In a world where athletes are put on the same pedestal as celebrities, the dating pool for the rich and famous is full of potential suitors. But, one celebrity family, America's royalty, the Kardashians, top the list of athlete relationships. You've got the older sisters, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, chasing jerseys left and right, while the younger Jenners, Kylie and Kendall, follow their lead. Even mama bear, Kris, has joined in on the mix.
But, when an athlete gets anointed as a Kardashian HAB (husbands and boyfriend), their sports career seems to take a turn for the worse. Even Kylie Jenner proclaimed that the Kardashian Curse exists, saying that when guys date one of her own, "their life kind of just goes down hill after that." But, not everyone falls under their spell. Some are able to bounce back despite the supposed curse that comes after dating reality TV's most famous family. To those athletes who managed to overcome this spooky spell, we salute you.
Today at TheSportster, we dive into the Kardashian Curse, spotlighting ten athlete's careers that were never the same after undergoing the infamous spell, and five who overcame it and managed to once again find success.
15 Never The Same: Derrick Ward
Former Giants running back, Derrick Ward, may not be a household name, but he was integral part of the New York backfield in the late 2000s. Behind lead back Brandon Jacobs, Ward provided a change of pace, leading to a thrilling Super Bowl XLII victory against the undefeated New England Patriots. The following season, both Ward and Jacobs rushed for over 1,000-yards.
His success in the league quickly went downhill after he signed with Tampa Bay in 2009 and began dating Khloe Kardashian.
At first just a fling, Ward accompanied Khloe to Mexico, to her sister Kourtney’s 30th-birthday bash. Ward never produced consistently in the NFL after that, falling into the clutches of the dreaded curse! Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but as you continue, you'll realize that Khloe has a special dungeon in her heart for ruining player’s careers!
14 Never The Same: Chandler Parsons
When it comes to the Kardashians' choice in men, NBAers are the most common victims. Big, tall, burly men who are used to being in the spotlight as they waltz through Hollywood hand in hand. Back in 2014, after dominating on a talented Houston Rockets squad, former University of Florida star, Chandler Parsons began dating Kendall Jenner. We aren’t sure of the timeline of the entire relationship, but it looks like she was awfully close to the proverbial age of 18.
Still, the couple broke up shortly after, leaving Parsons to imagine what life would be like as a celebrity. That’s because while he was once a dominant force in the league, injuries and poor play have plagued the seventh-year forward during his time with the Grizzlies. There’s still hope for Parsons though, but not on the court. Last year, both him and Jenner were spotted together, even though she claims they were “just pals.” Oh no, he just got friend-zoned!
13 Overcame: Matt Kemp
We will overcome! Two-time All-Star outfielder, Matt Kemp, may be on the tail-end of his career, but a few years ago, he was one of the most dominant forces, both offensively and defensively, in the MLB. But, his personal life almost got into the way of success.
After Khloe Kardashian divorced with well-known addict LaMar Odom back in 2013, she coped with the tragedies of the split by switching from the court to the diamond, dating Kemp.
Kardashian had finally unlocked the accomplishment of "three-sport WAG". Although the couple was spotted at a bunch of concerts together, nothing too serious materialized.
Luckily for the two-time Silver Slugger, at 33 years old, he still continues his career, refusing be another one of Khloe's victims. That's one swing and miss for the Kardashian Curse!
12 Never The Same: Julian Brooks
At 6'2", 185 lbs., Brooks had the skills and athleticism on the gridiron to make it to the next level. Highly recruited across the PAC-12, he decided to commit to the University of Nevada in May 2012. Then, in November of that same year, while he was a senior at Sierra Canyon High School, Brooks fell under the spell of Kendall Jenner.
Young and dumb, the couple had a young romance that was publicized to the world, with Jenner even posting on social media in 2013 saying "I love Julian Brooks." But, like most teenage relationships, the couple split up, with Jenner leaving him in the dust.
Unable to deal with the hardships of the break-up, Brooks wasn't able to focus on the field, not playing a single down in college! It's a sad, but common story.
11 Ruined: Tristan Thompson
Cleveland big man, Tristan Thompson, used to be one of the most underrated players in the league. Coming into the NBA as the fourth-overall pick in 2011, Thompson used his tenacious defense and hustle to work his way up the roster. When LeBron came to town, the big man became one of his favorite teammates. LBJ was even rumored to have convinced the front office to re-sign him.
The last few years have been rough for the former Texas Longhorn, as he's struggled in clutch moments, leaving Cavs fans shocked and disappointed.
What happened? Well, Thomspon started dating Khloe Kardashian back in 2016. The couple is currently expecting a child, but with Thompson's career falling victim to the curse, we hope that there are better days ahead!
10 Overcame: Lewis Hamilton
Some of you might not recognized Lewis Hamilton's name, but he's a pretty big deal in the world of racing. At 33 years old, Hamilton is a four-time Formula One Champion, driving for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team. While he was competing in Monaco, Jenner and friends were spotted out on the town with him, sparking rumors that the two were dating. The British racer cleared the air with E!, saying...
"Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we're just friends."
Nice save, bro. Although he hasn't fallen victim the Karsdashian curse, I think it's safe to say that Hamilton got permanently exiled to the 'Friend Zone' with Jenner's fellow ex-boyfriend, Chandler Parsons (see 14). It looks like Hamilton can't get the checkered flag with the Kardashian ladies.
9 Never The Same: Miles Austin
Former Dallas wide receiver, Miles Austin, had a stellar career in the NFL if you consider the fact that he came into the league as undrafted free agent out of Monmouth in 2006. Spending nearly ten years outside the hashes, most of them as a Cowboy, Austin flourished in the 2009 and 2010 season, amassing over 1,000-yards and a Pro Bowl each year. Amidst his storied run, Austin had a quick fling with Kim K.
The couple called it quits in the middle of the 2010 season, and the receiver's production steeply declined the following year, putting up only 579 receiving yards.
Austin never touched the 1,000-yard mark after his relationship with Kim, even admitting he missed the insane publicity from their relationship. Just another victim of the Kardashian curse!
8 Never The Same: Rashad McCants
Former NCAA Champion, Rashad McCants, was poised to be a steady force in the NBA after his stellar college career at the University of North Carolina. Drafted 14th overall in 2005 to the Timberwolves, McCants, didn't live up to expectations, exiting the league in 2009 only to bounce around the international leagues for a few more years.
So what was Rashad's issue? Well, according to him, it was his public relationship with Khloe Kardashian. Giving a statement in regards to Khloe, McCants told the Charlotte Obsever that...
"Without that situation in play, I’m a $60-70 million player. Easily.”
That's low man! Sure, the Kardashian curse could have came into play during this whole ordeal, but we think that McCants needs to own up to his poor play instead of blaming someone else!
7 Overcame: James Harden
It's time to 'fear the beard' with Houston Rockets point guard, James Harden. On the court, Harden's an absolute monster. Even though he pretty much refuses to play defense, his offensive prowess makes up for it. Whether he's euro-stepping through the lane to draw a foul or launching threes from deep downtown, Harden's a special kind of weapon. As of now, he's even the leading candidate to take home the 2017-18 NBA MVP Award.
Off the court, Harden plays just as hard, but it's usually in the strip club. That was until he was locked-down by Khloe Kardashian in the summer of 2015.
The couple split up early in 2016, yet Harden continued his dominance on the floor, overcoming the curse.
In a later interviewer with SI in regards to his relationship with Khloe, he said it was the "worst" year of his life!
6 Never The Same: O.J. Simpson
The Juice is finally loose. Former NFL running back, O.J. Simpson, was recently released from prison stemming from a burglary charge after he tried to steal back his own memorabilia on display in a Las Vegas casino. More infamously, he was tried for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her alleged lover, Ron Goldman. Who was on his legal team? None other than the late Rob Kardashian.
But, I thought the curse was only in regards to the women in the family? Well astute reader, you'd be right! Not once, but twice Kris Jenner was accused of being addicted to The Juice, having an affair with the convicted felon back in the 70s and then again in the mid-80s. No one has confirmed the rumors, but I think that's enough for OJ to land on our list.
5 Never The Same: Reggie Bush
Poor Reggie! The former Heisman Trophy winner (which has since been taken back due to violations of NCAA rules) was a human highlight reel in college. He hurdled, spun, and juked his way into college football lore.
Although his NFL career started off with a bang, things quickly went downhill for Bush, as his small frame made him injury-prone, causing him to lose his shiftiness.
While at the 2007 ESPY awards, Bush's former teammate at USC, Matt Leinhart, introduced him to the voluptuous Kim Kardashian and the two began dating shortly afterwards. After going on-again and off-again for a few years, they finally broke up for good in 2010. While his emotions may have recovered from the split, his career certainly didn't!
4 Overcame: Cristiano Ronaldo
CR7 is one of the best soccer players (or footballers for you non-Americans) of all-time. The Portuguese sensation has won five Ballon d'Or awards and is household name even beyond sports fans. His handsome appearance in combination with his fierce competitiveness makes ladies from every country drool.
With his elite celebrity status, the Real Madrid forward only had an entire ocean filled with fish waiting to get hooked.
Back in 2010, while on a break with Reggie Bush, it was Kim K who took Ronaldo's bait, as the two were caught kissing on the beach in Spain. It was only a matter of time before these celebs hooked up.
Whether is was a fling, or a long-winded relationship behind closed doors, I don't think the curse had any affect on Ronaldo whatsoever.
3 Never The Same: Kris Humphries
Sticking with the Kim K theme, we move onto her former hubby, Kris Humphries. The 6'11" big man out of Minnesota entered the league in 2004 with the Jazz's 14th overall pick. His production on the court was mediocre at best, and he spent the rest of his years as an NBA journeyman, hopping from one franchise after to another hoping to find a permanent home.
Just like his brief stints across the league, Humphries also had a brief stint of a marriage with Kim.
The couple started dating in late 2010, and then married in 2011. But, just a few weeks later, they shockingly filed for divorce. Apparently, the wedding was one big publicity stunt for the E! Network, as they gained millions of dollars of revenue by publicly airing the lavish wedding ceremony. Shame!
2 Never The Same: LaMar Odom
Our athlete that was most affected by the Kardashian curse is former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom. Known for his tenacious defense during his glory days, Odom fell into the arms of Khloe Kardashian, marrying in 2009 after only a month of dating. Odom was a hit with the fans of Keeping Up with the Kardashians so much that E! did a spinoff reality show, aptly named Khloe and Lamar. The marriage seemed to be going great from the outside, but for Odom, a history of substance abuse and cheating was the couple's downfall.
After divorcing in July 2015, Odom's issues went into a deep spiral, culminating in a week-long binge at a brothel in Vegas. He was found unconscious from an apparent overdose, and was in a coma for several days. Khloe helped her husband through the ordeal, but eventually, Khloe and Lamar were no more!
1 Overcame: Caitlyn Jenner
To truly overcome the dreaded Kardashian curse, you must must be a Kardashian yourself! The woman formerly known as Bruce Jenner enthralled audiences in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, breaking records and bringing Team USA the gold in the ultimate athletic event: the decathlon.
Although married into American royalty with Kris, Jenner was the star of their reality show, providing the voice of reason to the family's increasingly idiotic antics. Although, a shocking announcement in April 2015 caused a rift in the Kardashian's fabric. Bruce Jenner came out to Diane Sawyer on 20/20, admitting that he felt he was a woman, and was transitioning into Caitlyn. Lauded as a hero by some and a villain by others, there is no doubt that Jenner overcame the omnipresent Kardashian curse!