The LA Lakers basketball team boasts some of the most famous players in the NBA, but they also boast some of the most famous WAGs (wives and girlfriends) who often steal the limelight on the sidelines. It’s no wonder that with all that media attention, they would be wearing diamond that could rival the movie stars.
Easily the reigning WAG is Vanessa Bryant, who married Kobe Bryant when she was only 19 years old. Vanessa may have only been 17 when the couple met, but Bryant wasted no time popping the question once she became of age, and proposed with a 7 carat; Asher cut diamond solitaire engagement ring, set in platinum, and reportedly worth $100,000.
After allegations of Bryant’s infidelity in 2003, Vanessa received another solitaire diamond ring, this time an 8 carat purple diamond worth $4 million. The couple, who have two kids together, eventually worked through their problems and Vanessa can almost always be seen wearing her original engagement ring, courtside.
Reality star Khloe Kardashian wasted no time when she fell in love with Lakers Forward, Lamar Odom; the couple began dating and were married in less than two months. It took a little time, but Odom was able to present Kardashian with a 9 carat, Radiant cut diamond engagement ring before they made it to the altar. And despite rumors that she has experienced a little drama with the other WAGs, Kardashian and her ring are present at almost every game.
Not to be outdone by his teammates, Shooting Guard Sasha Vujacsic presented his girlfriend, tennis champ Maria Sharapova, with a 7 to 8 carat, Cushion cut diamond engagement ring reportedly worth $250,000 in October. Sharapova once gave an interview stating her desire to retire and have kids before she was 30, so I think it’s a safe bet that she’ll be spotted on the sidelines plenty.
Yes, the wives and the girlfriends of the Lakers have beautiful diamonds, but their men will soon be sporting their own bling. As the winners of the most recent NBA championship, for the second year in a row, the LA Lakers recently received custom made, commemorative diamond rings.
Each ring was made specifically for each player from a custom made batch of 16K yellow gold, and features 16 Brilliant Round cut diamonds, one for each of the 16 championships the Lakers have won overall. Using the latest technology, the rings will also feature each players individual face in a 3D sculpture on his ring, and embedded with a piece of leather from the actual game ball used in game seven, when the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 83-79.
So although the players won’t be wearing them during the game, who says a man can’t sport his own sparkle, for a feat like that, they deserve it.