When I first met Ella Mai, I’ll be honest—I didn’t think too much of it. She wasn’t what I expected, not at all. At that time in my life, everything revolved around the NBA. My world was built around practices, film sessions, long road trips, and the constant grind of becoming the player I always dreamed of being. My life was basketball, and basketball was my life. Romance, commitment, or anything deeper than casual connections? That wasn’t really on my radar. I told myself I didn’t have the time or energy to focus on anything outside of the Game.
But Ella… she walked into my life like a different kind of melody. Not loud, not attention-seeking, not trying to match the noise and chaos of my world. She was calm, steady, thoughtful. She had this quiet confidence, the kind you don’t notice right away but that lingers in your mind long after you leave. It wasn’t the kind of connection where fireworks go off immediately—it was subtler, deeper. Almost like the way her music creeps up on you: soulful, timeless, and real.
At first, I didn’t know what to make of it. I’d been used to the fast life—the wild nights after games, the constant spotlight, the temptation and the chaos that come with being in the NBA. You meet so many people, and most of those interactions are shallow, temporary, fleeting. That was my normal. But Ella carried herself differently. She wasn’t impressed by the jersey, the numbers, or the fame. She was grounded, and in a world where everything around me felt temporary, that groundedness felt rare.
Over time, I started to realize that she was teaching me something without even trying. She taught me about patience—how real connections don’t need to be rushed, how authenticity is felt, not performed. I remember the first time we really talked, just the two of us, no cameras, no noise. She asked me about me—not about the Game, not about my stats or the next playoff run. She wanted to know about Jayson, the son, the father, the man outside the hardwood. That hit me differently.
It made me think about balance. I’d been so consumed with chasing greatness on the court that I never stopped to think about who I was becoming off it. Ella became that steady voice reminding me that I’m more than just a basketball player. She wasn’t trying to change me, just to remind me that there’s more to life than wins and losses. Her sincerity was something I couldn’t ignore.
The more I let her in, the more I realized she was like a melody I never knew I needed. Basketball will always be my first love, but Ella gave me something the Game couldn’t—peace. Not the kind you find in a timeout or after a buzzer-beater, but the kind you carry with you, the kind that keeps you steady no matter how loud the arena gets.
Looking back, I smile at how unexpected it all was. I wasn’t looking for love, but somehow, love found me.
