This NBA Star Once Dated Drake's Former Flame and Grandmother of One — Now Vanessa Bryant Rumors Have Emerged

The basketball world has been buzzing about a well-known NBA star whose love life has taken a headline-grabbing turn.

He was previously linked to a glamorous model and influencer with a famous roster of exes — and now unconfirmed rumors are swirling that he may have grown close to Vanessa Bryant, widow of the late Kobe Bryant.

What makes this story so layered is the contrast between the two women at the center of it. One is a fierce, social-media-savvy entrepreneur who has built an empire on her own terms. The other is one of the most closely watched women in America, still navigating life after one of the most devastating losses the sports industry has ever seen.

Rumors Around Vanessa Bryant Grow

Vanessa recently found herself back at the center of online speculation after reports linked her to a younger NBA player. The rumors spread quickly across social media, with some accounts even claiming the pair had become romantically involved.

Neither side has confirmed any relationship. According to reports circulating online, the basketball player had maintained a close connection with Kobe before the Lakers legend's death in 2020 and remained supportive of the Bryant family afterward.

Recent claims suggested that friendship may have evolved into something more serious, though no evidence has been publicly provided.

The chatter became so widespread that Vanessa addressed the noise herself. As reported by TMZ, she posted a sarcastic message on Instagram Stories over the weekend.

"Can you guys decide already ..... Am I pregnant for the 100th time or am I getting remarried???" she wrote. Vanessa also made it clear that the rumors were false.

The speculation marked yet another round of internet gossip surrounding Kobe's widow, who has largely kept her private life away from public attention since the tragic helicopter crash that killed Kobe and their daughter Gianna in January 2020.

Over the years, Vanessa has occasionally pushed back against online claims about her dating life. TMZ noted that she previously used memes and subtle social media posts to dismiss pregnancy rumors and remarriage speculation.

The Woman He Dated Before

Long before his name became linked to Vanessa, the same NBA player was rumored to be involved with model and influencer Bernice Burgos.

The relationship rumors first surfaced publicly in 2023, when Marca reported that the athlete and Bernice had been romantically connected.

Bernice, now 46, was already well known online before the dating rumors emerged. The Bronx-born influencer built a massive following through modeling, business ventures, and music video appearances.

She currently has more than seven million Instagram followers. She also launched her own clothing line in 2017 and appeared in a Rick Ross music video earlier in her career.

Before being linked to the NBA star, Bernice had reportedly dated Drake. She was also romantically connected to Quavo during the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend and later to rapper T.I.

According to the report, Bernice ended things with T.I. after learning he was still married to Tiny. One detail about Bernice especially grabbed fans' attention online: she is also a grandmother.

Her eldest daughter, Ashley, is a mother to an eight-year-old girl, India. At the time, social media users were fascinated by both the age gap rumors and Bernice's youthful appearance.

The NBA Player at the Center of It All

The NBA player now tied to both Bernice and Vanessa is Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

Jaylen, 29, first became linked to Bernice in early 2023. Neither Brown nor Vanessa has publicly confirmed any romantic relationship.

Still, the speculation has fueled intense discussion online because of Brown's connection to Kobe's legacy, his high-profile NBA career, and his previous links to celebrity figures like Bernice.

For now, Vanessa appears focused on one message: not everything circulating online deserves to be believed.

Vanessa Has Kept Her Focus on Family

Public fascination with Vanessa's personal life has existed for years, especially because Kobe was her only longtime public relationship.

Now, six years after the horrific accident that claimed the life of her husband, fans wonder if Vanessa has started rebuilding her life.

Online discussions about whether she would eventually date again have circulated for years, often dividing fans.

More About Vanessa and Her Relationship With Kobe

Vanessa was born on May 5, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, and in 1999, when she was just 17, she met Kobe, and the two started a relationship that would last the rest of his life.

The two married in 2001, and in 2003 they welcomed their first child, Natalia Diamante. Their second daughter Gianna Maria-Onore arrived in 2006, Bianka Bella in 2016, and baby Capri Kobe in 2019.

When the fateful crash robbed Kobe and Gianna of their lives, the couple had been married for 19 years. Kobe had been the only man in Vanessa's life since she was 17.

Since the death of her husband and daughter, Vanessa has focused on her surviving children and her charity work, renaming the foundation she and Kobe had created, the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, in Gianna's honor.

Fans Wonder If Vanessa Bryant Is Dating

Since her loss, Vanessa has stayed out of the public eye and made very few appearances, but Kobe Bryant's fans are still focused on her. Even though her Instagram account is private, she has over 15 million followers.

Some fans wonder if Vanessa will start seeing other men and conjecture about the public's reaction. One fan tweeted:

"It's gonna be a lot of hate on this app when Vanessa Bryant starts dating again.

Vanessa was in a box seat at SoFi Stadium, accompanied by a female friend and a bodyguard.

Some denizens of Twitter wonder when it will be appropriate for Vanessa and Lauren London, the late Nipsey Hussle's longtime companion, to start dating again.

Others point out that the speculation about their personal lives in the face of the pain they have been through is invasive and in bad taste. One Twitter fan wrote:

"I see the topic often about Vanessa Bryant dating again. And it's like is everyone forgetting she lost her husband & child in a horrific crash. I doubt if being loved again is a thought on the bingo card. Her being able to show up in everyday life is enough."

For Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Is Her Forever Valentine

Six Valentine's Days have gone by since Vanessa lost the love of her life, and she has marked each lonely celebration of romantic love with a tribute to Kobe.

On February 14, 2023, she shared a video of Kobe speaking about love on her Instagram account and captioned the post:

"Happy Valentine's Day, Boo-Boo @kobebryant. ❤️ Forever & Always."

For the woman fighting to keep herself and her three daughters focused on overcoming their grief, there is only one possible love: their father, Kobe.

Vanessa Bryant Makes Rare Public Appearances

Since her husband's and daughter's deaths, Vanessa has kept to herself and rarely made any public appearances. In October 2022, she was spotted at a Bad Bunny concert in L.A.

Vanessa was in a box seat at SoFi Stadium, accompanied by a female friend and a bodyguard. There was no date, and imagining there could ever be is hard. Vanessa said of her relationship with Kobe:

"We loved each other with our whole beings, two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our sweet and amazing girls."

On March 18, 2023, Vanessa Bryant and her three daughters were at the TCL Chinese Theatre Forecourt to witness the placement of Kobe's hand and footprints, a rare appearance that showed their love and their unity.

Since then, she has been seen attending public events, but her appearances have been few and far apart.