For more than ten years, the worlds of professional basketball and the Kardashian-Jenner reality television empire have been inextricably linked. This unique cultural crossover has created one of the most enduring narratives in modern sports and entertainment media. The courtside seats at NBA games have often served as the starting point for high-profile romances that generate as many headlines as the on-court action.
This fusion of elite athleticism with Hollywood-level fame continues to fascinate the public and fuel endless tabloid speculation. While critics often debate the impact of these relationships on the players' careers, there's no denying their power to dominate the news cycle. The list of NBA superstars who have been linked to the famous family is impressive enough to form its own All-Star team.
The Pioneering Relationships: Setting the Trend
The trend arguably began in earnest with Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian. Their whirlwind marriage in 2009, when Odom was a star for the Los Angeles Lakers, became a cornerstone of the family's media dominance and even led to a spin-off TV series. Despite Odom's success as a two-time NBA champion, personal challenges led to a very public separation, though legal ties persisted for years.
Even before Odom, Khloé was briefly linked to player Rashad McCants from late 2008 to early 2009. Their story took a dramatic turn when McCants appeared on Keeping Up With the Kardashians later in 2009. Khloé, then married to Odom, accused McCants of cheating. McCants later claimed the entire storyline was fabricated for television ratings, stating that the publicity negatively affected his NBA career and earnings.
Perhaps the most infamous union was the 2011 marriage between Kim Kardashian and New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. This highly scrutinized relationship lasted a mere 72 days before ending in a divorce that fueled months of media frenzy. Despite its brevity, it firmly cemented the connection between the NBA and the famous family.
Khloé's Continued Links and a Shift to a New Generation
Khloé Kardashian's connections to the league continued with Houston Rockets guard James Harden in 2015. The relationship brought an intense new level of spotlight to the prolific scorer, who later admitted that managing the public attention alongside his professional duties was a significant challenge.
However, no pairing has been more turbulent than the one between Khloé and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson. Spanning several years and involving the birth of two children, their story has been a rollercoaster of public reconciliations and controversies, keeping them in the headlines long after Thompson's 2016 championship win.
The focus later shifted to the younger generation when supermodel Kendall Jenner began dating high-flying forward Blake Griffin in 2017, shortly after his split from his ex-fiancée. Often spotted at concerts and dinners during Griffin's move from the LA Clippers to the Detroit Pistons, their relationship represented a slightly more private, yet still highly visible, style before cooling off in early 2018.
Kendall Jenner's NBA Connections Persist
Kendall Jenner's pattern of dating elite NBA players continued with Philadelphia 76ers standout Ben Simmons. Their on-again, off-again romance was a tabloid staple throughout 2018 and 2019, frequently highlighted by Jenner's appearances at the Wells Fargo Center to watch him play.
Her most enduring relationship was with Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker. The couple was together for over two years, frequently sharing moments on social media and attending major events like the U.S. Open. Even after a reported split in late 2022, they were spotted together in late 2024 and early 2025, fueling persistent rumors of a rekindled romance.
The latest rumor, emerging in early January 2026, links Kendall Jenner to Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. This suggests that despite her brief forays into dating outside the sports world, the powerful connection between the supermodel and the NBA's elite remains a constant force in celebrity culture.
This ongoing saga between the hardwood and Hollywood shows no signs of slowing down. It highlights a unique modern phenomenon where athletic prowess and reality television fame create a potent mix that captivates a global audience, blurring the lines between sports achievement and pop culture legacy.
