If we’re being real, most of those women you see on Basketball Wives are really ex-wives or baby mamas who reaped the benefit of someone miscalculating the next to the last pump.
photo: Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/WENN.com
Keep getting those checks, though. True significant others of NBA players occupy a much more rarified air, and generally avoid reality ratchetry. Feast your eyes on these 13 real basketball wives and girlfriends and the difference will be as clear as night and day.
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Photo: Instagram
Gabrielle Union (Dwyane Wade)
The NBA’s resident power couple still reigns supreme…break baby notwithstanding.
photo: WENN
Vanessa Bryant (Kobe Bryant)
She wasn’t with him shooting in the gym, but the woman who began her career as an extra in an Eastsidas video has undoubtedly become one of the most recognizable NBA wives.
Sonya Curry (Dell Curry)
Technically this is cheating, since Dell Curry retired a long time ago. But we can’t all sit here and pretend like the woman who birthed MVP Steph Curry ain’t still superfine at 49-years-old.
photo: Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/WENN.com
Lala Anthony (Carmelo)
Three words: Honey Nut Cheerios.
photo: WENN
Yvette Prieto (Michael Jordan)
Not bad for the greatest of all time.
photo: WENN
Iggy Azalea (Nick Young)
His on-court decision-making is terrible, and she’s prone to culturally tone-deaf moments of appropriation. Swaggy P and Iggy Azalea are a match made in heaven.
Teyana Taylor (Iman Shumpert)
Sometimes you have to know when to join the right squad. Iman Shumpert lucked into being traded from the garbage Knicks to the perennially playoff bound Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James. Meanwhile, Teyana Taylor rocks with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint.
Keri Hilson (Serge Ibaka)
The strange pairing of a Georgia peach and hardbody Congolese power forward makes for one of the leagues most Instagram-friendly couples. Just don’t incur the wrath of Ms. Keri Baby with your thirst of her man.
Amber Alvarez (DeAndre Jordan)
When you sign an $80 million deal and this is waiting for you at home, life is pretty good, right?
Tamia Hill (Grant Hill)
Both of their careers have taken curious turns, but it’s hard not to root for Grant Hill (the man who was arguably LeBron before LeBron) and singer Tamia.
Toni Garrn (Chandler Parsons)
Does Dallas Maverick swingman Chandler Parsons possess the ability to woo NBA free agents and Victoria’s Secret models? If so, his hand should be repurposed for pimping instead of jump shooting.
Kendra Shaw (Julius Randle)
Lakers 2014 Lottery pick Julius Randle broke his leg during his first game. That presumably meant spending a lot of time at the crib with wifey, which explains his smile.
Egle Acaite (Jonas Valanciunas)
Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas wifed up the daughter of a prominent Lithuanian politician.
