Meet Draya Michelle, Jalen Green's 39 Y.O. Girlfriend, Whom The NBA Star Got Tattooed On His Back

Houston Rockets star Jalen Green has grabbed headlines with a massive tattoo of his girlfriend Draya Michele’s face inked across his back. A video of the 23-year-old NBA player flaunting the new tattoo recently went viral online, with fans immediately flooding X (formerly Twitter) with varied opinions. Some called it ‘romantic’, while others slammed it as a ‘reckless’ move, claiming Green would regret it later.

Green and Michele’s relationship has been a topic of public scrutiny ever since the couple made it official in 2023, given the glaring 17-year age gap between them. Regardless of what the internet says, the star NBA guard seems unfazed. He and Draya, 40, have been inseparable since they met, and they welcomed a baby girl in May 2024.

Draya Michele and Jalen Green's love story

Draya Michele and Jalen Green’s relationship has been a controversial topic since their relationship became public. Despite their 17-year age gap, the two continue to prove the internet wrong, standing by each other, as they build their own little world. The 40-year-old has become a constant presence in the stands at all of Green’s matches. Speaking about the public scrutiny regarding their relationship, Draya told TMZ last year:

"I don't know what people's problem is. Two adults being in love, I don't know why that would rub people the wrong way. It's kind of weird. Love is love at the end of the day."

Draya and Jalen’s love story began like a typical modern-day one, with a DM slide. Speaking about how they met, Green, in an interview with Whistle's Relationship Quiz, confessed that he was the one to initiate a romantic relationship with his now-girlfriend. The two have since maintained a low-key profile regarding their relationship, except for occasional social media posts and Michele’s consistent presence courtside at several of Jalen’s games. 

So, who is Draya Michele?

Draya Michele, born in Pennsylvania, has been a renowned public figure for over a decade. In 2011, she shot to fame with her stint in the VH1 reality show, Basketball Wives LA. She has since become a successful entrepreneur as the founder of Mint Swim, a luxury swimwear line.

Before Greem, Michele had dated several athletes, including former Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas, whose relationship with her landed her a spot on the VH1 reality series. The model has also been engaged twice, first with New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor and later with former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Apart from modelling and designing, Draya has appeared in multiple films and shows, including The Sound of Christmas, Till Death Do Us Part, and Legacy. She is a proud mom of three. Before welcoming a daughter with Green on Mother’s Day 2024, she had two kids: sons Kniko and Jru from prior relationships.

Draya is one of the most influential ‘WAGs’ in sports pop culture. In 2025, the model became the face of Jeep’s WAGS in Wags campaign and revealed how she supported Jalen through his first major trade, from the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns. In her New York Post interview, she shared:

“Well, this was my first time experiencing a trade. I just think, you know, as his girlfriend, my main responsibility is to support him wherever we were going. I always make the jokes with him and tell him, ‘I don’t care what city you’re in, we could go to hell and play for the hell… and I’ll go with you, as long as I have a good SPF… it doesn’t matter where we are, if we have each other we’ll make the best of it.’”

More about Green’s tattoos

This isn’t the first time that Jalen had Draya inked on his body. In early 2024, fans spotted her name tattooed on his stomach. Now, his latest ink, featuring a full portrait of his lady love, feels more like a declaration of his love for Draya. While netizens debate whether it’s a 23-year-old’s rookie mistake, the couple’s connection is hard to miss.

Watch the video here.

With Jalen now playing for the Phoenix Suns and Draya expanding her fashion footprint, the couple seems to be thriving as they continue to house-hunt in Phoenix and raise their baby girl together.

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