Love and basketball! Whether it’s a college matchup or the NBA, celeb couples love a date night that involves courtside seats.
Beyoncé Jay-Z have perfected the art of the courtside appearance over the years, especially during the era when the “99 Problems” rapper owned a partial stake in the Brooklyn Nets. The twosome, who tied the knot in 2008, always wow the crowd with their fashion choices, which in one memorable instance included a $22,000 Gucci kimono for Beyoncé.
In later years, Blue Ivy, their daughter born January 2012, began to come along. Like her parents, Blue Ivy often turns the court into a runway. At a Los Angeles Lakers game in March 2020, the famous tot wore a personalized jean jacket with the phrase “Blue is my name” printed on the back.
The Carters were joined by royalty from a different kind in December 2014. Prince William Duchess KateThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who attended a basketball match during their visit to New York City. The Duke and Duchess were present at a matchup between Nets & Cavaliers. LeBron JamesCheck out the complete roster.
“It’s an honor,” the athlete told ESPN at the time of playing in front of the royal family. “I’ve had people from all across the board as far as stature, but the president of the United States, that was pretty huge. To have those two, to say they were traveling here and one of the things that they wanted to do was see me play, it’s a pretty big deal in my household.”
After the game, the Ohio native met with William & Kate and presented them with a Cavaliers jersey for Prince George. He was just 16 months old at the time. James shared a Photoshopped photo of the toddler wearing his jersey several days later. “My lil guy Prince George was excited about our win last night as well so he wanted to run around this am,” he joked via Instagram.
The royals’ meeting with James also made headlines for a different reason after some observers criticized the basketball star for putting his arm around Kate when they posed for the photo, allegedly breaking royal protocol. William and his spouse were delighted to meet the olympic silver medalist.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge very much enjoyed their time in the US, including attending the NBA game and meeting LeBron,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time. “When members of the Royal Family meet people they want them to feel as comfortable as possible. There is no such thing as Royal protocol.”
Keep scrolling for more information about the couples that have enjoyed basketball dates over the years.
