Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Damian Lillard comes from a close-knit Oakland family that has remained central to his life throughout his NBA career. Born on July 15, 1990, in Oakland, California, the longtime Portland Trail Blazers star is the son of Gina Johnson and Houston Lillard Sr. and grew up alongside his sister LaNae and brother Houston Jr.
Lillard later became a father of three children with his longtime partner and former wife, Kay’La Hanson. Even after their marriage ended, Lillard has consistently emphasized how important fatherhood and being physically close to his children are to him. His return to Portland in 2025 was particularly meaningful because it allowed him to spend more of his everyday life around his children and extended family.
Who Is Damian Lillard’s Girlfriend?
Damian Lillard does not currently have a publicly confirmed girlfriend.
Lillard was previously in a long-term relationship with Kay’La Hanson, whom he met while they were students at Weber State University. They dated for many years, built a family together and eventually married in 2021.
Lillard filed for divorce in October 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. By 2026, media reports routinely referred to Kay’La as his former wife.
In June 2026, TMZ reported that Lillard had also been romantically involved with a woman named Justie Wolf. Sources cited by the publication said the relationship began only after Lillard and Kay’La had already separated.
However, that same reporting stated that it was unclear whether Lillard and Wolf were still romantically involved. Neither Lillard nor Wolf has publicly established an ongoing relationship in a way that would make it accurate to describe her as his confirmed current girlfriend.
For that reason, as of now, Damian Lillard’s current relationship status should be considered private.
Who Is Damian Lillard’s Ex-Wife, Kay’La Hanson?
Kay’La Hanson is Damian Lillard’s former longtime partner and the mother of his three publicly confirmed children.
The pair met while attending Weber State University in Utah. Lillard was building his reputation as one of the school’s greatest basketball players, while Hanson studied nursing.
Their relationship lasted for approximately a decade before Lillard proposed during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2020.
They married in September 2021 in Montecito, California, surrounded by family, friends and several prominent NBA players.
By that point, the couple had already welcomed all three of their children.
Why Did Damian Lillard and Kay’La Hanson Separate?
Lillard filed for divorce in Oregon in October 2023, shortly after being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The filing cited irreconcilable differences and indicated that the marriage had experienced an irreparable breakdown.
The transition was difficult for Lillard because it coincided with his first major move away from Portland after spending his entire NBA career there.
Lillard later acknowledged how emotionally challenging that period had been. He described himself as a family-oriented person and explained that being separated from the familiar environment that included his children, mother, brother, cousins and friends contributed to feelings of loneliness.
How Many Children Does Damian Lillard Have?
Damian Lillard has three publicly confirmed children with Kay’La Hanson: Damian Lillard Jr., Kali Emma Lee Lillard and Kalii Laheem Lillard.
His oldest child is Damian Jr., while Kali and Kalii are twins.
Lillard has frequently spoken about fatherhood as one of the most important parts of his identity.
Damian Lillard Jr.
Damian Lillard Jr. is Lillard’s oldest child. He was born on March 29, 2018.
Damian Jr. arrived while his father was already an established NBA superstar with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lillard has shared numerous moments involving his oldest son over the years, including bringing him around NBA facilities and allowing him to experience aspects of professional basketball life.
As Damian Jr. became old enough to understand his father’s career, Lillard became increasingly conscious of making sure his children could experience the important moments alongside him.
Kali Emma Lee Lillard
Kali Emma Lee Lillard is Damian Lillard’s daughter and one of his twins.
Kali was born on January 21, 2021, along with her twin brother Kalii.
Lillard explained when announcing the twins’ birth that his daughter’s name is pronounced “Callie.”
Kali attracted attention in 2025 when Lillard described how excited she became after learning that her father had signed with the Portland Trail Blazers again.
According to Lillard, she immediately realized that the move meant the family would no longer have to repeatedly fly to Milwaukee to see him.
Kalii Laheem Lillard
Kalii Laheem Lillard is Damian Lillard’s younger son and Kali’s twin brother.
He was also born on January 21, 2021.
Lillard has kept many details about his children’s everyday lives private, but Kalii and his siblings have occasionally appeared with their father at games, team events and important career moments.
All three children accompanied Lillard when he officially signed his contract to return to Portland in 2025.
Reports About Another Possible Child
In 2026, court-related reporting raised questions about whether Damian Lillard might have another child.
Documents reported by TMZ showed that Kay’La Hanson sought information from Justie Wolf concerning a child named Aura, including any potential paternity-testing information and communications involving Lillard.
However, the reporting did not establish publicly that Damian Lillard is Aura’s father.
No confirmed paternity result has been publicly reported, and Lillard has not publicly announced Aura as his child. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to count Aura among Lillard’s confirmed children.
As of now, Damian Jr., Kali and Kalii remain his three publicly confirmed children.
Who Are Damian Lillard’s Parents?
Damian Lillard’s parents are Houston Lillard Sr. and Gina Johnson.
Both remained important figures throughout his childhood in Oakland and his rise from an overlooked high-school recruit to an NBA superstar.
Damian Lillard’s Father: Houston Lillard Sr.
Damian Lillard’s father is Houston Lillard Sr.
Lillard has spoken about his father in connection with some of the most important decisions of his early basketball career.
When Weber State coach Randy Rahe recruited Damian, Houston Sr. was among the family members involved in assessing whether the program was the right environment for his son.
Lillard has recalled that his father appreciated the honesty and character of the Weber State coaching staff, helping Damian feel comfortable committing to a relatively small program rather than continuing to wait for offers from more famous schools.
That decision ultimately transformed Lillard’s career.
Damian Lillard’s Mother: Gina Johnson
Damian Lillard’s mother is Gina Johnson.
Gina has remained a visible and important figure throughout her son’s NBA career.
Lillard has repeatedly emphasized the importance of having his mother close to him and included her when describing the family network he missed while playing away from Portland.
When Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers in 2025, he specifically mentioned that being back in Oregon meant being around his children, mother, siblings, extended family and longtime friends again.
Gina has also appeared with her son at games and other basketball-related events throughout his career.
Who Are Damian Lillard’s Siblings?
Damian Lillard’s official Team USA biography identifies two siblings: LaNae Lillard and Houston Lillard Jr.
Like Damian, both grew up in the Oakland area, although they followed different paths as adults.
LaNae Lillard
LaNae Lillard is Damian Lillard’s sister.
She has maintained a much more private life than her famous brother, and relatively little reliable biographical information about her career has been made public.
LaNae has nevertheless been part of Damian’s close family circle for many years.
She spent time in Oregon after Damian joined the Trail Blazers and attended Lakeridge High School.
Lillard has spoken warmly about his family relationships and the importance of maintaining connections with those who knew him before his NBA fame.
Houston Lillard Jr.
Houston Lillard Jr. is Damian Lillard’s brother.
Unlike Damian, Houston initially pursued American football rather than basketball.
He played junior-college football at Laney College in Oakland before receiving a scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University.
Houston later played quarterback professionally in indoor football.
He remained closely connected to Damian throughout the NBA star’s career and became part of the extended family support system surrounding him in Portland.
When Damian returned to Oregon in 2025, he specifically mentioned being close to his brother as one of the benefits of returning home.
Damian Lillard’s Oakland Family Background
Lillard’s family story is closely connected to Oakland, California.
He grew up in an environment that presented challenges but also created the toughness and loyalty that later became central parts of his public identity.
Basketball was not an immediate path to stardom. Lillard was lightly recruited compared with many future NBA players and attended multiple high schools before eventually finishing at Oakland High School.
His family remained behind him as he accepted a scholarship from Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
That journey from Oakland to Ogden and eventually Oregon later inspired Lillard’s decision to wear jersey No. 0, which he has described as representing the letter “O” and those three important locations in his life.
Why Damian Lillard Returned to Portland for His Family
Family was one of the most important reasons Lillard welcomed his return to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025.
After leaving Portland for Milwaukee in 2023, Lillard found himself spending much more time away from his children and longtime support system.
When Portland brought him back, his three children accompanied him to officially sign his contract.
Lillard described an emotional moment while driving home afterward when he told the children that he would once again live and play in Portland.
His daughter Kali immediately understood what it meant: they would no longer need to regularly fly to Milwaukee to spend time with their father.
For Lillard, returning to Portland was therefore about considerably more than basketball. It meant living near his children, mother, siblings, extended family and friends again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Damian Lillard’s Family
Who is Damian Lillard’s girlfriend?
Damian Lillard does not currently have a publicly confirmed girlfriend. He was reportedly romantically involved with Justie Wolf after separating from Kay’La Hanson, but 2026 reporting stated that it was unclear whether Lillard and Wolf were still together.
Who is Damian Lillard’s ex-wife?
Damian Lillard’s former wife is Kay’La Hanson. They met at Weber State University, married in 2021 and share three children.
Is Damian Lillard still married?
No. Lillard filed for divorce from Kay’La Hanson in October 2023, and recent reporting describes Hanson as his former wife.
How many children does Damian Lillard have?
Damian Lillard has three publicly confirmed children: Damian Jr., Kali Emma Lee and Kalii Laheem.
Who is Damian Lillard’s oldest son?
His oldest son is Damian Lillard Jr., who was born on March 29, 2018.
Does Damian Lillard have twins?
Yes. His twins are daughter Kali Emma Lee Lillard and son Kalii Laheem Lillard, born on January 21, 2021.
Is Damian Lillard the father of a child named Aura?
That has not been publicly established. Court-related reporting in 2026 raised questions about possible paternity, but no confirmed public paternity result established Lillard as Aura’s father. His publicly confirmed children therefore remain Damian Jr., Kali and Kalii.
Who are Damian Lillard’s parents?
Damian Lillard’s parents are Gina Johnson and Houston Lillard Sr.
Who is Damian Lillard’s mother?
His mother is Gina Johnson, who has remained an important member of his support system throughout his NBA career.
Who is Damian Lillard’s father?
His father is Houston Lillard Sr., who supported Damian during his early basketball development and college recruitment.
How many siblings does Damian Lillard have?
Team USA officially identifies two siblings: sister LaNae Lillard and brother Houston Lillard Jr.
Who is Damian Lillard’s brother?
His brother is Houston Lillard Jr., a former college and professional indoor football quarterback.
Who is Damian Lillard’s sister?
His sister is LaNae Lillard. She has generally maintained a private life away from the publicity surrounding Damian’s NBA career.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
