National Basketball Association

Kate Upton and Blake Griffin an item?

Published Jun. 21, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Is Kate Upton the new Kim K?

Sounds like the SI swimsuit covergirl may have bagged another baller after she and Blake Griffin were spotted "getting cozy" at an NYC hotspot.

Upton partied with Griffin and LA Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan at Beauty & Essex, according to ENews! Upton reportedly was cuddling and holding hands with Griffin — on the same day she took a dig at her old flame, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, while wishing a happy birthday to his close friend Frank Viola III.

Upton also has been romantically linked to New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez. But she's got a ways to go to catch up with Kardashian, whose list of athlete conquests includes Kris Humphries, Reggie Bush, Miles Austin — and Kerry Rhodes, if you can believe the unbelievable.

What would Upton see in Griffin besides the obvious? Well, he's got a good sense of humor going for him . . . if not maturity beyond his 24 years.

What would Blake see in her? Well, there's always the obvious: