Kriti Mehrotra
While James “The Beard” Harden is widely recognized as one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, he also has a reputation for being a party man that he happily embraces. However, as explored in Netflix’s ‘Starting 5’ season 2, he is even a dedicated family man – whether it be his mother, his son, or his girlfriend, he ensures to spend quality time with them all. His opening up about these personal relationships in the documentary was a big deal since he is very private, but it only made us all the more curious about his romance with Paije Speights.
Paije Speights and James Harden Have Had a Rather Whirlwind Liaison
It was reportedly around early 2024 when Paige Speights got 5 calls from an unknown number at 8 am, followed by a FaceTime request, which she ultimately decided to answer. On the other side was Los Angeles Clippers’ leading athlete James Harden, who had asked a mutual friend for her details after seeing her around town and on Instagram a few times. Paige’s initial reaction was admittedly a bit of confusion, as she didn’t understand his persistence. He has since quipped that he found her “weird” for answering a stranger’s FaceTime.
Little did either Paije or James know they would end up talking for an hour and a half, giving way for them to establish a genuine connection based on common interests as well as experiences. The athlete has long asserted that he managed to draw his partner in by having a “great game,” but she has refuted this, stating that his “game” also includes coming across as grumpy and moody. Therefore, what really brought them together in the long run was the fact that they have similar core values, were single parents to young boys of the same age, and have unwavering ambition.
Paije’s understanding of him, even during dark times or hectic schedules, pulled at James’ heartstrings too, whereas his dedication to being a good man for all his loved ones shone through for her. Thus, in May 2024, they made their relationship public by attending former player Rajon Rondo’s wedding in Italy together, where his reaction to her catching the bridal bouquet went viral. Since then, the couple has truly made strides in their romance, with her even admitting that not only does he already refer to her as “my wife,” but they are also making long-term family plans.
Expecting Their First Child Together, Paije and James Are Still Deep in Love
Although James rarely gives fans an insight into his personal life, he has never shied away from showing off the bond he shares with Paije by ensuring they attend all possible official events together. Whether it’s NBA games, his personal team’s gatherings, fashion shows, or occasions involving brands led by his fellow athletes, the couple seems to do their best to show up hand in hand. In other words, they have made it clear that despite there being no rings on either of their fingers as of writing, they are now a unit, ready to face any challenge the universe may throw at them.
From what we can tell, Paije and James have had their fair share of issues over time, especially considering they are both parents with shared custody of their respective sons with their ex-partners. The couple is undoubtedly wholly committed to one another, but they also know they have to think about their children every step of the way. Moreover, it appears that, purely out of respect for their past and continued amicable coparenting, they even prefer to keep their exes informed. It is thanks to these conscious efforts, open-mindedness, as well as willingness to support one another, that Paije and James are still thriving, with their sons now also referring to each other as brothers.
Paije’s son with Miami Heat star Mario Chalmers is Prynce Almario Chalmers, and James’ son from one of his previous relationships is Jace Harden. They are both 6 or 7 years old as of writing, so they not only have a lot in common but have also been able to establish a brotherhood. Furthermore, the kids are likely over the moon right now, as they will soon be big brothers. That’s because Paige and James are currently expecting their first child together, another boy. It seems that the couple is presently preparing for the baby’s arrival in full force, all the while maintaining their romance, roles as parents, and respective careers. While Paije is a proud fashion designer and entrepreneur as the founder of Front Paije, a luxury streetwear brand, her beau appears focused on his ongoing season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
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