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The Forgotten NBA & R&B Romance: 5 Shocking Facts About Iman Shumpert And Elle Varner's 2013 Breakup And Their Lives Today

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The relationship between former NBA star Iman Shumpert and Grammy-nominated R&B singer Elle Varner is a fascinating footnote in celebrity dating history, one that often gets overshadowed by their later high-profile romances and career milestones. It was a brief, intense coupling between a rising basketball talent and a soulful new voice, lasting from 2012 to 2013. Today, in late 2025, both individuals have experienced massive, life-altering shifts in their personal and professional lives, making their decade-old split all the more significant as a turning point.

This deep dive explores the timeline of their romance, the unconfirmed but widely speculated reason for their separation, and how their paths diverged, leading to an NBA championship, a Dancing with the Stars win, a high-profile divorce, and a powerful R&B career resurgence for Varner, complete with a 2025 tour.

Iman Shumpert and Elle Varner: Complete Career & Biography Profiles

To understand the context of their relationship, it is essential to look at where Iman Shumpert and Elle Varner were in their careers when they met and where they are now.

Iman Shumpert: Biography & Career Highlights

  • Full Name: Iman Asante Shumpert
  • Born: June 26, 1990 (Age 35 in 2025)
  • Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
  • Primary Career: Professional Basketball Player (Retired)
  • Key Teams: New York Knicks (2011–2015), Cleveland Cavaliers (2015–2018)
  • Major Achievement: 2016 NBA Champion (with the Cleveland Cavaliers)
  • Post-NBA Career: Television personality, winning Season 30 of Dancing with the Stars in 2021, making him the first NBA player to win the competition.
  • High-Profile Relationship: Married to singer/actress Teyana Taylor (2016–2023), with whom he has two children. The couple's messy divorce was finalized in 2023.

Elle Varner: Biography & Career Highlights

  • Full Name: Gabrielle Serene Varner
  • Born: February 12, 1989 (Age 36 in 2025)
  • Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
  • Primary Career: Grammy-nominated Singer-Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist
  • Debut Album: Perfectly Imperfect (2012), featuring the hit single "Refill."
  • Major Achievement: Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song ("Refill").
  • Recent Projects (2024/2025): Released singles like "Fallin' Up" and "Black" in 2024, continuing her independent music journey. Scheduled for the Love Me Again Tour in 2025, marking a significant return to the spotlight.
  • Musical Style: Known for blending R&B, soul, and pop, often showcasing her skills as a multi-instrumentalist.

The Short-Lived Romance: Iman and Elle’s 2012-2013 Timeline

The relationship between Iman Shumpert and Elle Varner began in 2012, at the height of their respective ascensions. Shumpert was establishing himself as a defensive force for the New York Knicks, while Varner was enjoying critical acclaim and commercial success from her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect.

Their coupling was a classic "baller and singer" pairing, generating buzz in both the NBA and R&B circles. They were frequently photographed together at events, and Varner often spoke highly of Shumpert in interviews, confirming their status as a new "it" couple.

The relationship, however, was incredibly brief, lasting only about a year and a half. By September 2013, rumors of a split began to circulate, which Elle Varner confirmed via Twitter.

The Rumored Reason for the Breakup

While Elle Varner never explicitly detailed the exact reason for the split, the breakup was a topic of intense media speculation at the time. The most persistent and widely circulated rumor was related to infidelity on Shumpert's part, a common pressure point for high-profile couples.

The timing is also crucial: shortly after their breakup, Iman Shumpert began his relationship with Teyana Taylor. The quick transition fueled the narrative that the end of his relationship with Varner was directly tied to the start of his relationship with Taylor. Varner handled the public scrutiny with grace, focusing on her music and moving on from the drama.

The Diverging Paths: How Their Lives Changed Post-2013

The 2013 breakup served as a major inflection point, sending both Iman Shumpert and Elle Varner down dramatically different, yet equally high-profile, professional and personal paths.

Iman Shumpert’s Journey: From NBA Champion to DWTS Winner and Divorce

Iman Shumpert's career exploded following the split. In 2015, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he became an integral part of the team that won the 2016 NBA Championship alongside LeBron James.

His personal life also became a major headline. His relationship with Teyana Taylor, which began shortly after the split with Varner, evolved into a high-profile marriage in 2016. They became a celebrated "power couple" in entertainment, starring in their own reality show, Teyana & Iman, and having two children.

After retiring from the NBA, Shumpert transitioned to entertainment, winning the coveted Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars in 2021, showcasing his versatility beyond the basketball court. However, his marriage to Taylor ended in a messy, public divorce in 2023, bringing his relationship history back into the spotlight.

Elle Varner’s New Era: Independence and the 2025 Tour

Following the breakup, Elle Varner focused on her artistry. While she faced challenges with her record label, she ultimately embraced an independent path, allowing her to take full control of her sound and narrative.

In recent years, Varner has shown a powerful resurgence, proving her longevity in the R&B space. Her 2019 EP, Ellevation, was a critical success, and she has continued to release fresh music, including new singles in 2024.

The most current news for Varner is the announcement of her Love Me Again Tour in 2025, which includes major city dates. This tour title itself, "Love Me Again," suggests a reclamation of her narrative and a fresh start, a powerful contrast to the drama of her past relationships.

What the Iman-Elle Romance Represents Today

The relationship between Iman Shumpert and Elle Varner, though short-lived, represents a pivotal moment for both of their careers. For Shumpert, it was the final relationship before his long-term, high-profile marriage to Teyana Taylor, which dominated his narrative for a decade. For Varner, the split occurred just as she was navigating the difficult "sophomore slump" phase of her music career, pushing her toward greater artistic independence and a focus on self-discovery.

Their story is a testament to how even a brief, intense celebrity romance can set the stage for completely different, long-term trajectories. While their relationship ended in 2013, the success and current headlines surrounding Iman Shumpert's 2023 divorce and Elle Varner's 2025 tour ensure that this "forgotten" R&B and NBA pairing remains a critical piece of their collective history.

iman shumpert and elle varner
iman shumpert and elle varner

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