Basketball star picks La Jolla for proposal to girlfriend

NBA star Tobias Harris, 28, had the sports world chattering when he posted photos on Instagram of his ultra-romantic marriage proposal in La Jolla last Sunday to longtime girlfriend Jasmine Winton.

The Philadelphia 76ers forward, who signed a fiveyear, $180 million contract last year, bought a bluff-top 5.4-acre lot with ocean views here more than a year ago.

It was on that property that his photographer recorded Winton’s shock and surprise as Harris got down on one knee and proposed.

His Instagram post revealed her answer: “She said, ‘Yes, Yes!’ ”

Setting the mood was a giant carpet of red rose petals in the shape of a 20-foot-wide heart outlined by candles. A path, also strewn with rose petals, led to an elaborately decorated gazebo outfitted with a chandelier, swagged curtains, a dinner setting and roses everywhere.

The couple had an intimate engagement dinner celebration with Winton’s best friend and her friend’s husband from Los Angeles.

Harris explained in a phone interview that he tricked Winton into coming to the lot that day by telling her Architectural Digest was doing a photo shoot.

He met Winton on a blind date when he played for the Detroit Pistons from 20162018. The following year, he was in Los Angeles shooting hoops for the Clippers.

He initially talked about moving to Hawaii when his girlfriend protested that it was too far from family. She suggested he consider San Diego.

“I’d never been to San Diego,” he says, “but I told her I’ll look at it. I started doing a lot of research on San Diego online and came across La Jolla.” The stars seemed to align when the couple went on vacation and several people happened to mention La Jolla.

“This seems like a destined thing,” Harris says. The couple visited San Diego and toured the area. “We fell in love with it, and we fell in love with the people,” he says. “There was a real sense of happiness and enjoyment of the sun, the beautiful weather, the location.”

After a few visits, they