Highlights
- Richard Jefferson called off his 2009 wedding to fiancée Kesha Nichols days before the ceremony, citing uncertainty about the decision.
- Both parties clarified the breakup was handled maturely with advance notice, despite tabloid claims of dramatic abandonment.
- Jefferson is now married to Afra with two children and keeps his current personal life private while thriving as an ESPN broadcaster.
Former NBA star Richard Jefferson has had a storied career as an Olympic medalist, an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now a charismatic ESPN broadcaster.
But while his professional life boasts accolades and airtime, his love life has taken a far less linear path.
Over the years, Jefferson has made headlines for two high-profile broken engagements, proving that even athletes with flawless court vision can sometimes fumble in love.
Richard Jefferson Was Almost Married Twice
Richard Jefferson came very close to walking down the aisle twice but didn’t do the deed.
His most talked-about relationship was with Kesha Nichols, a former Nets dancer and now the founder of Sugar & Spice Production, a New York–based dance company.
Their romance began during Jefferson’s tenure with the New Jersey Nets.
After five years of dating and globe-trotting, the couple was set to marry at the lavish Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City in July 2009.
But just days before the ceremony, Jefferson called off the wedding, not with a dramatic walkout or ghosting, as tabloids claimed, but with a final email confirmation.
Jefferson said on The Howard Stern Show,
“I didn’t want to make a decision and then regret it two days later. It was a decision I had to stick by.”
Via Fanbuzz
Nichols handled the situation with grace.
Though hurt, she still hosted a reception dinner for the guests who had already arrived.
She later said,
“He didn’t do this to me—he did this for me. He knew he wasn’t the person for me.”
Via Fanbuzz
Jefferson has long defended his actions. After a stressful Fourth of July weekend, he realized the relationship had reached a breaking point.
He gave Nichols notice a week before the wedding, and when she headed to New York, he followed up with an email to finalize their decision.
Though tabloids sensationalized the story as a bride “jilted at the altar,” both Jefferson and Nichols later clarified that there was no dramatic last-minute ditching.
Jefferson even arranged a six-figure financial settlement, which some labeled “hush money,” but he insists it was simply an effort to do the right thing.
Richard Jefferson Has Had Past Relationships, But Now Remains Married
Before Nichols, Jefferson was linked to softball star Jennie Finch during their college days at the University of Arizona, but the relationship ended when Jefferson was drafted into the NBA in 2001.
He was also reportedly married to supermodel Teresa Lourenco, a Trinidadian-German beauty who worked with fashion houses like Dior, Valentino, and Victoria’s Secret.
However, their relationship ended, and Lourenco is now married to entrepreneur Marcus Antebi, founder of Juice Press.
Meanwhile, according to Sports Business Journal, Richard is married to a woman named Afra and has two children, Richard Jr. and Phoenix.
Nonetheless, the basketball superstar remains tight-lipped about his personal life.
These days, Richard is thriving in his ESPN career, offering sharp commentary and basketball insights.
While he’s had some public heartbreaks, he’s also shown maturity, self-awareness, and a willingness to grow from his experiences.
He once said,
“If you aren’t 100 percent certain about something, you shouldn’t do it.”
Via Fanbuzz
While the spotlight may once have lingered on dramatic breakups, today it’s focused on his post-NBA success.
