Since arriving in the NBA eight years ago, Bahamian hooper Deandre Ayton has made headlines week in and week out. Mat Ishbia’s Phoenix Suns picked him as the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, before moving to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Ayton earned comparisons to the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett and Anthony Davis from reputed ESPN critics following his league debut.

As is often the case with popular basketball players, NBA fans are curious about Ayton’s love life and relationship status. Well, if you’re here for that, then you won’t be disappointed. Read further to know more about the Lakers’ star’s dating history and long-term girlfriend, Anissa Evans.

Is Deandre Ayton Dating Anissa Evans?

Deandre Ayton was born in Nassau, the Bahamas, in 1998. He moved to San Diego, California, to play high school basketball. After making it big in the NBA and earning rave reviews for his performances in recent years, it seems poetic that the Lakers center is still partnered with a woman from his native country.

In Anissa Evans, Ayton has the perfect partner who shares the same cultural background and island heritage. Ms. Evans is a model who lives in Nassau, Ayton’s hometown. She was born to Andrae and Melissa Evans and has three siblings.

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The duo maintains a low profile on social media and prefers to keep their relationship details out of the public eye. As of February 2026, there is no confirmation that the pair is married, but that could change in the months to follow. Either way, the pair is definitely one of the more low-key couples in the NBA fraternity.

When did Deandre Ayton meet Anissa Evans?

Ms. Evans and Ayton met during their teenage years in the Bahamas. She graduated from Jupiter High School in 2017 and later attended Queen’s College.

According to previous reports, Ayton and Evans have been friends since their high school days. The on-and-off couple maintained a live-in relationship while Ayton was in Phoenix. But there are no official reports that confirm their current living situation. As per her social media accounts, Ms. Evans is currently based in Miami, while Ayton lives in Los Angeles.

Meet Anissa Evans and Deandre Ayton’s Children

Ayton and Evans welcomed their first child together in March 2021 – a boy who is named after his dad, Deandre Ayton Jr. Their kid was famously spotted courtside after the Suns’ Game 2 victory in the NBA Finals that year. He has since been the primary motivation for Ayton to improve himself, both on and off the basketball court.

In 2022, Ayton mentioned that his son is a huge fan of ‘Elmo’, the furry red muppet character on Sesame Street. On his son’s first birthday, the Lakers star wore special shoes with an Elmo reference as a tribute to his son. Ayton Jr. has also been pictured posing with Suns franchise star Devin Booker back in 2022.

Was Deandre Ayton dating Katt Leya?

The rumors of Deandre Ayton dating adult content creator Katt Leya are true. This was during his time with the Blazers in 2023. In a now-viral Snapchat video, Leya posted a clip of the 27-year-old hooper brushing her hair, which initially sparked dating rumors.

However, neither of them confirmed nor denied these allegations, choosing to remain quiet and let fans believe what they wanted. There were even whispers that Leya had moved to Portland so she could spend more time with Ayton. However, a cryptic post on her Instagram in December 2023 put an end to any relationship rumours once and for all.

In October 2025, Leya exposed Ayton for sliding back in her Instagram DMs. He hit her up, saying he was in her city, but she took a screenshot and posted it on her social media story, as she was definitely not interested in rekindling things with him. She followed that story with one in which D-Book called him her ‘GOAT.’

Since their unofficial split, the NBA star was also pictured with 24-year-old female rapper Mellow Rackz. Ms. Evans, the mother of Ayton’s kid, was left considerably agitated by this as she took to social media to express her thoughts on his actions. But the pair remain linked as they continue to navigate their relationship and co-parent a son.