A little jet lag wasn't gonna stop Jalen Brunson from pulling up to his friend Fat Joe's star-studded birthday party for the ultimate surprise ... and that's exactly what the N.Y. Knicks star did this weekend!
The NBA champ was in the Los Angeles area since last week, attending teammate Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods' wedding in Malibu on Saturday.
But JB wasn't going to let a few thousand miles make him miss his buddy's bday, so he hopped on a plane and flew back east on Sunday ... and by the evening, Jalen was partying it up at Radio Park, atop Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.
LeBron James is taking his talents to the links -- and PGA Tour star Sam Burns is all for it!
TMZ Sports spoke to one of the Tour's top-ranked golfers Tuesday morning from a golf event in St. Louis (more on that in a minute), and Burns said he was thrilled to see the NBA legend jumping into the sport, which he thinks will provide a major boost thanks to King James' global reach.
"I think as a fan of golf, I mean, to have LeBron James be a supporter and obviously growing the game is great," Burns told us.
"He has such an impact on so many people around the world. So it's great for our sport. It's great for what he's doing for it. And we're happy to see him out there enjoying some golf."
Jeanie Buss is fighting like hell to keep the Los Angeles Lakers in the family ... but all five of her siblings are making it clear they're ready to move forward with selling their remaining ownership stake.
Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss released a statement in response to Jeanie's plans to contest the sale on Tuesday ... and they certainly haven't changed their minds, saying they "remain united in that decision."
"We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process," the statement said, according to Shams Charania.
There was no shortage of A-listers at Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods' wedding, but there was someone noticeably absent -- Knicks legend and team exec Allan Houston -- and there's good reason!
TMZ Sportsran into number 20 in Times Square in NYC on Monday, and we asked him about the weekend's nuptials.
3:30 PM -- Not so fast -- Jeanie Buss' attorney just fired back with a letter to her siblings' legal teams ... stating the sale CANNOT happen.
In the letter, Adam Streisand cited a court order that states a sale can't be made without Jeanie's approval ... making the vote that was reported on Monday "void." It also stated Jeanie must remain the Lakers' owner for life.
"On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake," Streisand wrote, according to CNBC.
He also accused Joey and Jesse of feeding Shams Charania bad info maliciously ... claiming they have a "years-long pattern" of doing so.
It truly is a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers -- the Buss family has sold its remaining 17.8% stake in the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
According to Shams Charania, the Buss family trust, which consists of Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Jamie, Joey and Jesse, recently received the necessary votes to push the sale through.
As a result of the transaction, Jeanie will no longer serve as governor of the Lakers, as at least 15-percent ownership is required to hold the position.
Big development in the NBA’s long-running investigation into the Kawhi Leonard salary-cap scandal ... and it’s good news for billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, at least according to ESPN.
The league found no evidence that Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi off the books to dodge the salary cap, according to a report from the outlet.
But the NBA is pushing back, saying the story "contains numerous and significant inaccuracies."
Karl-Anthony Towns has another ring to celebrate ... tying the knot with Jordyn Woods at a Malibu wedding with enough star power to fill several courtside rows.
The longtime couple exchanged vows Saturday during an outdoor ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean ... surrounded by an elaborate spread of white flowers and their family and closest friends.
The black-tie ceremony may have been intimate, but the guest list was anything but low-key ... with some of Hollywood's biggest names dressing in black for the occasion.
TMZ Sports caught up with the Hall of Famer and Lakers legend outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Tuesday ... and had to get his thoughts on the big matchup going down on December 25.
Geno Auriemmaisn't buying the latest culture-war freakout surrounding the WNBA!
The legendary UConn women's basketball coach chopped it up with Babcock this week ... and the Hall of Famer chalked up the trans athlete debate as a manufactured non-story, insisting there's nothing to see.
"Well, not to belittle it at all because I don't mean to because listen, you know, people have a right to their opinion. I get it," Auriemma said. "But why are we making a big issue over an issue that doesn't exist?"
The WNBA is blasting "bad-faith efforts" to push a narrative about transgender women competing in the league ... after ex-NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White claimed they're women and vowed to enter next year's WNBA Draft.
The WNBA held an anti-hate task force meeting Wednesday to discuss trans athletes ... and afterward, a league spokesperson said general managers and presidents came to the conclusion that there "are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA," adding ... "we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."
So, it sounds like Enes and Royce won't be entering the Draft after all.
The WNBA noted they will "continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months" and "will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league."
Russell Westbrook just closed the book on his legendary NBA career in the most Hollywood way possible.
The 37-year-old former MVP posted an emotional video on social media on Wednesday, titled “The Museum of Unspoken Answers,” narrated by his buddy Michael B. Jordan.
The clip begins with Russ walking through a gallery of his greatest hits, from thunderous dunks to triple-doubles ... and a gang of other career highlights.
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Westbrook captioned the clip ... “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
Bob IgerandJosh Kushnerare buying the Los Angeles Lakers ... and the price tag is jaw-dropping!!
Disney’s 75-year-old longtime boss and the billionaire Thrive Capital founder are locking down the Purple and Gold for a record-shattering $12 BILLION, according to multiple reports.
It's the highest price ever paid for an American sports franchise ... by far.
Kushner and Iger had been heavily involved in attempting to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas, but in a reversal, inked the deal to acquire the Lake Show.
Five-time NBA champion and Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson has died at 86, his family announced Sunday.
Nelson’s family announced his death Sunday, saying the Basketball Hall of Famer passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones ... saying "On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family."
They added ... "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories." A cause of death was not mentioned.
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke cause of death has been revealed ... TMZ Sports has learned.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Clarke's cause of death was the combined effects of heroin and cocaine and ruled his death an accident.
According to the Medical Examiner, Clarke was found unresponsive in his bedroom around 5 PM on May 11. Paramedics responded and pronounced him dead at 5:15 PM. He was 29.
His cause and manner of death were officially certified Friday.
We broke the story ... Clarke died May 11 at just 29 years old, and his passing was being investigated as a possible overdose.
James Harden's Texas gun case has been dismissed ... after the NBA star was arrested in Houston and charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.
The Harris County District Attorney submitted the dismissal request Thursday -- which was obtained by TMZ -- after prosecutors say Harden completed an "alternative resolution agreement." The California Post was the first to report.
It's unclear what the agreement is ... but a judge signed off on the motion and dismissed the case on Thursday ... meaning the case won't be hanging over Harden's head by the time the NBA season rolls around in the fall.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is still shooting his shot at 84 ... showing off his jumper in the halls of Congress ... and joking he might just have an NBA career ahead of him.
Charlie caught up with the Senator from Vermont Wednesday on Capitol Hill and asked how he blows off steam when he's away from politics ... and Bernie says his idea of a good time involves his four grandkids -- and a little friendly competition.
Bernie says he plays basketball and soccer with the youngsters -- though he admits they're starting to beat grandpa these days ... which he jokingly called a "real problem."
Charlie naturally had to ask whether Bernie still has a decent jump shot ... and Bernie didn't just talk game, he busted out his shooting form right there in the hallway.
