E! True Hollywood Story Basketball Wives

A recently broadcast episode of E!'s True Hollywood Story "Basketball Wives" showcased what it's like to be the wife of a NBA star these days. Various NBA players and basketball wives were featured in the inside look at professional basketball relationships. Included on the show were Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Dwyane Wade, Charlie Bell, Jason Maxiell and Kiki Vandeweghe among others.

Milwaukee Bucks star Charlie Bell and his wife Kenya were just one of the couples spotlighted on the show. The couple first met in college, when a shy Charlie Bell kept calling Kenya and finally got his first date with her. The two stuck together since then. They discussed the ups and downs of Charlie getting signed one minute, then cut or traded the next. It went from the good life right back to not knowing how they were going to pay for life. They talked about having a nice apartment fully furnished and then before they knew it having to use food stamps to get food. Bell was traded between the Suns and Dallas Mavs, and eventually signed with a team over in Italy. His wife discussed how she had made the decision to marry Charlie for better or worse so she decided to make the move to Europe with him.

The E! Hollywood Story "Basketball Wives" also offers an in-depth look at the Siohvaughn Funches Dwyane Wade story and has insight on other relationships including those of Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. The show is next scheduled to air at 12 AM EST on E! right after All-Star Saturday should be wrapping up.

Siohvaughn Funches Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union + E! story

Dwyane Wade & Siouvaughn Funches

A recent E! Hollywood Story show called "Basketball Wives" discusses NBA couples and has brought the spotlight onto the Siohvaughn Funches Dwyane Wade marriage-deterioration. They were among one of the several NBA Player wives pairings on our Love & Basketball wives list published a while back. However, things in their marriage took a turn for the worse as Wade filed for divorce from his high school sweetheart. In fact the divorce came about in late 2007 after the birth of their second child. During the grueling divorce proceedings, Wade's estranged wife has even gone as far as to accuse D-Wade of giving her herpes and abandoning their two children Zaire Blessing Dwyane Wade and Zion Malachi Airamis Wade. This prompted a huge lawsuit with Wade suing his former wife and two of her lawyers over the accusations he claimed were false.

BREAKING: Siohvaugn Funches-Wade arrested!

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E! ran one of its inside look shows about what it's like to be married to an NBA superstar, with Siouvaughn Wade and her mother both appearing on the show. Siouvaughn said she started to lose her identity and became more like "Dwyane's wife". She even said it felt like she & Dwyane forgot God and their marriage vows. Their marriage remained rocky into 2007 when they had Zion, their second son. That's about when the divorce proceedings started up in November 2007. Siouvaughn Funches headed back to Illinois with her two children. A friend of Funches said that she would receive calls from one of the children crying for his father. The E! report says that Wade says he wants to do what's best for his children in this situation.


(image source: NY Times)

Rumors have been ongoing that since divorcing Siohvaugh Funches Dwyane Wade started dating Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union. Gabrielle appeared in a recent issue of Jet magazine and discussed dating a younger man. The couple was seen in the spotlight heading to Miami beach for a stroll back in December of 2009, and has been seen together on several other occasions during which Union's publicist tried to block out camera shots.

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Lamar Odom getting married to Khloe Kardashian

The recent buzz has been all about Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom, not for his recent championship ring with the Lakers, not for his $33 million contract extension signed in July, and luckily not for any off-court legal problems. The recent news is that Lamar Odom is getting married to Khloe Kardashian, famous sister of Kim, from "Keeping up with the Kardashians" and "Khloe and Kourtney take Miami", both of which air on the E! television channel.

Well known celeb-diva, paparazzi booty queen, Kim Kardashian, who was most recently linked to running back Reggie Bush of the NFL's New Orleans Saints told People.com:

"They're very, very happy," Kim told People.com. "They are literally inseperable. Khloe thinks he's amazing and makes her laugh and smile constantly."

The news may come as a big shock to many fans of either of these stars. According to reports, Odom met Kardashian at a party in Los Angeles and the two really hit it off. They dated for just over a month, and soon were engaged. A wedding is tentatively planned for Sunday September 27th, 2009. The reason for Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian getting married so quick wedding is due to Odom's upcoming schedule involving the NBA season. All's fair in Love & Basketball, but don't we see so many Hollywood style marriages end fast? I guess it's good to start fast and get it over with quicker? Feel free to leave your thoughts on this recent NBA transaction off the court for Lamar Odom...

(Sources: latimesblogs.latimes.com, people.com, usmagazine.com)

The NBA Player Wives List

Who's your favorite NBA star married to, or are they even married? The most famous of NBA wives today may be the Desperate Housewives star herself, Eva Longoria-Parker. Eva and Tony married just last year with a fancy ceremony in Paris. Another well known wife is Vanessa Bryant, who's married to LA Laker Kobe. Vanessa was in headlines quite a bit after Kobe admitted to having an extra-marital affair. Kobe's wife stood by him throughout the ordeal and they are happily married still. Grant Hill is married to R&B singer, Tamia.

For many ballers, marriage is short-lived, while others stay happily married. Recent divorcees included Shaq, Vince Carter and Jason Kidd. There's also many baller bachelors in the league.

Here's a look at some of your other favorite NBA stars' wives, with notes next to each.

NBA Players Wives

Chauncey Billups - Piper Billups

Elton Brand - Shahara Simmons (longtime girlfriend from Duke)

Caron Butler - Andrea Butler


Kobe Bryant - Vanessa Laine Bryant (model)

Tim Duncan - Amy (ex-cheerleader from Wake Forest)


Kevin Garnett - Brandi Padilla (sister of Jimmy Jam Harris, music producer)

Manu Ginobili - Marianela Orono


Grant Hill - Tamia (R&B singer)

Allen Iverson - Tawanna Iverson

Tracy McGrady - CleRenda Harris (dated 10 years)

Yao Ming - Ye Li (Chinese women's basketball player)

Dikembe Mutombo - Rose Mutombo

Steve Nash - Alejandra Amarilla (personal trainer from Paraguay)


Tony Parker - Eva Longoria-Parker (model, Desperate Housewives star)


Peja Stoyakovic - Aléka Kamilá (Greek fashion model)

Dwyane Wade - Siohvaughn Funches* (highschool sweethearts)

*Note: Siohvaughn Funches-Dwyane Wade began divorce proceedings in 2007 and are trying to work things out in terms of their two children, Zaire and Zion.

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NBA Player Wives: Aléka Kamilá

image courtesy of: CoedMagazine.

Name: Aléka Kamilá

Hair/Eyes: Brown/Brown
Height: 5'10"
Measurements: 34-23-35

Pictured above is Aléka Kamilá, the wife of NBA Star Peja Stoyakovic of the New Orleans Hornets. Aléka is a Greek model who's done Makis Tselios and underwear advertisements, and has been featured on the cover of Maxim as well as Greece's magazine "Votre Beaute". More of Aleka can be seen at Coed Magazine and Sports Wiki Database.

NBA Player Wives: Tamia

Name: Tamia

Full name: Tamia Marylin Washington
Birthdate: May 9, 1975
Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Singer

Tamia Washington is the wife of NBA superstar and former Duke basketball player, Grant Hill. Hill has spent several seasons in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns. His beautiful wife is an award-winning R&B star since 1995. The couple first met in Detroit, Michigan after being introduced to each other by singer Anita Baker. The two were officially married on July 24, 1999. Their first child Myla Grace was born months later on January 23, 2000. Tamia gave birth to their second child on August 9, 2007, named Lael Rose Hill.

Musically, Tamia has recorded several successful albums such as Tamia (1997), A Nu Day (2000), and More (2004). Her hit songs have included "So Into You" which later became the sampled hook for a rap song by Fabolous. Her biggest hit, "Stranger in My House" got up as high as #3 on the Billboard pop charts, #3 on the R&B charts and #1 on Dance charts. It also featured Tamia starring in a risque music video along with it. Tamia has done songs with Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Babyface, Fabolous, 213 and Eric Benet.

In 2005, Tamia and Grant Hill announced on Extra that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but later reported it seems to be in remission and she experiences symptoms from time to time. Tamia and Grant Hill currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona, where Grant is a member of the Phoenix Suns NBA team as of 2007.

Tamia music at Amazon.com

Stranger in My House video at YouTube

Tamia World Website - with tour and appearance info

>Tamia Wikipedia entry

See more wives of NBA Ballers at NBA Wives!

NBA Wives: Aléka Kamilá

NBA Wives: Eva Longoria-Parker

NBA Wives: Vanessa Laine Bryant

NBA Player Wives: Eva Longoria-Parker

image courtesy of: Maxim.com)

Name: Eva Longoria

Birthdate: March 15, 1975
Birthplace: Corpus Christi, TX
Occupation: Actress/model
Height: 5' 3"

Former Miss Corpus Christi, Eva Longoria-Parker, is the wife of current NBA star, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. The couple wed in Paris, France in 2007 at a beautiful ceremony with friends and family. Her former marriage was in 2002 to Tyler Christopher. Eva is currently the star of ABC's hit drama series, Desperate Housewives, where she plays the role of Gabrielle Solis, a seductive temptress. Her past roles have included roles on the soap opera Young & the Restless, LA Dragnet and a cameo on the George Lopez show. Eva has starred in a role opposite Kiefer Sutherland in 2006's The Sentinel, as well as several other movies such as the Direct to video Señorita Justice.

The good news for Tony is that Eva's a very avid sports fan according to Maxim.com. She's frequently seen at Spurs games rooting on her hubby from the stands, and has celebrated with him and the team on the court after NBA championship victories.

“I really love sports. There´s something so sexy and masculine when guys rattle off names and statistics. I can listen to them all day long. But if a guy doesn´t like boxing, that´s grounds for a breakup.”

Hopefully Tony enjoys boxing or has learned to! More info about the ultra-hot Longoria at the links below..

See more wives of NBA Ballers at The NBA Player Wives List!

Desperate Housewives DVDs at Amazon.com!

See more of Eva at Maxim Online and Coed Magazine.

Eva Longoria official website

Eva Longoria Wikipedia entry

Eva Longoria IMDB entry

NBA Player Wives: Vanessa Bryant

Name: Vanessa Bryant

Birthdate: May 5, 1982
Birthplace: California
Occupation: Model/Video vixen

Vanessa Bryant (real name: Vanessa Cornejo Ubrieta) is the hot young wife of current NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant. The two met while Kobe was on the set for a music video shoot back in 1999 for G'd Up from the rap group Tha Eastsidaz. After just 6 months of dating, Kobe proposed to Vanessa in 2000 with a $100,000, 7-carat diamond ring. The wedding was held in 2001 in Dana Point, California with only about 12 guests present. Vanessa & Kobe's first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on Sunday January 19, 2003. On May 1, 2006 their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born.

This couple isn't without controversy. In 2003, Kobe Bryant faced allegations that he raped a hotel worker in Eagle, Colorado. Kobe denied raping the 19 year old woman, but he admitted publicly that he had a brief extra-marital relationship with her. The charges were eventually dropped. To soothe things over with his wife, Kobe purchased Vanessa a $4.3 million 8 carat (1.6 g) purple diamond ring.

Kobe and Vanessa currently live in the gated Newport Coast community of Ocean Ridge in Orange County, California with their 2 children.

Quotes from Vanessa:

"I know Kobe better than anyone. The great person you see on the court and in the public is a far greater person off the court."

"I know that my husband has made a mistake -- the mistake of adultery. He and I will have to deal with that within our marriage, and we will do so."

---

Vanessa Bryant at Coed Magazine

Pictures of Vanessa at SuperiorPics

Kobe Bryant items at Amazon.com

See more wives of NBA Ballers at NBA Wives List!

NBA Wives: Aléka Kamilá

NBA Wives: Eva Longoria-Parker