In a report sighted on PEOPLE, the NBA star wants to call time on their marriage. This is coming just a week after Damian Lillard was traded from the Portland Trailblazers to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The NBA All-Star has filed for divorce from his wife of two years, Kay’La Hanson, according to multiple outlets.
Lillard, 33, filed in Clackamas County Circuit Court, according to Willamette Week, citing “irreconcilable differences” in the relationship that led to “the irremediable breakdown of their marriage.”
The divorce filing alleges that Hanson, 31, moved out of the family’s Portland home in Dec. 2022, while the NBA star continued to live at the house, per Willamette Week.
How did Damian and Kay’la meet?
The couple first met in college at Weber State University in Utah. They were together for 10 years before going to the altar in Santa Barbara, California on September 4, 2021.
The couple have three children, son Damian Jr., 5, and twins, Kalii and Kali, 2.
In a 2021 interview with Ebony, Lillard shared that he proposed to Hanson during the NBA All-Star weekend in 2020. “I snuck all of my family and her family out to Chicago without her knowing. I told her we were attending a new Valentine’s Day event the NBA was hosting.
“We showed up to the venue where I had a wall full of roses designed with ‘Will You Marry Me?’ ” he explained, adding that he got down on one knee to pop the question. “Then both of our families joined us for the big celebration.”
Talking about their wedding day, he said, “The moment she started walking down the aisle towards me I felt even more overcome with love,” Lillard recalled to Ebony.
The star-studded guest list included several big names like NBA players Draymond Green, Bradley Beal and CJ McCollum, along with artists Snoop Dogg and Common, both of whom performed during the reception.
The birth of their kids explored
Lillard and Hanson welcomed their first child, son Damian Jr., on March 29, 2018. Two years later, the pair announced that they were expecting twins.
“I’m a DADDY DADDY now ???… happy for another boy but this girl gone hit different,” Lillard wrote on Instagram next to a photo of him, Hanson, and their son, Damian Jr., holding two peas in a pod.
“Damian and I are so excited,” Hanson told PEOPLE during a tour of their “comfortable and modern” nursery for two.
The twins were born on Jan. 21, 2021. Lillard announced the birth of his son, Kalii, and daughter, Kali, on Instagram, along with a caption explaining their names. “Kali Emma Lee Lillard (Callie…girl) and Kalii Laheem Lillard (kuh-lee ..boy ).”
How recent has Lillard been in the news?
Lillard was traded to Milwaukee a week earlier, on Sept. 27, in a blockbuster move for the NBA that involved three teams. The Bucks organization threw a welcome rally for him following the trade, which the athlete attended with the couple’s twins. His wife Hanson was noticeably absent from the celebration.
How would you describe Lillard and Hanson’s time together?
The couple have been all supportive of each other, especially in favour of Lillard’s career as we have observed.
In 2021, Lillard suffered an abdomen injury that left him sidelined for the season. He then had surgery and underwent physical rehabilitation in early 2022.
Speaking to Yahoo! Sports, Lillard praised his wife for helping him get through the recovery. “My wife and kids contributed a lot to how strong I did in rehab. I would attack rehab happy. I just had a positive attitude. I used this time to connect with my family, and it has been one of the best experiences.”
He went on to add, “These precious moments with my wife. I’ve been able to date her. You get so used to being just partners. So, we’ve been doing random things together and it’s been fun.”
As seen on PEOPLE, Lillard frequently praises Hanson on social media and in 2022, he shared a sweet birthday post on Instagram, calling her his “closest friend.”
“Who you choose to go through this life with is probably the most important decision you make. I’d choose you every time…” he wrote alongside a series of photos of the couple. “Happy birthday to my beautiful wife, my closest friend, the person who hates me one minute and loves me the next, the best mom, my biggest fan, my love, and a great partner in life. So happy to bring another year of life in with you! I love you! ❤️.”
How much net worth do the couple have?
With her investments, business earnings, and salary as a registered nurse, the famous celebrity is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $5 million as of June 2023. Her husband, Damian is worth approximately $100 million as of June 2023. His earnings are mostly through salaries, brand endorsement, contract extensions, and sponsorship deals, as seen on sportsbrief.com.