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NBA Owner's Daughter Who Dated Aaron Rodgers Reveals Going Viral at 2014 Draft Led to 'Harmful' Comments

Mallory Edens attends the premiere of "Charlie Harper" during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Lightbox on September 04, 2025

Mallory Edens on Sept. 4, 2025 in Toronto.

The daughter of Milwaukee Bucks' owner Wes Edens opened up about going viral during the 2014 NBA Draft when she was just 18

Mallory Edens said "going really viral" at a "really young age" put her in "this place where I felt so protective of myself, because the things people were saying online about me at that time felt so harmful"

Edens, who was previously linked to NFL star Aaron Rodgers, said she doesn't know if she's "ever really left that protective casing"

Mallory Edens, the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens, is opening up about her viral 2014 moment at the NBA Draft.

Edens, 29, made an appearance on the “Unlike Me” podcast on Monday, Dec. 1, where the basketball heiress — who previously dated NFL star Aaron Rodgers — said going "really viral" at a "really young age" left her struggling with the unwanted attention.

Edens was just 18 when she appeared at the 2014 NBA Draft alongside her dad, and the internet quickly began taking interest in the Bucks owner's daughter due to her looks.

She said the moment "put me in this place where I felt so protective of myself because the things people were saying online about me at that time felt so harmful."

Mallory Edens attends 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.

Mallory Edens attends 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.

Edens added, "And I don’t know that I’ve ever if really left that protective casing."

She told listeners she believes "people don't know that much about me," despite her mild internet fame, "and I think that the biggest misconception is just that — they don't know that much about me."

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, Mallory Edens, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers watch the second half of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 02, 2022

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, Mallory Edens, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers watch the second half of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 02, 2022

Rodgers purchased a minority stake in the Bucks in 2018, according to ESPN, when he was still playing for the Green Bay Packers. He said it was a "dream come true" for him at the time.

A source confirmed to PEOPLE in January 2023 that Rodgers, 42, and Edens were dating. The insider said they were "more than friends" at the time, but added, "It's casual. He's not looking to rush into anything. It's low-key for now."

In June 2025, Rodgers revealed he quietly wed a mystery woman named Brittani in December 2024.

Edens was also asked about her interest in following in her father's footsteps with NBA ownership during the podcast appearance. She said she has "such a deep respect for what the front office does" and enjoys "getting to be a fly on the wall in their conversations."

“I love basketball. I’m open minded about what my future holds," Edens said.

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