The pandemic forced Monica McNutt, a basketball commentator, and Justin Jackson, the director of basketball operations for the National Basketball Players Association, to continue their relationship from afar.
During golden hour on the beach in St. George’s, Grenada, on Sept. 1, 2023, Justin Alexander Jackson suggested that he and Monica Corin McNutt take a couple of selfies. After setting a timer on his phone, Mr. Jackson posed for a photo with Ms. McNutt, then pulled out an engagement ring, bent to his knee and asked her to marry him.
“I was so shocked, and then a wave came and knocked his phone into the water,” Ms. McNutt said. As she expressed concern about his phone, Mr. Jackson expressed concern about her answer. “He was like, ‘Is that a yes?’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Yes, but your phone!’”
After rescuing the phone, the two returned to their hotel room, which was decorated with balloons and flowers. They celebrated their engagement with their friends during the rest of the trip, which they described as a “framily vacation.”
Ms. McNutt, 34, is a basketball commentator for MSG Networks and ESPN. She grew up in Suitland, Md., and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Maryland.
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Mr. Jackson, 37, was raised in Fairfax and Fredericksburg, Va., and received a bachelor’s degree in sport management and a master’s degree in sport psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is the director of basketball operations for the National Basketball Players Association.
A mutual friend introduced Ms. McNutt and Mr. Jackson in May 2019 at the NBA Draft Combine. They quickly connected over work.