From Lamar Odom to Jaylen Brown: Inside the never-ending Kardashian-Jenner NBA dating saga

The intersection of professional basketball and the Kardashian-Jenner empire has become one of the most persistent storylines in modern sports media. For over a decade, courtside seats at NBA arenas have served as the backdrop for high-profile romances that often dominate headlines as much as the games themselves. This combination of hardwood players with the glitz of show business has been a cultural crossover, with critics often debating the impact of these pairings. But the tabloid has a field day with this fodder.

The list of the NBA superstars who have headlined entertainment sites due to their relationship with the cast of Keeping Up With the Kardashians could create another superstar roster by itself. Let’s dive in and see how these couples navigated the pressure of the court and the spotlight of reality television.

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian

The most significant early chapter of this trend began with the Los Angeles Lakers star. His 2009 whirlwind marriage to Khloé Kardashian was a cornerstone of the family’s media rise, even spawning a spin-off series. Despite his success as a two-time NBA champion, his personal struggles eventually led to a high-profile split, though the two remained legally entangled for years.

Rashad McCants and Khloe Kardashian

Khloe and McCants' relationship could be seen as the first on the list after they briefly dated from late 2008 to early 2009. The pair later appeared on KUWTK in late 2009, while Khloe was married to Lamar Odom, where Khloe claimed McCants had cheated on her. But McCants later stated that the entire thing was nothing but a fabricated storyline to keep the show interesting. This highly publicised relationship, as claimed by McCants, “negatively affected” his career and cost him some big bucks.

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian

Perhaps the most scrutinized marriage in the family’s history occurred in 2011 when Kim Kardashian married the New Jersey Nets’ forward. The union famously lasted only 72 days before a divorce filing sparked months of tabloid speculation. Though the relationship was brief, it cemented the connection between the league and the Calabasas-based family.

James Harden and Khloe Kardashian

During a period of transition, Khloe Kardashian was linked to the prolific scoring guard. Their relationship in 2015 brought a new level of media attention to the Houston Rockets star, who later admitted that the intensity of the public spotlight was a challenge to manage alongside his professional commitments.

Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian

No relationship on this list has seen more public ups and downs than the one between Khloé and the Cleveland Cavaliers center. Spanning several years and involving the birth of two children, their timeline has been defined by multiple reconciliations and very public controversies, keeping them at the center of the news cycle long after Thompson’s championship run.

Blake Griffin and Kendall Jenner

The family’s interest in the league shifted toward the younger generation when Kendall Jenner began dating the high-flying forward in 2017. The romance rumours sparked shortly after Griffin's split from his ex-fiance, Brynn Cameron. The relationship between Griffin and Kendall only lasted till early 2018, after reported suggested the couple has "cooled off." During his transition from the Clippers to the Pistons, the two were a frequent sight at concerts and dinners, representing a shift toward a more private, yet still highly visible, dating style.

Ben Simmons and Kendall Jenner

Continuing the trend of elite guards and forwards, Kendall was later linked to the Philadelphia 76ers standout. Their on-again, off-again relationship was a staple of 2018 and 2019, often highlighted by Kendall’s appearances at the Wells Fargo Center.

Devin Booker and Kendall Jenner

The most enduring of the recent pairings involved the Phoenix Suns star. Devin Booker and Kendall were an item for over two years, frequently appearing on each other’s social media and attending high-profile events like the U.S. Open. Even after a reported split in late 2022, the couple was spotted together in late 2024 and early 2025, fueling the rumors, and it persisted well into 2025 as they seemed to communicate actively.

Jaylen Brown and Kendall Jenner

The most recent addition to the rumor mill of NBA players and Kardashian-Jenner involves the Boston Celtics star, Jaylen Brown. Just barely six days into 2026, reports began to circulate linking him and Kendall Jenner, suggesting that despite her brief pivots toward the music industry, the connection between the supermodel and the NBA’s elite remains as strong as ever.


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