• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Black Celeb Couples

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS

From LeBron and Savannah to Kyrie and Marlene, these players and their partners were red hot on the red carpet.
Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
By Victoria Uwumarogie · Updated July 15, 2023

Your favorite awards shows are going to have to step it up, because nobody has put on a better display of Black love at a major event than all the pairs who stepped out for the 2023 ESPYS. If you’re unaware, the ESPYS is the awards show that celebrates athletes and sports teams for their achievements in the last year. To mark the occasion, plenty of sports stars (and a few famous sports fans), turned up on the red carpet with their special someone. This year, there were quite a few couples walking hand-in-hand. Check out who showed up and showed out for ballers’ biggest night.

Article continues after video.
01
Lil Rel Howery and Dannella Lane

The comedian and actor arrived with his gorgeous girlfriend for the night’s festivities.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Lil Rel Howery and Dannella Lane attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
02
Kyrie Irving and Marlene Wilkerson

The NBA star looked dapper next to his lady, Marlene, who was pretty in pink.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Marlene Wilkerson and Kyrie Irving attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
03
Dion Dawkins and Daiyaana Muhammad

The offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills opted for a shirtless look while posing with his partner, Daiyanna.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Daiyaana Muhammad and Dion Dawkins attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
04
Eric and Ally Kendricks

The Kendricks chose coordinating looks for the event, shining literally and figuratively.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Eric Kendricks and Ally Courtnall attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
05
Montez Ford and Bianca Belair

Speaking of coordinating looks, the professional wrestling pair were all smiles in their embellished black ensembles.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Bianca Belair and Montez Ford attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
06
Kentavious and McKenzie Caldwell-Pope

The NBA star and his expectant wife showed off chic looks, and their love for one another, on the red carpet.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and McKenzie Caldwell-Pope attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
07
Angel McCoughtry and Kenneth Monroe

The WNBA star and her date also decided to go for matching looks, wearing light shades of blue (powder perhaps?) and big smiles for the event.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) Angel McCoughtry and Kenneth Monroe attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
08
LeBron and Savannah James

Our faves looked amazing, as usual, and so did their brood, as the longtime couple made the ESPYS a family outing. Everyone in the James household was on hand as LeBron was awarded best record-breaking performance for becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Ballers And Their Baes: Black Love Was On Display At The 2023 ESPYS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James, and Bronny James attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

TOPICS:  ESPYS
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now