Carlos Boozer Joins Dating Reality Show

As a former NBA All-Star, Carlos Boozer is no stranger to competition. Now, after nearly a decade away from the game, he finds himself back in the spotlight on the dating reality show King’s Court, where Thaddeus “Titus O’Neill” Bullard and Tyson Beckford are also looking for love, and tensions run high among the contestants vying for their attention.

Boozer shared that the show’s producers reached out to him “several times” before he finally agreed to take part. After a memorable chat with producer Will Packer, Boozer thought, “Hey, what’s the worst that could happen?” But not before laying down some ground rules with his three kids, who had their concerns.

“They told me, ‘Dad, I don’t want to see you kissing on TV,'” Boozer said during a recent Zoom interview. “But they’re supportive. My kids just want me to be happy. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find someone special.”

Currently, Boozer is getting to know Janaye Robinson, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Florida. However, their connection has faced challenges, particularly with matchmakers pairing him with Jennifer Markque, stirring up some unexpected drama.

“It’s funny without giving everything away. There are definitely some twists and turns to enjoy,” Boozer hinted about the unfolding love triangle. He admitted he’s been hesitant in exploring his feelings with Janaye more openly.

In the conversation, he touched on his past relationships, the drama surrounding contestant Lexi Gray, and shared his thoughts on navigating love alongside his castmates. Here’s a peek into his reflections.

Decider: How did the show come to you, and what pushed you to join?

Carlos Boozer: They reached out multiple times and set up preliminary chats. I had just come out of a relationship and was initially cautious. However, the conversation with Will Packer made me feel at ease, and I thought, “Why not? Let’s do this.”

What did your kids think about you going on a dating show?

They had some clear expectations. They said, “Dad, please don’t kiss anyone on TV!” Yet, they were also happy for me. At the end of the day, they want me to have a good experience, if not find a partner.

Are you a fan of dating shows in general?

Honestly, I’ve never been into them. Before joining King’s Court, I checked out the first two seasons of Queen’s Court to get a feel for the show’s vibe—it felt more like homework than entertainment.

The competition is intense on the show. How does it compare to your experience on the basketball court?

Well, it’s a different ball game. But it does get heated. You can see when a girl is out to get some attention from the king! There’s plenty of interest all around, and yes, some claws do come out.

Lexi stirred quite a bit of drama early on. Were you surprised by her searching for you online?

In real life, it’s common for people to know about your background. Here, we only had names, but they could look us up. I told Lexi that I’ve worked hard to move on. It was disappointing to see her approach things negatively instead of talking with me. It helped me clarify who was genuine and who wasn’t.

When Janaye confronted you about it, you handled yourself really well. Has it taken you time to address such things maturely?

I think everyone has their baggage, right? If you really deal with it, you can discuss it without it weighing on you. I feel I’ve grown from those experiences. It’s important for me to openly talk about them, as I’ve mentioned in my book. I believe in therapy; it’s been a huge support for me.

As someone who’s been in the public eye, do you feel you can spot genuine intentions pretty quickly?

Absolutely. As kings, we’re always meeting people. There’s a clear difference between those genuinely interested and those who are not. While filming this show, it didn’t take long to figure out who was there for the right reasons.

Janaye seemed to catch your eye early on, but her on-screen persona seems different from her dialogue with you. Surprised?

I found that intriguing. Watching the shows and seeing the confessions can be eye-opening—it’s like piecing together what happened during filming.

There seems to be a playful tension between her and you, especially in the interviews. How do you view that?

It definitely adds another layer of interest. Hearing her perspective was enlightening for sure—I didn’t have any context until I saw the show.

You shared some chemistry with Jennifer. What drew you to her?

Let’s just say there are some interesting moments to come! When matchmakers are involved, it’s pretty rare to know who they think you’ll connect with. But Tyson and I had a few laughs discussing this beforehand.

You mentioned calling yourself a “6-foot-9 chicken.” How do you navigate the dynamic with Jennifer and Janaye?

Right now, I’m enjoying my time with Janaye, but I do feel like I’ve been a bit of a chicken in not spending more time exploring things with Jennifer. It’s complicated, and you’ll want to catch the upcoming episodes for more!

Tyson seems to draw a lot of attention from the women. Do you think he’s ready for a serious relationship?

Tyson is quite the catch, but being surrounded by so many beautiful women can complicate things. In real life, dating is more straightforward, while here you’re constantly aware of others trying to win someone over. He’s navigating all of that, which can be tough.

In the midseason trailer, Thaddeus uses the word “love” with Ariel. Is that something you’ve experienced on the show, or are you more of a slow burner?

For me, I definitely feel there’s potential for a connection, but everyone moves at their own pace. Thaddeus seems to have found some real spark, especially with Ariel.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

New episodes of King’s Court air Sundays at 9 PM ET/PT on Bravo and are available to stream on Peacock the next day.