Shaunie O'Neal

Basketball Wives is an American reality television series franchise on VH1.

It chronicles the everyday lives of women romantically linked to men in the professional basketball industry.

The original incarnation was filmed in Miami, Florida and premiered on April 11, 2010.

The first season premiered on April 11, 2010, and ran for eight weeks in 30-minute episodes.

The announced cast included Jennifer Williams, wife of Eric Williams, Evelyn Lozada, ex-fiancé of Antoine Walker, Mesha O'Neal, wife of Jermaine O'Neal, Royce Reed, former NBA team dancer and the mother of Dwight Howard's oldest son, Faith Rein, Udonis Haslem's girlfriend, and Shaunie O'Neal, wife of Shaquille O'Neal, who would also serve as an executive producer on the series.

Mesha and Faith were replaced by Michael Olowokandi's ex-girlfriend Suzie Ketcham and Matt Barnes' fiancée Gloria Govan when the show aired.

Erikka Moxam, ex-girlfriend of Rasual Butler, appeared in a supporting role.

A spin-off, Football Wives, featuring the wives and girlfriend of professional football players, aired from October 24 to December 19, 2010.

Seasons 2–4

The show was renewed for a second season of hour-long episodes, which premiered on December 12, 2010.

Tami Roman, ex-wife of Kenny Anderson, was added to the cast, replacing Gloria Govan who was demoted to a supporting role, alongside Juli Richmond, wife of Mitch Richmond, Kimberli Russell, wife of Bryon Russell, and Ashley Walker, mother of Rafer Alston's children.

Basketball Wives LA, a spin-off based in Los Angeles, premiered on August 29, 2011, however, both shows ran for five seasons.

Basketball Wives' success has led to 6 spin-off series in all; Basketball Wives LA, Football Wives, Baseball Wives, Shaunie's Homecourt, Baller Wives and Basketball Wives Orlando.

Meeka Claxton, wife of Speedy Claxton, joined the cast in season three, which premiered on May 30, 2011, to 1.8 million viewers.

On June 20, 2011, VH1 announced that they had expanded the franchise to Los Angeles.

The announced cast for Basketball Wives LA included Kimsha Artest, wife of Ron Artest, Gloria Govan and her sister Laura Govan, Jackie Christie, wife of Doug Christie, and Imani Showalter, ex-fiancée of Stephen Jackson.

Malaysia Pargo, wife of Jannero Pargo, and Draya Michele, a model and aspiring actress with a history of dating basketball players, were announced as cast members a month later.

Tanya Williams, wife of Jayson Williams, would also appear, however, was quickly phased out of the show along with Kimsha Artest, who admittedly stopped showing up for filming because of the "shenanigans and drama".

The series premiered on August 29, 2011, to 1.81 million viewers.

The fourth season premiered on February 20, 2012, following the spin-off Basketball Wives LA, which concluded in November 2011.

Meeka departed the series and was replaced by new cast members Kesha Nichols, ex-fiancée of Richard Jefferson, and Kenya Bell, wife of Charlie Bell.

On March 12, 2012, VH1 announced the spin-off Ev and Ocho, starring Evelyn Lozada and her fiancé Chad Ochocinco, set to air that September.

However, three weeks before the show was to premiere, they shelved the series, following Ochocinco's arrest for assaulting Lozada, and subsequent divorce.

Season 5

The show was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 10, 2012, attracting 1.82 million viewers.

Imani Showalter quit the show and moved back to New York, and was replaced by Brooke Bailey, girlfriend of Vernon Macklin.

Adiz "Bambi" Benson, Malaysia's friend and an aspiring rapper, appeared in a supporting role.

Season 3

Following the cancellation of the original Basketball Wives, executive producer Shaunie O'Neal announced that the cast of Basketball Wives LA would be retooled for season three.

The fifth season premiered on August 19, 2013, following the second season of Basketball Wives LA, which concluded in December 2012.

Tasha Marbury, wife of Stephon Marbury, joined the cast, while Royce, Jennifer and Kesha were dropped from the series.

Kenya would return in the season finale.

Filming began in August 2013, with new members British Williams, fiancée of Lorenzo Gordon, Brandi Maxiell, wife of Jason Maxiell, and Sundy Carter, mother of Larry Hughes's daughter.

According to a 2014 tweet from Tami Roman, the show was quietly canceled.

Seasons 1–2

On March 27, 2017, VH1 announced that Basketball Wives would be revived for a sixth season, with its setting relocated to Los Angeles, effectively combining the casts of both the original series and its spinoff.

Subsequent seasons have also featured this hybrid cast.

On June 13, 2023, VH1 renewed the series for an eleventh season, set to air this fall.

On August 31, 2023, Henderson announced that Basketball Wives LA would return for an eleventh season on October 9, 2023, together with an Orlando-based spin-off, that would make its series premiere right after.

Season 1