Girlfriend of NBA star Jalen Green addresses 17-year age gap with strong statement

Phoenix Suns star Jalen Green's partner, 40-year-old Draya Michele, has boldly confronted her detractors after revealing the emotional impact their negative remarks have had on her. Green, 23, and Michele reportedly began their romance in the summer of 2023 and share a child. Despite the 17-year age difference between them, Michele frequently faces harsh criticism on social media.

The pair, who have a one-year-old daughter together, are preparing to start afresh in Phoenix following Green's high-profile move to the Suns in an NBA trade that saw basketball legend Kevin Durant join the Houston Rockets. Green, who was picked second overall by the Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft, is set to begin his tenure with the Suns, but before he does, his girlfriend, Michele, has spoken out against those judging their relationship.

"I mean, you try to get to that point (where you don't give a f---), but I mean you're still human and you still have feelings," she confessed to the New York Post.

"Sometimes, you know you can read things that are hurtful and you want to just let it roll off, but it doesn't always work like that.

"It also depends on what type of day you're already having when you read the message... I take it because it comes with it, with the limelight, like I said. But I'm human and I have feelings."

Michele expressed her contentment in supporting Green as he takes on a significant career shift in Phoenix. "This was my first time experiencing a trade," Michele disclosed.

"I just think, you know, as his girlfriend, my main responsibility is to support him wherever we were going. Phoenix is an amazing city. We were not disappointed with Phoenix at all.

"But I just need to be supportive of him and of the change and then just try to make things as smooth of a transition [as possible] for him, and not stressing him out with the worries of moving and all that. He's not gonna have to lift the finger.

"I'll handle all of that so that he can just relax and play basketball.

"Once he gets there, he won't have anything else to worry about. And that's just really what I try to focus on: keeping things convenient and easy for him."

While Green typically shies away from discussing his personal life, he made a point to address it as he headed into a high-stakes period with the Rockets last season. "Leave my girl out, I'm deactivating my s--- for the play-offs," Green announced.

This article first appeared on Mirror US.