Denise Garcia, the longtime partner and now ex-girlfriend of NBA guard Lonzo Ball, is no stranger to the spotlight—or the scrutiny that comes with it. In recent days, Garcia has spoken candidly about the challenges of being labeled a "gold digger" and a "baby mama," titles that have followed her since her high school days with Ball. Her honest reflections come at a pivotal moment: Ball, after a grueling two-and-a-half-year recovery from multiple knee surgeries, has just returned to NBA action, now wearing the Cleveland Cavaliers jersey after an offseason trade from the Chicago Bulls.
Their story stretches back to Chino Hills High School, where a chance meeting at a school dinner sparked a relationship that would weather the highs and lows of professional sports, reality TV, and relentless public attention. "We went to the same school," Garcia recalled on Michael Porter Jr.'s podcast, "Curious Mike." "The day that I met him was after practice, my senior year. The school hosted dinner at this restaurant called Puppchinos. He approached me, and since then, after that night, we were inseparable."
Garcia and Ball’s journey, chronicled in part on the Ball family’s reality series, "Ball in the Family," has not been without its dramatic moments. Their on-again, off-again relationship, the birth of their daughter Zoey, and public disagreements—like the infamous "deadbeat" exchange—have all played out in the public eye. In 2019, a lighthearted but pointed moment aired on the series when Garcia responded to the question, "wink if Lonzo is a deadbeat," by blinking and laughing. Ball shot back, "Came to see the deadbeat, huh?" Despite such flare-ups, both have since acknowledged that their relationship has improved, focusing on co-parenting and mutual respect.
But even as the drama has cooled, Garcia continues to face a barrage of negative stereotypes. On "Curious Mike," she addressed the persistent rumors and online chatter that have dogged her for years. "I feel like ever since my ex and I were together, he posted me and it was like, 'Oh, you’re a gold digger,'" Garcia explained. "This was even before we brought Zoey into the world. So, I guess people just think that you’re kind of out there for what players can offer you financially." She was quick to emphasize that their connection predates Ball's NBA stardom and lucrative contracts: "Because I had known Lonzo since he was a teenager, my relationship with him was never based on what he could provide."
Garcia’s frustration is palpable, especially regarding the "baby mama" stigma. She noted that the negative perceptions began long before Zoey was born, suggesting that public opinion was shaped more by association with a professional athlete than by any actual behavior. "There’s a stigma that comes with being labeled a 'baby mama,' and it’s something I’ve had to deal with for a long time," she said. The reality of her relationship with Ball, she insisted, is far more nuanced than the online rumors suggest.
Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball’s own journey has taken a dramatic turn. After missing more than two years of NBA action due to a series of knee injuries—culminating in three surgeries, including a cartilage transplant—Ball finally made his return to the league in October 2024. His comeback, however, came with a change of scenery. The Chicago Bulls, who had acquired Ball in 2021, traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2025 offseason in exchange for Isaac Okoro. The move was seen as a fresh start for Ball, who had spent much of his time in Chicago sidelined by injury.
In his 35 games last season, Ball averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds—a far cry from the triple-double threat he once posed, but still a testament to his playmaking abilities. Now in Cleveland, he slots in as a premium backup behind all-star point guard Darius Garland. Cavaliers fans are hopeful that Ball, still just 27, can recapture the dynamic form that made him a top prospect out of UCLA and the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The challenges Ball has faced are not lost on Garcia. While their personal lives have been dissected in the media, Ball’s professional struggles have also drawn attention. The pressure to perform after such a long absence is immense, but Ball seems determined to write a new chapter. According to ESPN, Ball has "worked tirelessly to return to form," and coaches have praised his resilience and leadership in the locker room. For the Cavaliers, his veteran presence and high basketball IQ offer valuable depth as the team aims for a deep playoff run.
For Garcia, the renewed focus on her relationship with Ball—now cast against the backdrop of his comeback—has reignited old narratives. Yet, she remains steadfast in her desire to set the record straight. "Our relationship has always been about genuine connection, not financial gain," she reiterated. The couple’s shared history, from high school sweethearts to co-parents navigating fame, is more complex than any tabloid headline can capture.
It’s a story that resonates with many partners of professional athletes, who often find themselves targets of suspicion and stereotype. Garcia’s willingness to speak openly about her experiences has sparked conversation about the unfair assumptions placed on women in her position. As she put it on "Curious Mike," "People just don’t see the real story. They see the headlines and make up their minds."
As the new NBA season unfolds, all eyes are on Lonzo Ball’s progress with the Cavaliers. Will he return to his pre-injury form and help propel Cleveland deeper into the playoffs? Only time will tell. For now, though, Ball’s return represents hope—for himself, for the Cavaliers, and perhaps even for a new public understanding of the complexities behind the headlines.
Garcia, for her part, continues to push back against the labels and live life on her own terms. Her journey, intertwined with Ball’s, serves as a reminder that the stories behind the statistics are often the most compelling of all.