like her name and so chose a variant of her name for my sister. I agree that it is weird that the man gets the kid named after them but I think that is more so the boy can carry on the family name. But I think we both agree we won’t be doing this with out sons : )

- Caroline on December 9th, 2009

Rebecca, you are exactly right!!! Patriarchal ideals are far too old fashioned and demoralizing towards women to my liking. I find it offensive and insulting that people do this…but, it’s the norm of society unfortunately and there aren’t that many people who feel or understand why it is upsetting to people like me. haha. Most people just shrug it off or think it’s totally fine. That said, I have family members who have both male and female JR’s and I think that is less insulting. They call them “big” and “little” though…which I think is weird. Oh well-it’s family, what can you do? lol

- Rye on December 9th, 2009

I named my youngest daughter after me and I was named after my grandmother and she after her mother. So our name has been in the family for 5 generations. Of course, I had 3 girls and waited until my youngest to use it. lol. It is much less common for a woman to pass on her name although my sister in law just had a baby and named it after her mother. So it does happen.

- melania on December 9th, 2009

I will be using my middle name for a daughter eventually. It will be the 4th generation of the name. I used it for my daughter but she unfortunately passed away.

- Jessi on December 9th, 2009

I was so excited when I heard the news. I’ve been waiting like a week for CBB to post the news on their site. I believe Lisa when she said Lauren said that. My niece just turned 3 in November and she used to tell us her baby sister is in her mommy’s tummy. She calls her “her baby” and when my mom sees her checking over the play pen and asks her what she’s doing she says she’s “checking on my baby.” Kids these days have vast vocabularies. Especially if you’ve been teaching and talking to them since birth.

- I♥CBB on December 9th, 2009

I <3 CBB,
Again, it has NOTHING to do with the fact that she has a large vocabulary or is saying sentences. In fact, calling a sibling "their baby" is completely normal, as I said above. It is PURELY the fact that Lisa said Lauren was saying it was her baby but "mommy was carrying him"…THAT is the part that I don't think is accurate. My nephew is 2 1/2..in his latest ECFE class, they brought in a speech/language specialist to observe all the kids and my nephew is speaking at a 3yr. 2mo. vocabulary so that is not my point at all. In this particular case, it is simply WHAT she said that I don't think any child would say…that's all.

- Melanie on December 9th, 2009

I agree that naming a son after his father but not naming a daughter after her mother is sexist, but not nearly as sexist as the father shouting, “Yes, thank you Jesus!” when he finds out he’s having a son. I’m sure Lauren will hear about this someday, even though she’s not old enough now, and will feel like she’s a disappointment to her parents because she was born the “wrong” gender. I know I would feel bad knowing I wasn’t the gender my parents wanted.

- Lola on December 10th, 2009

Well Melanie you feel the way you do and I feel the way I do. I believe she did say that because my niece says all sorts of things and has a very vast vocabulary. It’s definitely possible.

- I♥CBB on December 10th, 2009

I don’t think leslies husband was disappointed in his daughters. it is his first son. yeah, he has every right to shout ‘thank you jesus’. it would be the same if he had 3 sons and was getting a daughter….its just a change of pace. one of his own kind!

i do think the nickname is a bit obnoxious due to the fact that his family does basketball and the michael jackson death will still be circulating

- Em on December 10th, 2009

Melanie – I totally believe her. I work with kids ages 1-5, I’m a teacher and work a lot with language… It’s absolutely believable. I’ve met and worked with hundreds of 2-3 year olds and some, by far not all, are very much like this little girl.

- Hea on December 10th, 2009

Lauren is so pretty. Can;t wait to see little MJ!

- Chris on December 10th, 2009

I <3 CBB and Hea,
Obviously neither of you are understanding what I'm saying (as much as you think you are, you're not). I'm not going to repeat myself for the 3rd time so you can just go on not understanding..that is fine.

- Melanie on December 10th, 2009

Well what a beautiful family and finally he gets a boy! Naming your child has to do with so many factors…. We named our daughter after my father who has 12 grandchildren and not one of them was named after him. I thought it would be great for him to finally have a grandchild named after him, his name is John but he goes by Jack, so we named our daughter Jacqui and of course all her friends call her Jaq Jaq or just Jacq. Every family has their own traditions when it comes to nameing a child, let them be and choose their childs name how they want.

- NW Mamma on December 10th, 2009

Good heavens this family needs to do toothpaste commercials, look at all those pearly whites

Lisa is so gorgeous and not a single line on her face….I’m happy for them and whoever said Michael Jackson and not Michael Jordon…holla…LOL

Lauren is adorable….soo cute. I can only imagine how tall these kids are going to be wow!!!

- Dee on December 10th, 2009

Congratulations to this beautiful family!!

- LPW on December 10th, 2009

Melanie – Well, if you could tell us WHY you think it’s likely that her daughter would use that term, it would be a whole lot easier to understand your point. Lisa and her husband might even tell their little girl that mommy is carrying her sibling in her womb.

- Hea on December 10th, 2009

Sorry Melanie, but what difference did it make whether or not this little girl said what her mother stated? It seems ridiculous that you’d even put energy into debating Lisa’s statement. Why be that nit-picky when you don’t even know them to know IF it is something she would say? Perhaps Lisa was paraphrasing…big deal. You went off the deep end over something that was completely besides the point of the whole article.

- ms. fs on December 28th, 2009