Kendall Jenner has historically been the most private of the Kardashian-Jenners about her love life, opting to keep her relationships as out of the limelight and off social media as much as possible. But ex-boyfriend (and maybe soon-to-be back-on boyfriend) Devin Booker was the exception to Jenner’s rule.
On Valentine’s Day 2021, Jenner, 28, went Instagram official with the 27-year-old Phoenix Suns NBA player, sharing a photo of the two together on her Instagram Story. Not even a week later, Jenner was photographed watching his game from the stands. The gestures come almost one year after the two first sparked romantic rumors.
Since then, Jenner has continued to share more photos of her and Booker on social media, giving the world an intimate look at their love story. While the two had two breakups, mostly recently for good (for now) in November 2022, Jenner’s romance with Booker was her most public ever.
Here’s everything you need to know about Booker, including his athletic career, history with Jenner, and where the two exes stand in February 2024.
A little about Jenner and Booker’s first time dating—and their public sightings.
In March 2021, Jenner’s mother Kris sparked pregnancy rumors when she sent out a misleading tweet while commenting on a recent episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Jenner playfully called her mother out for the falsely suggestive message, writing, “mom, this looks like a pregnancy announcement! 😂🤦🏻♀️” (Jenner was actually just babysitting on the show.)
But in a teaser for KUWTK’s subsequent season, Jenner spoke about her hope to have kids in the near future. She said in a clip, via Us Weekly, “I want kids badly. Soon, too.” Her comment came shortly after reports were released about how her relationship with Booker has privately become much more serious.
On April 24, 2021, the two were seen on a rare public date in New York City, where they reportedly went to dinner at the Italian hotspot Carbone. They were also seen walking around the city that day.
On Memorial Day weekend in 2021, Jenner, who was wearing a long-sleeved Ozzy Osbourne shirt, was seen with Booker on a quick grocery run at Jayde’s in Bel Air. Then they were seen getting into Jenners 1965 Chevrolet pickup.
And on June 3, 2021, Jenner attended Booker’s basketball game in Los Angeles. She shared two shots of him on her Instagram that day in some of her most public tributes to him yet.
On the weekend of June 12, 2021, Booker and Jenner celebrated their one-year anniversary by sharing photos—complete with PDA—on Instagram. This was a rare move for the fairly private couple who kept their relationship under wraps at the beginning.
On August 7, 2021, Jenner posted on her Instagram Story to congratulate her then-boyfriend for his Olympic gold medal in the U.S. team’s victory over France.
He’s a shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Booker is the son of Melvin, who was named the 1994 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year during his time at the University of Missouri. In a father-son profile for The Undefeated, Melvin said that NBA “draft night was one of the worst nights ever” after he wasn’t selected for a team. But Melvin instilled a love of the sport in Devin, who was drafted 13th in the first round for the Phoenix Suns. After playing at the University of Kentucky, Booker has averaged 26.6 points per game in his fourth season as a player. When he isn’t playing or traveling with his team, he’s been able to spend more time in Los Angeles, where Jenner is based.
He was set to participate in the 2020 Olympics before they were cancelled.
Another career highlight for Booker was postponed. It was reported in February 2020 that he was a finalist to join the roster of Team USA’s basketball lineup for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Previously, Booker had participated in USA basketball training camps without making the final roster. Originally scheduled to take place from July 24 through August 9, 2020 in Tokyo, the Olympics were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. He ultimately headed to compete in Tokyo during the summer of 2021.
He and Kendall were first spotted on vacation together in April 2020—controversially because of California’s non-essential travel ban due to COVID-19.
Booker and Jenner first sparked rumors almost a year ago. In April 2020, the pair was photographed on a road trip from Los Angeles to Arizona, and the following month, they were seen driving near Van Nuys Airport in L.A. Around that time, an insider told People that the two were strictly platonic—for now. “She and Devin have a lot of mutual friends,” the source said. “They’re just friends for now but you never know with Kendall.” Meanwhile, an Us Weekly source said in June, “They’re hooking up, but they’re not serious. She’s talking to a couple different guys. She has so many men after her it’s crazy.”
In August 2020, the pair dined without masks at Nobu alongside sister Kylie Jenner, according to People.
While rumors swirled about Booker and Jenner, the model received criticism about her pattern of dating NBA players. Someone tweeted a TikTok video of three men tossing a toddler around in a circle, writing, “NBA players passing around Kendall Jenner.” She clapped back, writing in return, “they act like i’m not in full control of where i throw this cooch.”
Jenner was most recently linked to Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, although it was reported in February that the pair was “not officially back together.” Prior to that relationship, Jenner dated Detroit Pistons player Blake Griffin in 2017.
Jenner and Booker were first reported to be dating in July 2020.
A source told Us Weekly in July 2020 that the two are in fact together, but it’s not serious. “Kendall and Devin are seeing each other, but aren’t serious and are just having fun with each other,” the source said. “It’s easy because they get along well and he also gets along great with her family.”
The two were later photographed showing PDA on the beach and out shopping together in August 2020.
Booker publicly flirted with Jenner in August 2020, adding more fuel to speculation that their relationship was romantic.
The pair made headlines on August 11, 2020, when Booker commented on one of Jenner’s posts. She shared a close-up video of herself posing for the camera, captioned with a single strawberry emoji. Booker simply commented, “I like strawberries,” to which Jenner responded right back with four strawberry emojis.
By February 2021, Jenner and Booker were together—but without “any huge expectations” for their relationship.
Jenner and Booker were able to keep their relationship out of the tabloids for most of the fall. But ahead of Valentine’s Day 2021, a source gave Entertainment Tonight an update on how things were going between them. Booker and Jenner were “still dating and it works because they keep it simple,” a source explained then. “There aren’t any huge expectations or crazy commitments on either side. They have gotten a lot closer, but Kendall’s schedule is particularly super busy and Devin is very understanding of that.”
The source added that Jenner “is also very much her own individual and likes her off time with family and friends and having her space.”
Jenner made her relationship with Booker Instagram official on Valentine’s Day 2021.
In a very rare move for the model, Jenner shared the first photo of her and Booker together to her Instagram Story. She captioned it with a simple white heart emoji.
Jenner and Booker’s relationship was serious and exclusive as of March 2021, with Jenner’s family approving of her dating Booker.
On March 2, 2021, a source told Entertainment Tonight that Jenner felt ready to be more public with their relationship because it had privately become more serious.
“Kendall was ready to take her relationship with Devin to a more public level and get rid of any unnecessary speculation in the media,” the source explained. “She felt ready to share a bit more than she has in the past when she posted the photo of them on Valentine’s Day.”
“Their relationship has gotten more serious and Devin is really laid back and not all about fame or being in the spotlight all the time, which Kendall really likes,” the source continued. “He makes her feel comfortable and safe and he’s super respectful, which are all qualities she loves.”
People reported on February 15, 2021 that their relationship evolved from a fling. “What first seemed like a fun hookup, is now a relationship,” a source told the outlet. “They are exclusive and Kendall is very happy with Devin. And her family thinks he is great.”
By June 2021, Jenner was posting more about Booker on her social media.
Over a year into dating, Jenner was no longer keeping their relationship strictly offline. The model posted two tributes to Booker on her Instagram Story on June 3: one of him with her two other “favorite boys,” longtime friends Harry Hudson and Fai Khadra on the beach, and another of him at the Lakers vs. Suns game she attended on June 3, 2021. She also shared a close-up shot of him on the court.
Jenner and Booker marked their one-year anniversary publicly on Instagram.
The very private couple shared multiple Instagram Stories featuring photos of them together to mark one year of dating late on June 12, 2021.
One year into dating Booker, Jenner was “crazy” about him—and became seriously involved with him long before anyone knew.
People got a detailed update from a source about Jenner and Booker’s relationship on June 15, 2021. The source said, “She is crazy about him. She has never looked happier. Her whole family loves Devin too.”
“Devin is such a cool guy. He is very low-key and doesn’t want to be a celebrity,” the source continued. “He is very sweet to Kendall.”
The source then revealed that actually, Jenner and Booker were serious long before anyone knew. “They got serious quickly last summer,” the source said. “Kendall visited him a lot in Phoenix. After Devin finished the season, he stayed with Kendall in L.A. They spent the whole summer together and even vacationed with Justin [Bieber] and Hailey [Bieber]. They’re still young, but everyone is rooting for them. They are a great couple.”
By August 2021, Jenner and Booker remained happy together and weren’t putting pressure on their future.
A source told Entertainment Tonight on August 11, 2021 that a year in, “they can both balance work and their personal lives together, and it’s not an issue.”
“They’re not putting any sort of pressure on things for the future,” the source continued. “They realize they’re both still young and have big futures ahead of them. Right now they’re just enjoying their time together and taking things as they come.”
Jenner shared a glimpse of their vacation to Italy on Instagram in September 2021.
Jenner posted more rare shots of her and Booker showing PDA to her Instagram Story over Labor Day weekend in 2021.
Jenner called him her “best friend” on his 25th birthday.
On October 30, 2021, in a series of Instagram story posts, Jenner paid tribute to her boyfriend’s birthday. In the first, she lays across Booker on a lounge chair, playfully sticking her tongue out. She wrote, “Happy birthday best friend,” and added a heart emoji and Booker’s Instagram handle.
She also shared a cute shot of the basketball player smiling into the camera, adding a series of red hearts:
Jenner and Booker signaled in December 2021 that they’re still dating, despite maintaining a low profile.
Jenner and Booker have kept their relationship mostly out of the limelight, but on December 9, 2021, the two stepped out for a rare public date night. Jenner and Booker matched in black and showed a little PDA while at Drake and Kanye West’s Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert. Booker wrapped his arm around Jenner as they left the venue in photos taken by paparazzi.
Booker loves to travel.
Booker and Jenner have one thing in common: their love of traveling, even during the coronavirus pandemic. Jenner has been known to ignore mask or social distancing guidelines for multiple Nobu outings or a trip to Utah with her pal Fai Khadra. Booker has also been documenting his travels on Instagram, taking a trip to Colorado in July and spending time in California in June. A few years ago, he even documented a trip to Greece. (Jenner follows Booker and consistently likes his photos.)
He describes himself as an “old soul.”
While Booker is young, famous, and linked to a high-profile partner, he still considers himself an “old soul” at heart. During a February 2020 GQ interview, he confessed to preferring wired headphones over AirPods, which he’s apparently “lost over five pairs of.” Booker also totes around a camcorder during the season to capture moments with his teammates, something he says reflects his old-fashioned sensibility. “People always say I have an old soul. That’s just the way I was raised, taking after my father and my brother,” he told the outlet. “I’m always listening to older music, ’90s R&B. I’m a little vintage mixed with a little modern and fast-paced.”
He and Drake have a serious bromance.
Booker’s love for Drake is widely known. During a 2016 concert in Phoenix, Drake sported Booker’s jersey. Booker also saluted Drake by doing the “Hotline Bling” dance moves after winning a game. “Drake’s my guy. We were just in Toronto recently. He looked out for me. Drake’s a good guy. He’s like a big brother to me,” Booker has said about the rapper, according to NBA.com.
But perhaps the coolest perk to come from Drake and Booker’s friendship is Booker being name-checked in a song. During Drake’s feature on the 2018 Travis Scott song “Sicko Mode,” he raps, “See the shots that I took, wet like I’m Book,” which references Booker. When asked by GQ how he feels about the shout-out, he said: “If I’m in the shower, or at the house chilling, I can go crazy to it. But If I’m out, it kinda takes away from how much I’d otherwise get to enjoy the whole ‘Sicko Mode’ song. You can feel the buildup, and people start looking at me when the time is coming. I’ve heard it from sooooo many people. But definitely another mark in my career I didn’t see coming.” Booker also made a cameo in Drake’s “Chicago Freestyle” music video earlier this year.
He’s previously been romantically linked to Jordyn Woods.
Prior to sending strawberry emojis and taking road trips with Jenner, Booker was rumored to have dated another member of her circle. In 2018, Booker was linked to Kylie Jenner’s former BFF Jordyn Woods. Us Weekly even reported that the couple joined Kendall Jenner and then-boyfriend Simmons for a double date. After Booker and Jenner were first spotted together in late April, Woods tweeted “haha good morning” alongside three trash can emojis, perhaps throwing shade at the couple. She has since deleted the tweet, according to Us. Woods has also reportedly dated Jenner’s close pal Fai Khadra, making this social circle very close.
Jenner’s mirror selfie with Booker on New Year’s Eve featured a gold ring, sparking marriage rumors.
After spending Christmas apart in 2021, Jenner and Booker reunited over the New Year’s weekend in a cozy cabin getaway. Jenner shared a carousel of photos from her holiday with her boyfriend. One particular photo set off a firestorm of speculation.
In a mirror selfie of the couple, a gold band can be seen on Booker’s ring finger, especially notable because he’s holding a glass of wine. It is on his left hand, but it’s still a jump to imagine the couple is secretly married.
Other photos from her collection show Jenner with her tequila brand, the beautiful pastoral surroundings, a crackling fire, and the impressive facade of their cabin. Even without a secret marriage, it’s a very intimate vacation.
Booker spoke about dating Jenner for the first time to WSJ in March 2022.
In a March 2022 interview with WSJ magazine, Booker addressed whether the increased attention on his private life has been hard for him, given that he’s dating Jenner. “I wouldn’t say hard,” he said. “Honestly, I’m enjoying life to the fullest, and that came off my tongue so easily because it wasn’t always this way, but I feel like I’m in a good place right now. I love my family, I love the people around me, and I love the impact that I get to have on this world, the younger generation under me and the kids who look up to me.”
The comments marked the first time he has spoken about his girlfriend in an interview.
A source close to Jenner explained to E! in March 2022 why the two weren’t planning to get engaged soon.
Days after Booker’s interview, a source close to Jenner spoke to E! about their relationship and why they aren’t rushing to the next milestone quite yet.
“Kendall and Devin’s relationship is going strong, but they are in no rush to settle down and tie the knot,” the source started. “Kendall is not a conventional or traditional type of girl and doesn’t even care about having a huge elaborate wedding. She is very much content with how things are with Devin right now.”
Jenner and Booker spend a lot of time apart due to their careers, the source added, but that isn’t an issue as Jenner is a “very independent woman,” the source said.
“Devin likes to do little things for Kendall to make sure she is appreciated and loved and it warms her heart,” the source added. “They have a sweet relationship, and the family loves seeing them together and seeing her happy.”
Jenner took Booker as her wedding date to Kourtney Kardashian’s Italian nuptials in May 2022.
In a show of how serious their relationship has become, Jenner and Booker attended Kourtney Kardashian’s Italian wedding to Travis Barker together. Paparazzi photographed them together at numerous events during the weekend, including the wedding ceremony. They were seen holding hands at multiple points.
Jenner and Booker broke up in June 2022 after two years of dating…
Sources confirmed to E!, Entertainment Tonight, and Us Weekly that Booker and Jenner broke up after two years of dating because they wanted different things in their future. E! indicated that Jenner initiated the split.
But all three outlets reported that reconciliation was possible. Jenner told Booker she “wanted space and time apart,” a source close to Jenner said of what happened after they attended Kardashian’s Italy wedding. “They have been in touch since and do care about one another.”
That source added they’re hopeful they can try dating again: “They both hope to make it work, but as of now, they are split.”
A source told Us Weekly that Jenner and Booker want to “figure out if a future together is what’s meant to be. [They’re] tak[ing] this time to focus on themselves.”
Jenner and Booker then got back together in summer 2022…only to break up again in October 2022.
Jenner and Booker did indeed reconcile shortly after their June split, with Jenner attending the U.S. Open with Booker in September. A source told Entertainment Tonight then that things were promising for the two.
“Kendall and Devin are doing great. They know that timing is everything, and what is meant to be, will be,” the source said then.
“Their work, travel schedules and balancing their professional lives with their personal lives can get overwhelming at times, but their love for one another draws them back to each other,” the source continued, adding that with their over two-year history, Jenner and Booker “can be real and raw with each other and completely and authentically themselves. There’s no filter, and they love that about their relationship.”
Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker on September 11, 2022 at the US Open
But Jenner and Booker realized in October that their romance wasn’t going to work for now. On November 21, 2022, People reported that the two secretly ended things that last month.
They plan to stay in touch, one source said, and the breakup was a mutual decision. Another insider added, “Both have incredibly busy schedules right now with their careers and they’ve decided to make that a priority. They have a lot of love and respect for each other and wish only the best.”
As of February 2024, Jenner and Booker are reportedly exploring dating again.
According to TMZ, the on-again-off-again couple has started seeing each other again, but they’re not exclusive just yet. Eyewitnesses reported that they saw Jenner in Dallas the week of Booker’s game there, suggesting that she may be traveling with him.
At Super Bowl LVIII, Booker was spotted in the Kardashian’s private suite, which set rumors ablaze that they were back together.
Booker and Jenner reconnecting doesn’t come as a surprise to many. Back in November 2023 when Jenner was dating ex Bad Bunny, an insider admitted that Jenner’s friends weren’t hopeful about her relationship with Bunny and saw potential for her to get back with Booker.
“Truth be told, some of them are secretly hoping she gets back together with Devin again. That’s who they feel suited her the best and who made her feel the happiest in their opinion,” they said.