You’ve probably heard the jokes about the "Kardashian Curse" or seen the long lists of NBA players who have wandered into the orbit of reality TV’s most famous family. It’s a recurring theme. Honestly, if you’re a high-profile power forward with a vertical leap that makes headlines, chances are someone has linked your name to a Kardashian or a Jenner at some point.
So, let's get into the specifics. Did Blake Griffin date a Kardashian?
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The short answer is yes—sorta. While he didn't date a "Kardashian" by last name, he had a very high-profile, very messy, and very public relationship with Kendall Jenner. For a lot of fans, the distinction between the Kardashian and Jenner sisters is non-existent when it comes to the family brand. If you’re at Sunday Service or sitting at the table on the reality show, you're in the mix.
The Summer of 2017: When Things Kicked Off
It all started around August 2017. At the time, Blake Griffin was the undisputed king of the Staples Center, the face of the "Lob City" era for the Los Angeles Clippers. Kendall Jenner was—and is—one of the highest-paid models in the world.
They were first spotted together leaving a Travis Scott concert (classic). Then came the dinner dates at Nobu Malibu. Then came the courtside appearances. Kendall became a fixture at Clippers games, usually tucked away in seats that cost more than a mid-sized sedan.
By September, sources were telling everyone who would listen that it was "nothing serious." But we've all seen this movie before. "Nothing serious" usually turns into "spending every weekend together" pretty fast. By October 2017, they were definitely a thing. Kendall was even spotted wearing Blake’s jacket after one of his stand-up comedy sets.
Did Blake Griffin date a Kardashian sister or a Jenner?
Technically, it was Kendall. But the relationship brought him right into the heart of the Kardashian-Jenner inner circle. In November 2017, Blake was the guest of honor at Kendall’s 22nd birthday party. We’re talking about a private dinner at Petite Taqueria in LA where he was hanging out with Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Kourtney Kardashian.
That’s about as "dating a Kardashian" as it gets without actually sharing the DNA.
The relationship was weirdly private compared to her sisters' romances. Kendall has always been the one to keep her cards close to her chest. While Kim and Khloé were filming their every move, Kendall and Blake were dodging paparazzi and refusing to give the "official" Instagram launch for months.
The Lawsuit and the Drama Nobody Saw Coming
This wasn't just some glossy, carefree Hollywood romance. There was real-world fallout. Before Blake started seeing Kendall, he was in a long-term, eight-year relationship with Brynn Cameron, a former USC basketball player. They have two children together, and they were actually engaged.
The timeline got messy.
In February 2018, Brynn Cameron filed a massive palimony lawsuit against Blake. The court documents weren't subtle. She claimed Blake "abandoned" his family to pursue a relationship with a high-profile celebrity. The lawsuit specifically alleged that Blake called off their wedding just a week before it was supposed to happen and then immediately moved on to Kendall.
It turned a fun celebrity fling into a legal nightmare. Kendall was reportedly "stunned" by the details of the suit. Nobody wants to be labeled a "homewrecker" in legal filings that are being blasted across TMZ and the evening news.
The Detroit Trade: The Long-Distance Death Knell
If the lawsuit didn't kill the vibe, the NBA front office did. In January 2018, the Clippers did the unthinkable. They traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons.
This was a shock to everyone. Blake had just signed a massive five-year, $171 million contract with the Clippers. He was supposed to be a "Clipper for life." Suddenly, he was moving from the sunny beaches of Malibu to the freezing winters of Michigan.
Kendall is a California girl through and through. Her career is based in LA and New York. Detroit... wasn't on the itinerary.
By the time the 2018 Coachella festival rolled around in April, they were pretty much done. They were spotted at the same event but didn't spend time together. A few weeks later, Kendall was seen with Ben Simmons, and the Blake chapter was officially closed.
Why the Relationship Still Gets Talked About
Blake Griffin’s time with Kendall Jenner is often cited as the peak of the NBA-Kardashian crossover era. It had everything:
- A superstar player at his physical prime.
- A "it-girl" supermodel.
- A shocking trade that forced a breakup.
- A high-stakes lawsuit involving an ex-fiancée.
Looking back, it was a whirlwind. It lasted maybe seven or eight months in total, but because of the drama surrounding his exit from LA and his legal battles with Brynn Cameron, it felt much longer.
Honestly, Blake handled the aftermath pretty well. He eventually settled the lawsuit with Cameron, and while he and Kendall aren't exactly best friends, they’ve been seen at the same events since then without any public shouting matches.
Moving Forward: What to Know
If you're tracking the history of NBA stars and this specific family, Blake is a foundational piece. He was one of the first to really show how much "off-court" noise can be generated when these two worlds collide.
To keep things straight, here is the basic reality of the situation:
- The Target: Kendall Jenner was the specific person he dated.
- The Timeline: August 2017 to roughly March/April 2018.
- The Reason for Ending: The trade to Detroit made long-distance impossible, combined with the heavy legal drama from his previous relationship.
- The Legacy: He remains one of the many athletes (like Devin Booker, Ben Simmons, and Jordan Clarkson) who have been part of Kendall’s dating history.
If you’re curious about how this affected his career, most analysts agree the trade to Detroit was the bigger turning point for his basketball legacy than his dating life. However, for the general public, he'll always be the guy who was courtside with Kendall before the "Lob City" era vanished overnight.
Check the latest NBA retirement news if you want to see where Blake is now—he officially hung up the jersey in 2024, leaving the Hollywood drama far behind in his rearview mirror.