Our Favorite NBA Wives and Their Sweet Love Stories

Sure, watching basketball is fun—but watching the NBA wives sitting courtside is arguably more exciting (if you consider yourself a pop culture aficionado, that is). There's a good chance you're familiar with some of the biggest names in the NBA, from Steph Curry to Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But if you're curious to know the deets of their lives off the court, you aren't alone. There's a widespread fascination with NBA players and their wives, and understandably so. If you're always tuning into the games, you probably find yourself wondering about the women linked to the biggest stars on the paint.

Here, we share our favorite NBA wives and girlfriends and their sweet love stories with the world's best basketball players. Some are high school sweethearts, and some met through the entertainment industry. But one thing is certain: these women are undeniably the real MVPs.

Lebron and Savannah James

Photo: Kevin Mazur | Getty Images

Savannah James is one of our favorite NBA wives, partly because her love story is just so inspiring. Lebron James and his wife Savannah are true high school sweethearts; They met as teenagers, and after their first official date at Outback Steakhouse, they were inseparable. The two got married in July 2013 and have three children together: LeBron "Bronny" James Jr., Bryce Maximus and Zhuri Nova, some of whom are already following in their dad's athletic footsteps.

While the interior designer has been candid about her distaste for the spotlight, she's a fierce supporter of her husband and his record-breaking career. In fact, the athlete has said he'd be "absolutely nothing" without his wife. In a July 2023 acceptance speech at the ESPY Awards, he praised her dedication to their marriage, saying, "For our family, no one has sacrificed more and more hard work to support this family more than you and I appreciate you for that, love you."

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

Steph and Ayesha Curry

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer | Getty Images

Steph and Ayesha Curry are one of the most well-known NBA couples, and for good reason. While the Golden State Warriors point guard is regarded as one of the best players of all time, he and his wife are incredibly philanthropic off the court. The couple met at church when he was 15 and she was 14, and reconnected in Hollywood five years later. The Currys got married on July 30, 2011, in North Carolina and have three children together: Riley, Ryan and Canon.

Beyond Steph's success on the court, Ayesha is a star in her own right. Not only is she a former actress, she's a New York Times bestselling author and TV personality. Beyond hosting her own cooking show on the Food Network, she has collaborated on pop-up restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, she launched her own cookware line, and she created the lifestyle brand Sweet July, which includes a magazine, a brick-and-mortar store, a product line, and a film partnership with Entertainment One.

Kawhi Leonard and Kishele Shipley

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer | Getty Images

There's no denying that Kawhi Leonard is one of the biggest stars in the NBA today—but while you might be well aware of his accomplishments, you may not know much about his private life. The Clippers forward has been dating girlfriend Kishele Shipley for over a decade, but the two opt to keep their love out of the public eye. The couple met while they were both attending San Diego State University and have been together ever since. They sparked engagement rumors in 2022 when Shipley was seen wearing a diamond ring, but they've never spoken about their relationship status.

Kawhi Leonard and Kishele Shipley have two children together: a daughter, Kaliyah, and a son, whose name has never been publicly shared. Although it's rare for Leonard to speak about his girlfriend, he did reveal she played a role in his move from the Toronto Raptors to the LA Clippers in a candid 2019 interview. "It was about what the future has to hold," he told Yahoo Sports of his choice to transfer to a team closer to home. "And for me, myself and my family, that's what type of decision I had to make. It's no discredit to Toronto, I just wanted to play at home." He later added, "I love my family."

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union

Photo: Jon Kopaloff | Getty Images

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's love story goes all the way back to 2007. The NBA all-star was set to co-host a New Year's Eve event with the actress—but when they met, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. It took two years for them to officially begin dating, and they publicly confirmed their romance in 2010. Despite taking a short break in 2013, they got engaged at the end of the year. Their 2014 Miami wedding was nothing short of iconic, to say the least.

Now that the former Miami Heat point guard is retired, he and Union stay busy parenting their blended family (he has four children from previous relationships and together they share daughter Kaavia). In an interview with People, Union opened up about what makes their romance work in the public eye. "This is both of our second marriages, and we're super transparent about that," she said. "We didn't do it right, the first time around. There's another way—to be more collaborative and equitable. We humble ourselves, listen and we meet in the middle."

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger

Photo: Jesse Grant | Getty Images for Disney

You might know Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo as the "Greek Freak," but are you familiar with his soon-to-be NBA wife? The Greek-Nigerian forward is engaged to fashion designer and entrepreneur Mariah Riddlesprigger. While it's unclear when this NBA couple started dating, we do know they have four children together—and when they announced the gender of their youngest daughter in September 2023, Antetokounmpo subtly soft-launched their engagement in the Instagram reveal.

Although details about their relationship are sparse, the two often shower each other with love on social media. On his fiancée's birthday in 2023, the athlete wrote, "Can we spend the next 100 years together?!?!"

Julius and Kendra Randle

Photo: John Parra | Getty Images for STXfilms / Alexander Wang

When it comes to meet-cutes, it doesn't get better than this NBA wife's story. New York Knicks forward Julius Randle met his wife Kendra at a college party on her birthday in 2013, and the rest is history. Kendra has said she was impressed by Julius' manners—even as a college student—and they started dating shortly after they met. When the athlete was drafted into the NBA by the Lakers, Kendra left Kentucky to be with him.

After a stunning proposal in Greece in 2016, Julius and Kendra Randle got married in a beautiful, ocean-front wedding ceremony on August 3, 2017. Their son Kyden, who was born a year earlier, played a large role in the big day. They've since welcomed a second son, Jayce, in 2021, and remain each other's biggest supporters. When Julius came under fire for kissing his wife on the court after a win in May 2023, Kendra defended her husband, saying, "I'm so grateful my kids get to grow up watching their dad be the best father and husband."

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

Photo: Frank Micelotta | Getty Images

We can't talk about NBA wives without mentioning Kobe and Vanessa Bryant. The couple met in 1999 when Vanessa was a dancer on the set of a music video. Bryant proposed six months later, and the couple were married in front of just 12 people at a California church on April 18, 2001. Kobe and Vanessa Bryant went on to have four daughters together.

Kobe played for the Lakers throughout his entire career. He retired in 2016 and is regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time. In 2020, Kobe and his daughter Gianna tragically passed away in a helicopter crash. Following their untimely passing, Vanessa has continued her late husband's legacy through philanthropic efforts supporting the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. On what would have been his 45th birthday in August 2023, she shared a touching tribute on Instagram, writing, "I love you always & forever."

Kevin Love and Kate Bock

Photo: Arnold Jerocki | Getty Images for Aurora Institute

After meeting for a coffee date in 2015, Miami Heat forward Kevin Love and Canadian model Kate Bock made their romance public in 2016. They got engaged on January 31, 2021, and their wedding was nothing short of memorable. The couple swapped vows at the New York Public Library on June 25, 2022, in a Great Gatsby-themed ceremony.

They welcomed their first child together, a son, in June 2023. On their first anniversary that same month, Love shared an Instagram reel documenting their lavish nuptials, writing, "Heart full with a library of memories. Has it really been 1 year already?"

Russell and Nina Westbrook

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer | Getty Images

Did you know so many NBA wives were college sweethearts? That's the case for LA Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook and his wife Nina. The nine-time NBA all-star met his love, a fellow basketball player, while they were both attending UCLA. Now a licensed therapist and entrepreneur, Nina once told Access Hollywood that she had her husband had a "really fun" start to their relationship, which featured plenty of basketball face-offs.

Russell and Nina Westbrook got married on August 29, 2015, at a star-studded wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The couple has three children together: son Noah and twins Skye and Jordan. On their eighth wedding anniversary in 2023, the basketball pro commemorated the milestone on Instagram, writing, "I Love you always and forever Suga!"

Al Horford and Amelia Vega

Photo: Chelsea Lauren | Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz

With over 10 years in the NBA under his belt, center Al Horford has played for a handful of teams, from the Atlanta Hawks to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics, where he currently is. But who is Al Horford's wife? The all-star has been married to Amelia Vega since 2011. The Dominican model, who was crowned Miss USA in 2003, shares five children with the athlete.

Although not much is known about the couple's relationship, he posted a touching Instagram post in Spanish on their fifth anniversary in 2016. "My Queen, you have been a dream come true in my life," reads the translated caption. "With each passing day, I appreciate more and more what a great person you are. You bring light to my life along with this beautiful family that we have formed with God as the head of our home."

Tobias Harris and Jasmine Winton

Photo: Dave Kotinsky | Getty Images for REFORM Alliance

Although it's unclear exactly when 76ers star Tobias Harris and his wife Jasmine Winton met, they two have been together for quite some time. After getting engaged in 2020, they finally wed in August 2022. The lavish nuptials took place at Oheka Castle in New York, and plenty of Harris' NBA friends were in attendance.

On their anniversary in 2023, Harris shared a sentimental tribute as he reflected on their first year of marriage. "One year ago today will be a memory I'll never forget, marrying my best friend/soulmate was one of the best days of my life!" he captioned the post. "This past year has been a journey filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments…Here's to many more incredible years together love."

P.J. and Tracey Tucker

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer | Getty Images

Although LA Clippers forward P.J. Tucker doesn't often post his wife on social media, we do know that he's happily married to his longtime love Tracey Tucker. The two allegedly met in the late 2000s and got married in 2010. Various outlets report that Tracey holds a degree in engineering from the University of California in San Diego.

Together, P.J. and Tracey Tucker have three children together. Although they keep their family out of the public eye, the athlete's wife and children are often seen traveling the country to support their dad, who's played in a handful of cities, from Toronto to Houston and Los Angeles, where he currently plays.