Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, a veteran NBA star long known for keeping his private life closely guarded, has announced he and his girlfriend, fashion designer Paije Speights, are expecting their first child together.
The news was officially revealed during the second season of the Netflix docuseries Starting 5, where the couple made a joint announcement about Speights’ pregnancy, confirming they are expecting a boy. The announcement marks a significant public milestone for the couple, who only went “Instagram official” in June 2024 after attending a wedding together.
The forthcoming arrival will mark the second child for Speights and the second known child for Harden, offering a new direction for two individuals who have navigated high-profile relationships in the past.
Harden’s History: Navigating the Spotlight
The 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player has had a history of high-profile romantic connections, though he has consistently expressed frustration with the media scrutiny that accompanied them.
Harden’s most publicized relationship was with reality television star Khloé Kardashian between 2015 and 2016. The massive media glare proved to be too much for Harden, who later told Sports Illustrated that the period was the “worst year of my life” due to the invasive attention. Their breakup was widely reported as a consequence of the intense public scrutiny.
Prior to and following that relationship, Harden was linked to several other prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including singer Ashanti and social media model Brittany Renner.
Harden also revealed on the Netflix series that he has a son named Jace from a previous relationship, a fact he had largely kept private until recently. He spoke emotionally about his desire to be a present father, noting the absence of his own father growing up.
Speights’ Previous Court Connections
Speights, a streetwear designer and entrepreneur, is also a mother. She shares a son, Prynce Almario Chalmers, who was born in October 2018, with former NBA player and two-time champion Mario Chalmers. Speights and Chalmers were linked as early as 2014 before ultimately splitting after the birth of their child. Speights has largely kept her co-parenting life private, though she occasionally shares photos of her son.
Speights’ relationship with Chalmers, who played for the Miami Heat, means she is familiar with the unique pressures of dating a professional basketball player. This shared understanding, Harden noted in the docuseries, contributed to their strong bond.
The couple’s current relationship gained traction and became a viral sensation in 2024 after footage circulated of Speights catching the bridal bouquet at a wedding, which was humorously contrasted with Harden’s stunned reaction. With their pregnancy announcement, the two appear set on creating a blended family, prioritizing stability as Harden, now 36, enters a new phase of his life both on and off the court.
Flip the pages for thirst traps photos of Paige.
