Our Core Values
We prioritize building a strong, supportive community where European basketball players and their families can connect, share experiences, and support one another, fostering a sense of belonging no matter where they move.
We are committed to providing a safe and secure platform that users can trust, offering reliable information, vetted resources, and a network that ensures their well-being during their transitions.
We strive to empower our users by providing them with comprehensive, up-to-date information about their new environments, helping them make informed decisions and feel confident in their new surroundings.
We believe in making relocation as effortless as possible by offering user-friendly tools, intuitive features, and easy access to essential services, helping our users settle into their new cities with minimal stress.
Community
Trust
Agency
Simplicity
Gianna Hines
Gianna, a former collegiate basketball player at Adelphi University with a passion for blending sports and community service. She began her career in Community Relations with the New York Knicks and New York Liberty, where she developed impactful experiences connecting teams with community partners across the tri-state area. In 2015, Gianna left the corporate world to support her husband’s professional basketball career overseas, relocating to Russia. During her time abroad, her desire to create community led her to organize events for fellow expats, culminating in the launch of her own business, Gianna Lauren Events. After living in Moscow and Milan, she refined her ability to bring people together across cultures.
Now based in Sicklerville, NJ, Gianna also co-founded Simplicity with her business partner Jess, a platform empowering basketball families worldwide. Through her work, Gianna continues to foster meaningful connections and create positive change.
Co-Founder & Owner of Gianna Lauren Events
10 years of living abroad supporting spouse in professional basketball in Italy, Russia, and Greece
Meet the Founders
Jess Walden
Jess is a retired student-athlete, educator and consultant. She worked 10-years years in higher education administration and instruction, then pivoted to become an emerging tech consultant managing the technical delivery of blockchain solutions. Her eclectic work experience is truly defined by the phrase, "God doesn't waste anything." After leaving her full-time tech consulting job to become a full-time mom during basketball season, she quickly realized that European basketball players and their families need a host of resources to have a seamless transition from city-to-city. Since then, she's started her own graphic design business and partnered with Gianna to bring Simplicity Basketball to life.
Jess is from Ormond Beach, FL and currently lives in Lleida, Spain with her husband, Corey Walden, and two sons, Carter and Cody.
Co-Founder & Owner of Carter Ray Designs
6 years of living abroad supporting spouse in professional basketball in Serbia, Germany, Turkey and Spain