Khloé Kardashian has a type. She knows it, we know it, and the internet definitely knows it. If you’ve followed the Good American founder for more than five minutes, you’ve seen the pattern of high-stakes romance, NBA jerseys, and the kind of public heartbreak that would leave most people hiding under a weighted blanket for a decade. But honestly? There’s a lot more to the story of every Khloé Kardashian ex than just a cheating scandal or a tabloid headline.
It’s about a woman who, for a long time, prioritized caretaking over her own peace.
The Lamar Odom Era: A Whirlwind That Refused to Quit
Lamar Odom wasn't just a husband; he was the first real "great love" the public saw Khloé experience. They met at a party in August 2009. Thirty days later? They were married. It sounds like a rom-com script, but the reality was much heavier. For years, Khloé shielded Lamar from the cameras, hiding the extent of his substance abuse issues while filming Khloé & Lamar.
Basically, she was living a double life.
By 2013, the cracks were too deep to ignore. Between a DUI arrest and rampant rumors of infidelity, Khloé filed for divorce. But then 2015 happened. Lamar was found unconscious at the Love Ranch brothel in Nevada. Most people would have stayed away, but Khloé legally paused the divorce to manage his medical care. It wasn't about getting back together—it was about not letting a person she loved die alone.
Fast forward to January 2026, and the cycle hasn't entirely broken for him. Just this morning, news broke that Lamar was arrested in Las Vegas for a DUI and multiple traffic violations, including going 41 mph over the speed limit. It’s a somber reminder that while Khloé has moved on, her most famous ex-husband is still fighting the same demons that defined their marriage over a decade ago.
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Tristan Thompson: The One We Can’t Stop Talking About
If Lamar was the "whirlwind," Tristan Thompson is the "marathon." This is the Khloé Kardashian ex that people have the strongest opinions on. They started dating in 2016, and the timeline was messy from day one. Tristan’s ex, Jordan Craig, was pregnant when he and Khloé went public.
Then came the "Cleveland Incident."
Two days before Khloé gave birth to their daughter, True, in 2018, footage leaked of Tristan with other women. The world watched her go into labor while the entire internet was screaming at her to leave. She didn't. She stayed for the sake of the family unit she’d always dreamed of.
The betrayal list is long:
- The 2018 pre-birth scandal.
- The 2019 Jordyn Woods kiss (which basically nuked the Kardashian inner circle).
- The 2021 paternity suit with Maralee Nichols while he was encouraging Khloé to have a second baby via surrogate.
That last one was the final straw. Finding out your partner fathered a child with someone else through a news report is a level of trauma most can't fathom. They still co-parent Tatum and True, and Tristan is often seen at family events. People think they’re secretly together. Khloé, however, has been very clear lately: she’s single.
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The Other Men: From Rappers to Shooting Guards
Not every Khloé Kardashian ex is a years-long saga. Some were just "vibe checks" that didn't pass the long-term test.
Take French Montana. They dated on and off in 2014. He was fun, he was there for her 30th birthday, but Khloé later admitted she probably jumped into it too soon after the Lamar split. She needed a distraction; he was a great one. They’re actually still friends, which is a rarity in her dating history.
Then there was James Harden. They dated for about eight months starting in 2015. Khloé later hinted that he wasn't exactly "monogamous," and the pressure of her life—specifically her obligation to the then-hospitalized Lamar—put a massive strain on them.
Why the "NBA Curse" is Finally Over
For years, fans joked about the "Kardashian Curse" on athletes, but it was really Khloé who was bearing the brunt of it. In a 2025 interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she finally put a lid on the athlete era. She admitted she’s done with the league. "I will not be with another NBA player," she told Alex Cooper.
She's over the lifestyle. She's over the "idle time" that leads to bad decisions.
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Life After the Exes: The New Khloé
Today, Khloé’s life is strikingly quiet. She recently shared that the only "man" allowed in her bed is her toddler son, Tatum. She’s embracing a period of celibacy and radical self-focus that we haven't seen from her since she first stepped into the spotlight in 2007.
She’s no longer the family’s resident fixer.
Actionable Insights for Moving On
If you’ve found yourself in a "Khloé-style" cycle of choosing partners who need more help than you can give, here is the takeaway from her journey:
- Boundaries aren't mean; they're survival. Khloé stayed in "caretaker mode" for years. You can love someone and still realize you aren't the person who can save them.
- Co-parenting doesn't mean "reconciling." Being kind to an ex for the sake of your kids is a sign of maturity, not a sign that you're getting back together.
- Identify your "type" and disrupt it. Khloé’s realization that she needed to step away from a specific industry (the NBA) was a major turning point in her mental health.
- It is okay to be alone. After decades of back-to-back relationships, Khloé is proving that finding peace in your own space is often more rewarding than a toxic "plus one."
The story of a Khloé Kardashian ex usually ends in a headline, but for Khloé, it’s ended in a newfound sense of autonomy. She’s stopped looking for a teammate and started focusing on being the MVP of her own life.