LeBron James has never been your average player.
In a 2018 interview with Cleveland Magazine, LeBron James’ wife, Savannah James, described him as a devoted husband, saying, “He treats me with so much respect.” She added that it’s impossible not to love someone who is so caring towards her, their children, his mother, and everyone around him.
LeBron James, 41, has always earned plenty of respect, and will make history on May 9th with his 301st playoff game. Having been famous since a young age â even appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated before graduating high school â heâs learned to recognize genuine support.
Starting with his sweetheart from the before times, short as they were.
Savannah helped me at the very beginning of my career, before I had any recognition,” the Akron, Ohio native explained to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. “I wouldnât be where I am today without her.
Even if he was naturally gifted, the four-time NBA champion wouldn’t be who he is today without the support of his most valuable person back home.
LeBron shared on his wife Savannahâs podcast, Everybodyâs Crazy, that early in his career, he only trusted Savannah and his mother, Gloria James, to help raise his three childrenâ21-year-old LeBron âBronnyâ James Jr., 18-year-old Bryce James, and 11-year-old Zhuriâwhile he focused on building his career.
Now that he’s accomplished all his career goalsâincluding the incredible experience of playing in the NBA with his oldest sonâwhat matters most to him has changed.
Savannah explained to People magazine in April 2024, when she and April McDaniel started their podcast Everybody’s Crazy, that she had her family at a young age and was still figuring out her identity. She feels sheâs grown a lot by focusing on her family, raising her children, and supporting her husband, even while taking a more behind-the-scenes role.
The 39-year-old launched her Reframe skincare line because she realized she hadn’t prioritized self-care for a long time.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE what my daughter said to me! It was right after the Met Gala, and I was telling Elle magazine about it. She said she wanted to be just like me! I totally panicked, it was the sweetest thing ever, but also⊠terrifying! I realized I had to be a good role model. So, I dove headfirst into figuring out what really makes me happy, and honestly? It all came back to beauty. It’s not just a job, it’s⊠well, it’s everything! I’ve been on this amazing journey of self-discovery, and it’s all because of her. I want her to look up to the real me, you know?
LeBron recently shared his thoughts on the song ‘Everybody’s Crazy,’ explaining that as he’s matured, he’s gained a better understanding of what his partner wants and feels more at ease with both himself and them.
Everyone was talking about LeBron winding down his career, but when he spoke about Savannah, it was amazing. He said while his own career was coming in for a landing, Savannah’s was absolutely soaring â like a rocket! It’s just incredible to see how supportive he is of her success, and how much she’s achieving right now.
She was happy to support LeBron â whom sheâd met at a football game when she was sixteen, while he was a student at a competing school â even though it meant managing things at home while he pursued his NBA career.
Though, as she recalled to Cleveland, she didn’t exactly see all-star partner potential at first.
She explained she was likely bored and remembered she had a guy’s number she could try calling.
After a group hangout, she eventually agreed to a one-on-one at Outback Steakhouse.
She recalled realizing he was in love with her when she left her dinner leftovers in his car. She’d completely forgotten about them, but he brought them to her, which she believed was just an excuse for him to visit her, as she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2010.
Savannah admitted that moving to Miami in 2010 when her husband joined the Heat wasn’t her ideal situation, but she added, “I’m with himâŠWe’re soul mates.”
Incid, LeBron was also busy gaming out his proposal.
Yet it’s also good that the Cleveland Cavaliers had the No. 1 pick in the draft in 2003.
Savannah shared on her podcast in September 2024 that he likely would have said he wasnât sure what would have happened if he hadnât stayed close to home.
He didn’t hesitate when she became pregnant in 2004, during her final year of high school. The Cavaliers’ promising new player took the news in stride.
I was terrified and crying,” Savannah shared with Harper’s Bazaar. “But he told me, ‘This isn’t going to stop us. We’ll keep moving forward and doing what needs to be done.’
Rumors circulated that Savannah intentionally became pregnant to benefit from LeBron’s fame, but she firmly denied this. She explained that she was surrounded by supportive friends who helped her ignore the negativity.
Although Savannah hadn’t initially wanted to relocate to Miami when her husband joined the Heat in 2010, she emphasized their deep connection, saying, “I’m with himâŠWe’re soul mates.”
At the time, LeBron was also busy gaming out his proposal.
In 2012, he told Oprah Winfrey that when he proposed on New Year’s Eve with a pear-shaped diamond, he thought to himself, ‘This is the woman I’ve shared everything with, through good times and bad.’ He explained that sheâd been a constant presence in his life and he wanted her to continue to be by his side.
The couple got married on September 14, 2013, at the Grand Del Mar hotel in San Diego, California. BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z performed a rendition of “Crazy in Love” as part of the evening’s entertainment.
Despite facing difficulties over the years, LeBron and Savannah have always found a way to turn things around and make the best of every situation.
LeBron recently shared on the 360 with Speedy podcast that long-term relationships, especially those lasting two decades, aren’t always easy. He explained that having been with someone since high school means there will inevitably be challenges.
He said that if you can handle the difficult times, the rewards will be worth the effort.
Read on to see more NBA players and their MVP partners:
Jordyn Woods got a Christmas proposal she’d been hoping for from Karl-Anthony Towns. The model playfully wrote “Marry Christmas” on Instagram, along with a photo of the basketball player proposing to her at Overstory, a stylish bar on the 64th floor of a New York City skyscraper.
Although her impressive engagement ring has gotten a lot of attention since 2024, what really makes their relationship work is simply enjoying each other’s company. She shared in 2021, on her Instagram series Regular-ish, that dating her best friend is “kind of cool” because they deeply understand each other â both when things are good and when theyâre facing challenges. Theyâve been through a lot together and know each otherâs hearts.
Coco Jones clarified that she wasn’t trying to keep her relationship with basketball player Donovan Mitchell a secret, she just wasn’t ready to talk about it publicly. Appearing on Club Shay Shay in March 2025, the singer explained she prefers openness and doesn’t want to feel like she, or her partner, needs to be hidden. She doesn’t want to feel possessive either.
The actress from Bel-Air explained that she values her privacy, saying, “Iâm focused on protecting myself, my family, and the people I care about.”
It seems she’s truly happy with her fiancĂ©, the seven-time NBA All-Star who proposed by the ocean in July 2025, sharing the moment with drone footage. Describing her experience of planning the wedding, she told TopMob News at the 2026 Grammys, “I’ve been to countless events and planned so much, but this feeling is beyond words.”
When Jayson Tatum suffered a serious Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, he considered retiring from basketball. As the Boston Celtics star forward explained to TopMob News, he initially thought, “I’ve achieved enough, maybe it’s time to stop.” However, the support of his family motivated him to keep playing, reminding him of those who would be disappointed if he quit. He realized he couldn’t let them down.
He brought his sons, Deuce (from a previous relationship) and Dylan, along with his girlfriend, singer Ella Mai. The six-time All-Star explained that he wanted to use the moment to teach his kids a lesson. He wanted to show them the challenges he faced and emphasize that everyone has choices in life, asking them to consider what choices they would make.
She and her partner, the artist behind “Booâd Up,” made a deliberate choice not to publicly discuss the details of their relationship, which has lasted over five years. In a December 2025 interview with Capital XTRA, she explained that because she hadnât announced the relationship herself, people seemed unsure how to talk about it. However, she emphasized that sheâs not hiding the fact that she has a child, stating plainly, “I have a child.”
She’s quite gifted, and she’s careful not to force her passion on her son. “I don’t want him to feel like I was constantly pushing my music onto him as he grows up,” she explained to TopMob, referring to their child’s arrival in 2024. “But I do make an effort to play music around him often.”
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers first met his future wife, Anne de Palma, at a dinner with a friend in 2018. It wasn’t an immediate romance, though. As Anne de Palma told ESPN in 2021, their relationship began as a strong friendship.
Okay, so I’ve been following both of them for ages, and it’s just amazing to learn how they met! He came to the US as a teenager to chase his basketball dreams, and she started modeling in Brazil when she was only fourteen! Can you believe it? Apparently, they quickly found out they both spoke French, and they both adore soccer. It’s so cute! She said they were FaceTiming every single day for a while, but she quickly realized he was just… different. She calls him her MVP, and says he has this incredible way of making you feel motivated. Honestly, I totally get it now! He just seems like the kind of person who lifts everyone up.
In September 2020, three years after first appearing in the SI Swimsuit issue, the model and the seven-time All-Star welcomed their son, Arthur â named in memory of the coupleâs younger brother who tragically died in a car accident in 2014. They later married in the Hamptons. De Palma told ESPN that the 76ers center inspires everyone around him to be their best, describing him as a wonderful person to have in your life.
A’ja Wilson, a star player for the Las Vegas Aces and a four-time WNBA MVP, is a key source of support for her boyfriend, Bam Adebayo. When Adebayo, the Miami Heat’s center, broke Kobe Bryant’s record by scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2026, he acknowledged her consistent encouragement.
It’s just amazing to see her out there for her first game! As a huge fan, I’ve been following her journey, and seeing all the hard work she puts in â the practices, the chats she has with people â it’s incredibly inspiring. Honestly, watching her play just motivates me to be better. I’m so grateful to have her as a role model.
She also gave a heartfelt thanks to her supporters. When the University of South Carolina honored her with a jersey retirement in 2025, Wilson said she was grateful for the love and sacrifices of many people, and was especially happy to have her family and friendsâincluding a special Olympianâin attendance.
WNBA star Angel Reese recently said on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, that she’s decided to keep her romantic life private. She explained that she won’t be publicly announcing any relationships until she’s married, and won’t be posting pictures of dates or partners online. ‘You might see me on a date,’ she said, ‘but you’re going to have to catch me! Iâm not going to post a man on my page.’
Rumors are swirling that WNBA star Angel Reese, nicknamed “Bayou Barbie,” is dating Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. Reese hinted at the relationship on TikTok, posting a video of a large bouquet of roses with the caption, “Thatâs a sign!” Further fueling speculation, Carter Jr. was seen at the 2025 WNBA All-Star game wearing a t-shirt with Reeseâs face on it.
Okay, so you will NOT believe this! Our girl, the NCAA champ â sheâs going to be on season two of The Hunting Wives which I’m already counting down the days for â she actually came to a Magic game in December 2025! And get this⊠she was wearing a jersey that said âMy Manâ on it! Like, seriously?! I almost lost it. It was the sweetest, most amazing thing ever, and everyone knew exactly who she was cheering for. I was screaming, obviously.
Model Winnie Harlow is still in the early stages of planning her wedding to Milwaukee Bucks player Kyle Kuzma. She told TopMob News in September 2025, seven months after his Valentine’s Day proposal in Turks and Caicos, that theyâre working to finalize details so they can begin making arrangements.
The key to my ideal date is a relaxed, tropical atmosphere,” the former America’s Next Top Model contestant shared. “I love warm weather and lots of dancing â that’s just my style.”
Kyle Kuzma is sure to contribute some important plays on the court, especially after recently getting engaged while on an island. He revealed to Vogue that he didn’t ask his fiancĂ©e about her ring preferences beforehand. Instead, he designed an 8.5-carat ring based on his impression of her â aiming for something elegant, classic, and simple.
Rapper GloRilla, from Memphis, was happy to see a play made by Grizzlies forward Brandon Ingram during a Thanksgiving game in 2024 against the New Orleans Pelicans. When asked about it, she told Complex in 2025, “That’s all I’m going to say!”
She excitedly responded to the two-time All-Star, now playing for the Toronto Raptors, with a simple, “Let’s go!” After dating for over a year, she told Complex she prefers to keep their relationship private. “We don’t often go out in public,” she explained.
Occasionally, she’ll really show off her skills. In an Instagram post from January 2026, she wrote, “Might let him dunk like he dunk the balllll.”
Before LeBron James was winning championships with teammates like Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis, his true partner was Savannah Brinson. They were together long before his NBA fame began. During their first date at an Outback Steakhouse in Akron, Ohio, Savannah, a cheerleader and softball player, never imagined the basketball star from her high school rival would become an NBA icon. As she told Harper’s Bazaar, she initially thought his success would be limited to being a local hero.
About ten years later, she married the top pick from the 2003 draft in a glamorous ceremony. The event was so famous that BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z even performed their song “Crazy in Love.”
Now living in Los Angeles with their three children in a $23 million homeâwhere James plays for the Lakersâhe shared a heartfelt message in November 2019, writing, “I can perform at my best, both on and off the court, because my best friend always supports me, no matter what!” He affectionately added, “I’m just the vehicle, she’s the power that drives me!”
Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers forward and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, is very private about his personal life. He and his long-time partner, Kishele Shipley, who he met at San Diego State University, have been together for over a decade, but they’ve never publicly confirmed if they are married. Fans were surprised to find out in April 2019 that Leonard missed a game due to the birth of his and Shipleyâs second child, a son named Mark Leonard. Neither Leonard nor Shipley has a public Instagram account.
Honestly, it’s just amazing â Coach Pop has said it himself, Kawhi doesn’t care about all the fame and attention! And it’s so him that even his own daughter, Kaliyah, wasn’t fazed by the Raptors’ championship parade in 2019 â she literally fell asleep during it! A four-year-old! It just proves he’s totally grounded and doesn’t let any of it get to his head. It’s the most Kawhi thing ever.
It’s surprising to learn that NBA superstar Steph Curry was initially rejected when he tried to kiss his now-wife, Ayesha. Back when Steph was a college basketball player at Davidson, he went in for a kiss with a friend from his youth group, but she turned her head away.
Oh my gosh, she actually told Jason Kennedy from TopMob News back in 2017 that they basically got a second chance at that first kiss! And it’s SO romantic â a few years later, he proposed to her in the exact same spot where they’d first kissed, in his parents’ driveway back in Charlotte! He even told Parents magazine it felt straight out of The Notebook! I’m seriously obsessed with their love story!
After getting married in 2011, Ayesha and her husband found out they were expecting a baby â their future, attention-grabbing daughter, Riley. Ayesha was concerned this would make it difficult to establish her career.
Oh my gosh, it’s been over a decade since she first became famous, and now she has four amazing kids! First came Ryan in 2015, and then her sweet boys, Canon in 2018 and little Caius just this year! And it’s not just that â she’s built this incredible life for herself, becoming a cookbook author, a star on the Food Network, a model, and she does so much good work as a philanthropist. Seriously, she’s absolutely thriving!
Please don’t refer to her as a “basketball wife.” She made a good point to ABC News: her husband wouldn’t call himself a “chef’s wife,” so the label doesn’t fit her either.
It’s sweet when someone consistently shows who they are! Back in 2016, basketball player Bradley Beal took his now-wife on a Ferris wheel ride in Las Vegas and asked her to be his girlfriend. Four years and two sons, Bradley Jr. and Braylon, later, he recreated the moment with a similar Ferris wheel ride in Maryland. In January 2020, the three-time All-Star used the ride as the backdrop to propose, asking her to be his wife.
She enthusiastically said yes! Kamiah, the founder of XO By Kamiah, shared that she couldn’t imagine her life with anyone else. She and her husband welcomed their third son, Braxton, in 2022 before getting married. She also expressed her gratitude for his support in helping her grow and become a better person every day.
Ayahna Cornish-Lowry, a standout basketball player at St. Joe’s in the mid-2000s, is more than just a spectator at games. She told the Canadian website The Kit in 2019 that she likes being near the court to fully experience the game. As a mother to sons Karter and Kameron Lowry, she also makes sure to follow all the players, not just her husband, Kyle Lowry.
She isn’t just watching Kyle; she’s studying all of the Philadelphia 76ers’ plays and trying to understand the entire team’s strategy. She enjoys analyzing the game from a basketball perspective.
She isn’t hesitant to offer her opinion on how the six-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist is playing. She explained that he even seeks her input during games. “He’ll come to me during timeouts, we’re that close,” she said, referring to her boyfriend since high school at Cardinal Dougherty in Philadelphia. “If I notice something, I try to signal it to him, hoping he’ll understand.”
Draymond Green, the famously outspoken Warriors All-Star, isn’t known for doing things quietly. So, when he proposed to Hazel Renee in January 2019, he went all out. The proposal involved a helicopter ride to a yacht packed with loved ones â including their children, Olive and Draymond Jr. â a stunning six-carat diamond ring from Jason of Beverly Hills, and even Warriors coach Steve Kerr letting the news slip to the media.
Originally, the couple had planned to renew their wedding vows during a trip to the Olympics, but COVID-19 changed those plans. Instead, they welcomed their daughter, Cash, in October 2020, which became a new and special milestone for them.
He shared in a 2020 birthday message that the past has been incredible. He added that this person has always been the familyâs strength, through both happy and difficult times.
The couple married in 2022, with their wedding photos featured in Vogue. They welcomed their daughter, Hunni, in 2023, and another child in February 2026.
Sacramento Kings point guard Russell Westbrook enthusiastically supported his wife, Nina Westbrook, as she showcased her basketball skills in a March 2020 Instagram video. Nina, now a licensed marriage and couples therapist, was a star athlete herself in college at UCLA. The story goes that she first noticed a young, talented Westbrook while he was making a fast break and dunking, and playfully complimented his performance. He reportedly responded by saying he played with extra motivation knowing he had someone special to play for.
After ten years, they continue to run their Why Not? foundation while also raising their son Noah and twin daughters Skye and Jordyn. They still make time for simple pleasures like a quiet dinner and a movie. She recently shared on Father’s Day that heâll do anything to make their children happy, describing him as a fun-loving and devoted dad.
It’s funny â it’s hard to say whether Kevin Love, the Utah Jazz player, or Kate Bock, a regular in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue since winning Rookie of the Year in 2013, gets more attention in the magazine. Luckily, Kevin isn’t jealous at all! He publicly congratulated Kate on her 2020 cover, writing that it perfectly captured her beauty and that he was incredibly proud of her.
The couple got married at the New York Public Library, over a year after the power forwardâa five-time All-Starâproposed to them during a birthday celebration in January 2021.
Kate, the founder of Love Kate, told Vogue that she and her partner had dreamed of a classic, black-and-white New York City wedding inspired by The Great Gatsby. Planning the overall theme was simple, she explained, but getting into the smaller details â like choosing the right linens, figuring out the seating arrangement, and deciding where to get ready â proved to be much more challenging.
The couple quickly began preparing for a new chapter in their lives, welcoming their daughter James in June 2023, followed by her little sister, Leighton, on Valentine’s Day in 2025.
It’s clear Chris Paul is a major figure in basketball when you look at who attended his 2011 wedding in Charlotte. LeBron James and his wife were in the wedding party, and the guest list read like a who’s who of celebrities and athletes! Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Gabrielle Union, LaLa Anthony, Ludacris, and Kevin Hart were all there, and Robin Thicke even performed as the wedding musician.
Although a performance by gospel singer BeBe Winans and a beautiful display of around 10,000 flowers were part of the event, the Thunder’s 12-time All-Star values his key teammate above all else.
From the moment they met at Wake Forest University, he’s been deeply in love with Jada, praising her unwavering support through everything. The retired basketball player told Essence magazine that Jada, a mother to Christopher II and Camryn, has always been there for him. He emphasized that a basketball career is temporary, but his genuine connection with Jada is lasting, and they enjoy spending time together.
When it comes to accolades in the Horford family, itâs actually Al Horfordâs wife whoâs the real star. Amelia Vega is a model and singer who was crowned both Miss Dominican Republic in 2002 and Miss Universe in 2003.
It took a couple of meetings â first at the Latin Pride Awards in Boston, and then four years later while collaborating on a campaign for children with cancer â but the Dominican-born, five-time All-Star quickly felt sure heâd met his life partner.
I knew she was the one pretty quickly after we started dating. It just felt natural,” the Warriors player explained to Latina magazine in 2013. “I used to tease people who said theyâd found âthe one,â and I didnât really believe in it. But with her, I felt a strong connection and knew I wanted to marry her.
After more than ten years of marriage, the University of Florida athlete says life with his wife and their five childrenâEan, AlĂa, Ava, Nova, and Milaâis wonderful. He describes them as building a beautiful life together, alongside his wife, who owns a boutique in Miami.
In 2008, while playing freshman basketball for UCLA, Jrue Holiday was mistaken for his teammate Darren Collison by a fan at a women’s basketball game. Lauren Holiday, a soccer player at UCLA, playfully intervened, telling the fan, “Don’t worry, you’re cuter than Darren.”
Their first meeting was incredibly sweet, but what happened next was even more remarkable. After retiring from the national women’s team, the World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist discovered she had a brain tumor while nearly five months pregnant. Without hesitation, her husband, Jrue, took a leave of absence from his NBA career in 2016 to support her through the successful removal of the meningioma.
Lauren shared a heartfelt Father’s Day message, praising her husband for being a loving father to their children, Jrue and Hendricks. She wrote that he consistently demonstrates unconditional love, always showing up for them, even when he’s not feeling his best, and never making them feel shortchanged.
Not long after finishing his college basketball career at Butler University, retired forward Gordon Hayward proposed to Robyn Hayward, a recent high school graduate, on Christmas Eve in 2013. They married the following May and have been building their family ever sinceâRobyn was a talented volleyball player in high school.
In September 2020, Gordon welcomed his son, Theo, joining his other children â daughters Bernie, Charlie, and Nora â while he was playing with the Boston Celtics in the NBA bubble.
Even though they’re managing a busy household with four young children, the couple hasn’t dismissed the idea of having more. Describing her kids in a recent post, she shared that Bernie is kind and mild-mannered, Charlie is independent and marches to the beat of her own drum, Nora confidently takes charge and isn’t afraid of anything, and Theo is remarkably calm and easygoing. She playfully tagged her husband, Gordon Hayward, asking if he’d be up for expanding their family.
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2026-05-09 13:20