Anthony Davis' Wife is One of 2 Amazing Women in His Life - Facts about the NBA Star's Family Life

Publish date: 2024-05-22

Anthony Davis's career speaks for itself, but the eight-time NBA All-Star is also a family man. In the presence of many celebrity A-listers, he tied the knot with his longtime beau, Marlen P, last year. However, he was once rumored to be engaged to fellow professional basketball player Brittney Griner.

Anthony Davis has kept his family life relatively private, but the Lakers' power forward has shared glimpses over the years. Alongside his wife, Marlen P, he is a father of three; two sons and a daughter. The couple had their first child, Nala, several years before they tied the knot.

They recently welcomed a son; however, it's unknown if Marlen is the mother of Anthony's second child. Marlen is a private woman, and although she has appeared publicly with her husband, she has remained mostly outside the limelight.

Anthony also maintained a tight bond with his parents. While his prowess on the basketball court earned him many prestigious accolades and lucrative deals, he has heeded his father's advice, who steers him away from unnecessary spending.

On the contrary, his mother has encouraged him to "have fun" and spend however he pleased. Eventually, Anthony had to summon the courage to say "No" to his mom – who he regarded as an important woman in his life – when it came to money, and the first time he did was nerve-wracking. Still, their relationship remained intact.

In the early 2010s, Anthony was romantically involved with Brittney Griner. This was before he and Marlen got together, and the timeline of his relationship with the former Phoenix Mercury teammate is unclear. However, reports suggest they were on and off and even rumored to be engaged.

Anthony Davis' Wife Is of Dominican Descent

Outside her relationship and family life with Anthony, information about Marlen's background eludes public knowledge. Although she guards her privacy, with her social media accounts being private, her Instagram bio reveals a bit about her beliefs and personal philosophies.

As the first sentence in her bio states that she put "God above all," it may be concluded that Marlen is a religious woman. When it comes to realizing her desires, she believes "you get what you give," and that practicing gratitude is the "main ingredient" to having everything she wants.

A part of Marlen's identity that was celebrated at her wedding is her Dominican origins. Her guests enjoyed a festive reception as they engaged in the cultural dance called "dembow," which originated in Jamaica and permeated into the Dominican culture.

Anthony Davis and his wife, Marlen P, pose at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020, in Beverly Hills. | Source: Getty Images

Anthony Davis and His Wife Invited Several A-Listers to the Wedding

The beginning of Anthony and Marlen's romance remains unclear, but the couple likely started dating around 2016 or 2017. They kept their relationship under wraps until they appeared together at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in February of that year.

Marlen and Anthony still kept their relationship private, and they tied the knot the following year on September 18, 2021. A-list celebrities were in attendance, including multi-award-winning artist Adele and basketball superstar LeBron James -- who's married to Savannah James -- Russell Westbrook, and John Calipari.

During the summer, Marlen and Anthony took their kids on their anniversary vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and traveled around the Dominican Republic. However, they returned after a short while, as Marlen couldn't travel for too long since she was still pregnant at the time.

Anthony Davis Has 3 Kids

In June 2021, Anthony revealed he was expecting a baby boy with his wife; however, he hasn't shared when his youngest was born. A few days after celebrating his first anniversary this year, Anthony talked about the expansion of his family during an interview.

He had recently become a father of three and joked that he and Marlen were "outnumbered now." Still, Anthony felt his children were a blessing and was happy to have as many as he did. Although not much is known about his sons, his daughter, Nala, has graced the spotlight alongside him a few times.

Nala celebrated her fourth birthday on November 1 this year. Her dad shared a sweet birthday tribute on his Instagram page, affectionately referring to her as his "little pumpkin butt." The caption accompanied a thread of Nala's adorable photos and selfies with her dad.

Anthony Davis and Nala Davis pose at the Premiere of Warner Bros "Space Jam: A New Legacy" at Regal LA Live on July 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

It is clear that the pair have a tight bond from the pictures, but Nala also attends public events with Anthony. In May 2021, she joined her dad during his NBA on ESPN post-game interview. Two months later, she was his date at the "Space Jame: A New Legacy" premiere, where she delivered a convincing Bugs Bunny impression.

There Were Rumors That Anthony Davis Was Engaged to Brittney Griner

Texas native Brittney Griner, nearly as tall as her former rumored fiancé, was born and raised in Houston among four older siblings. She played volleyball and basketball in high school but later focused on the latter.

Brittney continued playing at Baylor University, where she attained her Bachelor of Science degree in Education after studying on a basketball scholarship. She also accumulated many accolades and was later drafted by Phoenix Mercury in 2013.

It's unknown when Brittney and Anthony started dating, but rumors of their engagement surfaced that year. Anthony responded to the allegations and denied that he and Brittney were soon-to-be newlyweds. The pair reunited in 2015 following Brittney's divorce from Glory Johnson, but the reunion was brief, as it ended that same year.

There Is Another Important Woman in Anthony's Life

A woman as equally important as Marlen in Anthony's life is his mother. The Lakers superstar ensured he wished them both a happy Mother's Day in May 2021 and 2022. Anthony doesn't speak much about his dynamic with Marlen, but he opened up about his relationship with his mom earlier this year.

Describing himself as a "big car guy," he explained that his dad would stop him whenever he thought about getting a new one since he already had more than a handful. However, Anthony's mother usually gets excited when he wants to spend big.

His dad's practicality in such situations taught him to be responsible with his money and gave him the courage to turn down his mother's plans at one point. Anthony recalled how "staggering" her facial expression was afterward, but she moved past the denial a few hours later.