Damian Lillard, an American basketball player, previously with the Portland Trail Blazers, has joined the Milwaukee Bucks. During his time with the Trail Blazers, he achieved significant recognition, including seven All-Star selections, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and All-NBA First Team honors in 2018. Additionally, he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, contributing to his impressive net worth of $100 million.
Despite not being highly recruited in high school, Lillard transformed his college career at Weber State into a successful NBA journey. Besides basketball, he has found moderate success as a rapper. Lately, he garnered media attention due to his desire to move to a more competitive team with better championship prospects. Throughout this period, his wife, Kay’la Hanson, has steadfastly supported him.
Lillard’s trade request was fulfilled before the start of the training camp when the Trail Blazers traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he teamed up with Giannis Antetokounmpo. In exchange, the Blazers acquired Jrue Holiday and Deandre Ayton and sent Jusuf Nurcic to the Phoenix Suns. The potential pairing of Giannis and Lillard will be a captivating storyline during the 2023-2024 season. Notably, this trade also affects Kay’la Hanson, who will be relocating to Wisconsin alongside her husband.
Early Life and Education
Born on November 9, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kay’la pursued a nursing degree at Weber State. It was during her time at Weber State that she crossed paths with Damian Lillard.
Career and Business Ventures
Following her six-year tenure in healthcare leadership, Kay’la embarked on a journey into real estate investment. Additionally, she is the proprietor of DIPPED, a nail salon located in Oregon. Her enterprising spirit and unwavering commitment to her endeavors have cemented her status as a successful businesswoman.
Personal Life
In early 2020, Kay’la and Damian became engaged during the All-Star weekend in Chicago. They subsequently tied the knot a year later in a private ceremony attended by celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Common. The couple is blessed with three children: Damian Jr., born in 2018, and twins Kalii Laheen Lillard and Kali Emma Lillard, born in January 2021.
Supporting Damian’s Career
Throughout Damian’s career, Kay’la has remained a steadfast pillar of support. When Damian sought a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks before the start of the training camp, Kay’la stood firmly by his side. This trade marked a significant transition for the family, involving a move from Oregon to Wisconsin.
Damian Lillard has forged an illustrious career with the Portland Trail Blazers, boasting seven All-Star selections, an NBA Rookie of the Year award, inclusion in the All-NBA First Team in 2018, four All-NBA Second Team nods, and a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Now representing the Milwaukee Bucks, he continues to make waves in the NBA.
View this post on InstagramSo, Who is Damian Lillard’s Wife, Kay’la Hanson?
The couple had been together for a considerable time before tying the knot in September 2021. Their family expanded with the birth of twins in January 2021, adding to their three children.
Now, let’s explore Kay’la Hanson’s life beyond her relationship with Damian Lillard.
Kay’la Hanson’s Background
Hanson was born on November 8, 1991, in Las Vegas. She attended Legacy State High School and pursued a pre-medical education at Weber State. After graduating from Weber State in 2014, she obtained a nursing degree from Nightingale College in Salt Lake City.
Following the birth of her children, she ventured into various interests. Currently, she is known as a celebrity, entrepreneur, and owner of a beauty salon. In addition to her business endeavors, she continues to work as a registered nurse at a healthcare facility, accumulating six years of experience.
Hanson owns a cosmetic nail business called DIPPED and manages another venture named KASICS. She is also pursuing a doctorate in the nurse practitioner program at the University of Portland.
Damian Lillard and Kay’la Hanson’s Relationship
The couple first met while attending Weber State. Despite pursuing separate career paths, they maintained their relationship for a decade before getting engaged in 2020. They eventually tied the knot in September 2021, celebrating their union with close friends and family in Santa Barbara, California.
Lillard proposed to Hanson during the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, marking a significant moment in their journey. Together, they have three children, with their eldest, Damian Jr., born in March 2018, followed by a set of twins in 2021, a daughter named Kali and a son named Kalii.
Damian Lillard’s public image has shifted since his trade request became public. While once celebrated for his loyalty to the Portland franchise in an era of super teams, he has now chosen to join Giannis in Milwaukee to pursue an NBA title. Throughout this transition, his family’s unwavering support remains a cornerstone, considering the upheaval they are experiencing after 11 seasons in Portland, all in pursuit of Lillard’s championship dream.
Fascinating Details About Damian Lillard’s Wife
Kay’la Hanson might not be a household name among basketball wives, but she has been by Damian Lillard’s side for quite a while, appreciating the significance he brings to her life. Here are some interesting facts about her:
Kay’la’s Multiracial Heritage
While many may assume Kay’la is solely of African descent, the truth is that she hails from diverse racial backgrounds. So, where does Damian Lillard’s wife originate from? Kay’la Hanson was born on November 8, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, making her 32 years old as of 2023. She is the daughter of Stephany Wright (mother), who is of Puerto Rican descent, and Desmond Cooper (father), who is African-American. Thus, Kay’la Hanson is of multiracial heritage. Additionally, Kay’la has two siblings, a sister named Kalina and a brother named Tyler.
Kayla Hanson and Damian Lillard’s Long-Lasting Relationship
Kay’la Hanson and Damian Lillard’s journey together began in 2012 when they were both college students. They attended Weber State University, a public state institution located in Ogden, Utah. While Kay’la pursued a nursing degree, Damian was studying professional sales. Damian, who played college basketball, noticed Kay’la’s interest in the sport and struck up a conversation with her. This marked the beginning of their romantic relationship, which has endured since then. Following their graduation in 2015, Damian and Kay’la continued their relationship, culminating in Damian’s proposal to Kay’la Hanson in 2020. He popped the question during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2020, after his performance at the All-Star Saturday event. Finally, in September 2021, Damian and Kay’la tied the knot in Santa Barbara, marking 11 years of togetherness as of 2023.
Mother of Three
Although Kay’la Hanson married Damian Lillard in 2021, she became a mother before becoming a wife. She welcomed her first child, Damian Jr., on March 28, 2018, making him five years old as of 2023. In January 2021, Kay’la gave birth to fraternal twins, a son named Kalii Raheem and a daughter named Kali Emma Lee.
Registered Nurse Turned Entrepreneur
After attending Weber State University, Damian Lillard’s wife pursued a nursing career. She graduated in 2014 and furthered her education at Nightingale College, a private for-profit nursing school in Salt Lake City. She eventually became a registered nurse but worked in that capacity for only six years, including her clinical attachments. Following her nursing career, Kay’la transitioned into entrepreneurship.
Kay’la’s Current Profession
As of 2023, Kay’la Hanson is the owner of a nail art salon called “Dipped,” located in Oregon. Her business specializes in nail art, and she even operates a mobile nail art salon from a truck, catering to clients who prefer a full-service nail salon on wheels.
Damian Lillard’s Financial Success
Kay’la Hanson’s husband, Damian Lillard, has enjoyed a prosperous career as a professional basketball player since 2012. After a successful college basketball stint in 2011, he was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers as the sixth overall pick.
Portland Trail Blazers have consistently rewarded Damian with substantial salaries for his basketball prowess. For instance, in 2015, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $120 million with the Blazers.
As of 2023, Damian Lillard boasts an estimated net worth of $100 million and earns an annual salary of $60 million. However, his earnings extend beyond just his salary, as he has garnered over $195 million in salary payments from the Blazers during his decade-long NBA career.
In 2019, Damian signed a lucrative supermax contract with the Trail Blazers, a four-year deal worth $196 million. This contract also includes an option for Damian to receive $54.3 million in the final year.
Additionally, Damian Lillard generates substantial income through endorsements, having inked multimillion-dollar contracts with various brands, including Adidas, Powerade, Spalding, Panini, Foot Locker, JBL, Biofreeze, Hulu, and Moda Health.
Beyond his basketball and endorsement earnings, Damian Lillard is an astute businessman. In 2020, he co-purchased a Toyota dealership in McMinnville, Oregon, alongside his longtime friend and business partner, Brian Sanders.
Furthermore, Damian briefly explored a career in music as a rapper. He released his debut single in 2015 and followed up with his first album, titled “The Letter O,” in 2016. Subsequently, he released his second album in 2017 and his third in 2019, accruing income through album sales, streaming, and royalties.
Kay’la and Damian’s Luxurious Home
In June 2023, Damian Lillard put his Portland, Oregon mansion on the market for $7 million, although these reports remain unverified. Simultaneously, there were reports of Damian constructing a new residence in Portland. Damian also owns property outside of West Linn, Oregon. As of 2023, Kay’la and her family reside in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they purchased a sprawling 15,000-square-foot waterfront home in 2017, valued at $6.65 million.
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