People still talk about the "Kardashian Curse" like it's some kind of ancient spell written in a tabloid. Honestly, it’s kinda exhausting. But if you look back at the brief, high-intensity era of Blake Griffin and Kendall Jenner, you start to see why the rumors stick. It wasn't just a fling. It was a collision of two massive worlds: the peak of "Lob City" era basketball and the relentless machinery of the Kardashian-Jenner fame engine.
They weren't exactly hiding, but they weren't doing red carpets either. It was a lot of courtside seats and late-night dinners at Carbone. Then, suddenly, it was over. No big announcement. Just a trade to Detroit and a very messy lawsuit that made everyone look twice.
The Summer of 2017: How It Actually Started
It basically kicked off in August 2017. Kendall had just come off a thing with A$AP Rocky, and Blake was the face of the Los Angeles Clippers. They were spotted at a Kendrick Lamar concert, which is a pretty classic "we’re hanging out" move in Hollywood.
People think these things are always setup by PR teams. Sometimes they are. But with Kendall and Blake, it felt more like a slow burn. A source told People at the time that they started as friends and then it just got casual. She was 21; he was 28. He was a superstar in her city. It made sense.
By the time Kendall’s 22nd birthday rolled around in November, the two were inseparable. They hit up a taqueria in LA with the whole family. Think about that: you’re at a birthday dinner with Kris Jenner and Kanye West. That’s not a casual "situationship." That’s a "you’re meeting the board of directors" moment.
The Infamous Palimony Suit
This is where things got heavy. Most fans remember the highlights and the fashion, but they forget the legal drama. On Valentine's Day 2018—yeah, literally Valentine's Day—Blake’s ex-fiancée, Brynn Cameron, filed a palimony lawsuit.
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It wasn't just a "pay me" suit. It was personal.
The documents alleged that Blake basically "traded" the mother of his two children for a reality star. The filing claimed he’d asked for a prenup, then called off the wedding, then moved out just as he started being seen with Kendall. It put Kendall in a weird spot. She’s famously the "private" sister. Suddenly, her name was in court papers being used as evidence of "abandonment."
The Timeline Everyone Missed
- July 2017: Blake and Brynn Cameron officially split.
- August 2017: First public sightings of Blake and Kendall.
- January 2018: Blake gets traded to the Detroit Pistons.
- February 2018: The lawsuit hits the news cycles.
Kendall was reportedly "stunned" by the allegations. She didn't want to be the "other woman" in a messy family dispute. Honestly, can you blame her?
The Detroit Trade: The Relationship Killer
If you want to know what actually ended things, look at a map. In late January 2018, the Clippers pulled a shocker. They traded Blake to the Detroit Pistons. One day he’s the king of LA, the next he’s in the Midwest.
Distance is a killer for any relationship, but for a supermodel and an NBA star? It’s a death sentence.
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By March, the "cooling off" reports started. You've probably seen this pattern before. They aren't "broken up," they’re just "taking space." Translation: they stopped FaceTimeing every night. By the time the 2018 Coachella festival rolled around, Kendall was already being linked to her next NBA boyfriend, Ben Simmons.
Did the "Kardashian Curse" Actually Hit Blake?
Sports fans love a scapegoat. When Blake’s performance dipped or when his knees started giving out, people pointed at Kendall. It’s a lazy narrative.
Look at the facts. Blake Griffin was a power forward who played a high-flying, physically punishing style for years. Injuries were coming regardless of who he was dating. However, the timing of the trade and the sudden shift in his career trajectory happened right in the middle of the Kendall era.
It wasn't a curse; it was just a chaotic year. He dealt with:
- A massive contract signing ($173 million).
- A public breakup with a long-term partner.
- A legal battle over child support.
- A career-altering trade to a struggling franchise.
That’s a lot for anyone, even a 6'9" professional athlete.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Them
The biggest misconception is that it was all for the cameras. Kendall is notoriously picky about who she shows on Keeping Up With The Kardashians—or now, The Kardashians on Hulu. Blake barely appeared. She didn't post him on Instagram. No "soft launches."
She was actually trying to protect it.
The relationship was a transitional phase for both of them. For Blake, it was the end of his "Golden Boy" era in LA. For Kendall, it was the start of her "NBA era," where she realized she preferred the company of athletes over rappers or models.
Actionable Takeaways from the Kendall-Blake Era
If we're looking for the "why" behind the fascination, it's about the intersection of high-stakes career moves and personal life.
- Distance is the ultimate dealbreaker. Even with private jets, the move from LA to Detroit was the functional end of the romance.
- Privacy has levels. You can be "private" and still have your name dragged through a public lawsuit if your partner hasn't cleared their past.
- The "Curse" is usually just bad timing. Don't mistake a player’s aging curve or injury history for a celebrity hex.
The story of Blake Griffin and Kendall Jenner isn't a tragedy, and it isn't a PR stunt. It was a five-month sprint between two people at the absolute top of their respective industries who couldn't survive a 2,000-mile move and a lawyer-heavy breakup.
If you're curious about where they are now, they've both moved on significantly. Blake has leaned into comedy and media, while Kendall has continued her streak of dating high-profile athletes and artists, always keeping the details just out of reach.
To stay updated on these kinds of celebrity dynamics, you should track the "post-career" moves of NBA stars. Often, the relationships they have at the peak of their fame—like the one Blake had with Kendall—shape how they handle their brand long after the final buzzer sounds. Check out recent interviews with Blake on podcasts like Pardon My Take to see how he reflects on that high-pressure LA era.