Basketball Wives: LA; Premiere

So tonight was the season premiere of Basketball Wives: LA and it was nothing like I expected I was under the impression that it was going to be a classier version of the original Basketball wives but it wasn't. Its the same script, different cast. Grown women shopping, lunching, brunching and bickering about a bunch of nothing. The show's cast consists of (picture above r to l) Melissa Imani Showalter (ex-fiancee to Stephen Jackson of the Milwaukee Bucks) Draya Michele (model and starving actress) Laura Govan (baby mother to Gilbert Arenas) Gloria Govan (fiancee of Lakers player Matt Barnes) Malaysia Pargo (wife of Chicago Bulls' Jannero Pargo) and last but not lease Jackie "Crazy" Christie (wife of retired player Doug Christie). Those are just their basic stats, click the link to see more pics, to get their twitters, and get the real scoop on these chicks.


First things first, two "wives" who aren't pictured...

Recently Ron Artest, who an hour ago was confirmed for the new season of Dancing With The Stars, did an interview saying he wasn't worried about reality tv affecting his relationship with his "wife" Kimsha. And Kimsha Artest is noted on the series as Ron Artest's "partner", her castmates refer to her as Ron's wife, and she still carries his last name but in actuality childhood sweethearts, Ron and Kimsha have been divorced since 2009. Ron's real "partner" is his very public girlfriend Shin Shin. Shin Shin, who Ron met in the summer of 2009 on a trip to China, is a Chinese R&B singer allegedly signed to Ron's Tru Warier record label, although she's not listed on the website's artist roster. Weird.
Kimsha's Twitter: @KimshaArtest
Ron's Twitter: @ThugRaider37
Shin Shin's Twitter: @IAmShinShin

Tanya Williams is the self-proclaimed "estranged wife" of basketball player turned murderer turned jailbird Jayson Williams. On the show Tanya says she's a motivational speaker but anybody can say anything. I need to see some credentials and receipts. During the first episode Tanya gets into a little bit of beef with the other girls over her "better-than-thou"-attitude. I guess we'll see how her relationship with the girls changes for the better or worse over the season. In 2002 Tanya's husband was tried for murdering his limo driver and attempting to make it look like a suicide. After years of trials and appeals in 2010 Jayson pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Tanya's Twitter: @Try_Williams

Not much is known about Imani (nee Melissa) but what is known is that she was engaged to Stephen Jackson of the Milwaukee Bucks for 9 years and they recently split 3 years ago, and the two have a few kids together.
Imani's Twitter: @IAmMelissaImani

There's not much scoop on Malaysia Pargo either but the Compton California native is actually a basketball wife to Chicago Bulls' player Jannero Pargo. And the two have 3 kids together.
Malaysia's Twitter: @StyleInGrace

Laura Govan is another one that has made her rounds on the blogs. Laura just recently had her fourth child by NBA player Gilbert arenas and while pregnant emails between Laura and Shaquille O'Neal surfaced exposing an affair between the two. Laura has recently denied it but who only her and Shaq know the truth. Laura and baby daddy Gilbert recently split, then he left her high, dry, and penniless. Leading Laura to file for child support and have him served in the middle of a basketball game.
Laura's Twitter: @L4Govan

Next up is Laura's sister Gloria Govan. Gloria is the parent of twin boys with Laker's player Matt Barnes. Gloria may seem familiar because she was on season 1 and 2 of the original Basketball Wives and was far from likable. I'm sure she's out to change the public's perception this go-round. Gloria and Matt made headlines last year when they called off their wedding and then he was arrested for domestic violence. You never see any of that when the cameras are around though. They try to be very cookie-cutter cute for tv.
Gloria's Twitter: @GloGovan
Matt's Twitter: @Matt_Barnes22

Jackie Christie is morelegendary in basketball than her own damn husband and he's the one who actually played. Jackie and her husband Doug Christie get married every year and the rumor is she has him on a very tight leash. Before Doug retired Jackie would go to every single home game and when the team went to away games she would follow their bus in her car and talk to him on the phone the whole way. And that's when she let him have a phone, because according to her daughter Doug isn't allowed to have a phone or talk to females. Not even a "thank you" to the waitress. Somebody need save that man or at least tell him that slavery is over!
Jackie's Twitter: @JackieChristie

Video model Draya Michele is really the elephant in the room because she has no ties whatsoever to any professional basketball players. She is not a basketball wife, girlfriend, cousin, sister or anything. She was most recently linked to Chris Brown and her name was all over the blogs at the beginning of the year when she was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child. Turns out Draya was leaving her 7-year-old son home alone for days at a time while she was out partying and expecting him to take care of himself and the puppy.
Draya's Twitter: @DrayaFace

This season is chock full of characters, I'll surely be watching! Will you?