NBA star Damian Lillard files for divorce from college sweetheart on heels of Bucks trade
Seven-time NBA All Star Damian Lillard has filed for a divorce from his wife just days after his blockbuster trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, court records show.
The former Portland Trail Blazers point guard filed the dissolution paperwork Monday in Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon. The divorce would end a two-year marriage between Lillard, 33, and his college sweetheart Kay'La Lillard.
The couple have three children together.
The Willamette Week was the first to report the news Wednesday of the impending divorce, which Lillard has not yet publicly addressed. Lillard's most recent post on Instagram shows a series of photos of the All-NBA guard practicing in Bucks gear, one of which shows him alongside his new teammate, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Trade to Bucks ends 11-year career as the face of Portland
Lillard had been pushing for a trade out of Portland for weeks, with reports indicating that the Miami Heat were his preferred destination.
Instead, a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns sent the guard to Milwaukee, ending an 11-season run in Portland where Lillard — nicknamed "Dame Time" for his penchant for hitting clutch shots — had spent his entire career on his way to becoming the face of the franchise.
In return, Portland received Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (since traded to the Boston Celtics,) Phoenix center Deandre Ayton, Suns power forward Toumani Camara, a 2029 first-round Bucks pick and rights to swap a future pick with Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Phoenix received center Jusuf Nurkic from Portland along with a handful of other minor role players.
The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be … and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned
Excited for my next chapter! @Bucks 🎟️— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 27, 2023
Lillard ascended to superstardom during his time in Portland, forming a powerful backcourt with CJ McCollum before the shooting guard's trade last year to the New Orleans Pelicans. But Lillard's championship ambitions were never realized despite several playoff appearances as the front office never formed a true title contender around the All-Star.
The Trail Blazers ended up missing the playoffs in the last two seasons before Lillard ultimately requested a trade in June. Lillard's shot at an NBA championship is within reach now that he is part of the Bucks, a team that in 2021 won its first title in 50 years.
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Damian 'Dame Time' Lillard's two-year marriage coming to end
News of Lillard's divorce means his career in Portland isn't the only thing in recent days to come to an end.
Lillard and Kay'La Hanson were college sweethearts at Weber State University in Utah before they got married two years ago.
The Willamette Week obtained a copy of the divorce filing, which it reported cited “irreconcilable differences” between the Lillards that “caused the irremediable breakdown of their marriage.”
According to the outlet, Kay'La Lillard moved into a $2.7 million home in the Portland suburb of West Linn in December. Meanwhile her husband stayed in the couple’s $7.7 million mansion — also in West Linn — before moving to a home about 8 miles away in Tualatin last month, the outlet reported.
USA TODAY has filed a records request for a copy of the divorce filing.
Damian Lillard's last Instagram post about Kay'La Lillard
Though Kay'La has been noticeably absent in recent months from Lillard's social media posts, he did write a tribute to her on Mother's Day back in May: "Takes a special person to wear all the hats that a mother does. I love you and I'm thankful to share what I’m most proud of with you!"
In a 2021 interview with Ebony, Lillard shared that he proposed to his future wife during the NBA All-Star weekend in 2020.
The pair tied the knot on Sept. 4, 2021, in Montecito, California, during an outdoor ceremony with a star-studded guest list that included other NBA players, as well as rappers Snoop Dogg and Common.
"The moment she started walking down the aisle towards me I felt even more overcome with love," Lillard told Ebony.
Lillard's attorney, Shawn Menashe, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY'S request for comment on Friday.
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Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA star Damian Lillard files for divorce days after Milwaukee trade
