Basketball Wives

The Beverly Hills Police Department is on the hunt for a gang of gun-toting bad guys who robbed a jewelry store featured on several reality shows, including "Basketball Wives" ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Beverly Hills Police Department ... the robbery went down on January 25 at the Jason of Beverly Hills jewelry store -- a shop featured on "Basketball Wives L.A." a few seasons ago because cast member Malaysia was friends with the owner ... and the store sold several pieces from her jewelry line.

The store has also been featured on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

Cops say when a man and a woman posing as customers entered the shop around 6:50 PM that night ... and asked the staff to see several pieces of jewelry.

After some browsing, cops say a third man -- working with the couple -- entered the store, pulled out a gun and "removed several pieces of jewelry from the display case which had been opened by the store clerk."

Officials believe the 3rd suspect may have been wearing a fake beard.

According to police, all three suspects fled in the same car ... fairly new white Kia Optima.

Cops are begging the public for help in hunting down the bad guys -- and have even offered a $50k reward.

"Basketball Wives" star Tasha Marbury's alleged stalker is fighting fire with fire -- filing a police report claiming SHE's the one who actually needs protection from Tasha's wrath.

TMZ broke the story ... Tasha went to NYPD first, filing a report last month claiming a woman using the name Monet Merchand is obsessed with her and Tasha's husband, ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury.

Tasha says she and Stephon are continuously harassed on the Internet by the woman ... who claims she had sex with Stephon.

But Monet also filed a police report on February 3 ... claiming the "BB Wife" has threatened her and her friends with "bodily harm."

By the way, Monet filed her police report using a different name ... her real name. We're told she wants to remain anonymous because she's afraid Tasha will track her down.

As TMZ previously reported ... Tasha and Stephon claim they've never met the woman in person.

Tasha Marbury says she's being harassed online by a woman obsessed with her husband -- and now the "Basketball Wives" star has filed a police report against her.

Tasha -- who's married to former NBA star Stephon Marbury -- filed the report with the Harrison P.D. in NY on January 31 against a woman going by the name of Monet Merchand.

Tasha claims Merchand has been negatively blogging and tweeting about her. Tasha claims Merchand is harassing her non-stop on social media ... tweeting things like "@TashaMarbury is an insecure hoe" and "You are less 'worth' than a burnt out light bulb & you will forever live in shame."

Merchand has made claims on social media that she had an affair with Stephon, but sources tell us Stephon claims to have NEVER met Merchand.

Evelyn Lozada came face to face with her ex-husband Chad Johnson this morning -- the first time since his domestic violence arrest back in August -- and offered the NFL star a HUGE olive branch.

Evelyn and Chad both appeared in a Florida courtroom ... where Evelyn asked the judge to drop the restraining order that was placed against him after she told police he headbutted her during an argument.

After the incident, Evelyn quickly filed for divorce from Chad -- after just one month of marriage.

Chad has been on a tour of contrition on TV and the Internet ever since ... apologizing left and right ... and admitting he has an anger problem. Chad also revealed that he's getting professional help to deal with his rage issues.

During the court hearing, the judge asked Evelyn if she had been threatened or coerced into making the request to drop the order ... to which she replied, "No."

The judge also asked if she was afraid of Chad ... and she also replied, "No."

The judge granted Evelyn's request.

Evelyn Lozada has TWO WORDS for outspoken "Basketball Wives" hater Kenyon Martin ... and those words are "THANK YOU."

Totally kidding. She said "F**k Him."

We broke the story ... Martin -- a 12-year NBA vet -- blasted "BB Wives" recently, saying the show was "toxic" and a total misrepresentation of the lives of married NBA players.

But at LAX last night, Evelyn seemed to take offense to Martin's criticism ... telling TMZ, "I don't think Kenyon knows what he's talking about."

"As far as saying it's toxic, that's fine ... don't f**kin' watch the show ... it's just as simple as that."

Sounds like the making of a good reality show storyline.

Unemployed NBA superstar Kenyon Martin is not a fan of "Basketball Wives" ... telling TMZ it not only depicts NBA players in a false light, but explains, "That sh*t is toxic to your soul."

Martin -- who played in the league from 2000 to 2012 -- was leaving the Roxbury nightclub in Hollywood last night when we asked how he felt about the VH1 reality show, which stars some of his colleagues ... and K-Mart didn't hold back.

"I don't watch that sh*t man ... that sh*t is toxic to your soul to watch that sh*t man."

Dwight Howard's baby mama says her nasty custody battle with the NBA star is an unfair fight -- all because he can simply outspend her -- so she's asking a judge to make HIM cover HER legal fees.

TMZ broke the story ... Dwight and former "Basketball Wives" star Royce Reed are entangled in a bitter legal battle after Dwight filed for sole custody of their young son.

In the latest development, Royce -- who was axed from "BB Wives" this year -- filed docs in Florida asking a judge to make Dwight foot her legal bills, claiming she can't afford them.

According to the docs, Royce claims that Dwight rakes in over $1.3 million per month and should cough up the cash, otherwise, the fight's not fair. She claims he can hire an army of lawyers ... while she'll get buried in bills and eventually have to drop out.

In the docs, her lawyer says she's already racked up a $44,113.50 bill and is expected to tack on another $60k plus if she continues to fight ... for a grand total of $106,621.80.

The "Basketball Wives" are drawing a clear line in the sand for the network execs -- either up their salaries or they'll walk ... this according to sources connected with the show.

We're told filming began last week for the 5th season ... but Shaunie O'Neal, Evelyn Lozada, Tami Roman and Suzie Ketcham do NOT have locked contracts.

According to our sources, the "Wives" are in the process of renegotiating their contracts and they all want major pay raises, claiming the show does quite well for the network.

Our sources say VH1 is refusing to pony up more cash. We're told before filming started, execs made it clear that salary increases would not happen and if any cast member had a problem with that ... they could be replaced.

Despite the deadlock, we're told production schedules were sent out and the girls began filming in hopes a deal would be worked out shortly. So far, a deal has not been reached and neither side is budging ... so we're told the "Wives" are planning to walk out next week if VH1 can't agree to the terms.

Evelyn Lozada is getting ready for life after reality TV and she's decided to focus on fitness -- and TMZ has learned she's already made her first move ... in the form of a big money endorsement deal.

According to our sources, the "Basketball Wives" star has signed on to endorse an organic and caffeine free energy shot called youthH2O. We're told the deal was for a whopping six figures, but Lozada has her eyes set on bigger things.

Our sources say Lozada is also close to signing on to create her own brand of workout videos as well as a deal to become the face of a workout equipment company. Judging from the pic below she recently posted on Instagram ... it's easy to see why.

We're told she knows "Wives" won't last forever and wants to create a workout empire a la Jane Fonda -- who made millions on workout books and tapes.

"Basketball Wives L.A." star Gloria Govan tells TMZ ... she's convinced VH1 is giving her the chop because her husband Matt Barnes refused to participate on the show this season.

Govan says she has yet to be officially released from the show ... but says the writing is on the wall and knew it was only a matter of time when she didn't let producers film her wedding over the summer.

Govan says she believes producers are waiting to give her walking papers until AFTER the reunion show ... because they want her to show up. Govan says she hasn't decided if she'll go ... but it sounds like she's leaning towards no.

Former NFL star Chad Johnson may once again be able to communicate with his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada -- after allegedly head-butting her -- because Evelyn plans to let the no-contact order against him expire.

Sources close to the ex-couple tell TMZ, Chad's on track to finish his batterer's intervention program in the next couple months -- at which point Chad will ask the judge to terminate his probation and lift the no-contact order.

If that happens, Evelyn would have to get a civil restraining order to keep Chad away -- but we're told she has decided NOT to do that ... because she just wants to "move on."

Chad was sentenced to one year probation and the batterer's class after pleading "no contest" to domestic battery following the August 11 fight with Evelyn -- but since he's completing the class early ... the judge can also lift the probation early.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman traded in her large behind for some large bills -- because a diet company offered her a SIX FIGURE endorsement deal after she shed 25 pounds using their product!!!

Sources close to Tami tell TMZ she got all the way up to 185 lbs recently and was determined to lose the weight. She started exercising her booty off, ate healthy food ... and began using a product called NV Sprinkles -- where you sprinkle powder on your food to make you eat less.

We're told Tami dropped the weight in about two months and was so vocal in the press about the NV's help in her speedy weight loss, the company actually approached her to be the face of the product.

Our sources say Tami signed on for a mid-six-figure endorsement deal and all she has to do is keep the weight off.

"Basketball Wives: L.A." axed four of its six cast members -- and TMZ has learned the catalyst was when Gloria Govan shut producers out of her nuptials to L.A. Clippers star Matt Barnes.

Sources connected to the show tell TMZ the producers are getting rid of Gloria, Laura Govan, Malaysia Pargo and Brooke Bailey because the wives, especially Gloria, weren't allowing "all of their reality to be filmed."

We're told the breaking point came when Gloria (who is known for her feisty ways) jetted off to Vegas to marry Barnes -- and didn't even let the show know about it. Our sources say the producers felt extremely disrespected by her actions and made the decision to clean house.

Our sources tell us the producers haven't told the wives they're getting fired yet, but are already looking for new women to fill their spots.

The producers of "Basketball Wives" are probably screaming "SAVE IT FOR THE SHOW!!!" ... after it was revealed former NBA and soon-to-be reality star Stephon Marbury had an affair with his personal chef and paid her nearly A MILLION BUCKS to keep a lid on it.

Marbury -- who along with wife Latasha will appear next season on the show -- hooked up with the family's chef, Thurayyah Mitchell, five times during her employment ... this according to court docs obtained by the NY Post.

When Marbury let her go in 2006, she screamed sexual harassment, but Marbury (who felt he did nothing wrong) offered her $900,000 anyway to keep her trap shut. Marbury played for the Knicks at the time -- ironic, since the team was dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct by front office personnel.

According to the Post, Marbury shelled out nearly $600,000 to Mitchel but stopped making payments in 2010. Mitchell took Marbury before an arbitrator for the balance ... and the arbitrator ruled Marbury made Mitchell "believe that 'keeping him happy' was a requirement of keeping her job."

The arbitrator awarded Mitchell $330,000, saying Mitchell could have sued Marbury for more money or sold her story.

Hopefully they get VH1 in China ... 'cause ex-NBA'er Stephon Marbury's super hot wife has been tapped to be on the next season of "Basketball Wives."

Sources close to the production tell us ... Tasha Marbury is in final talks to join the show -- a much needed cast replacement after Royce, Jennifer and Kesha were all axed.

We're told producers approached Tasha for two main reasons ... she's actually a basketball wife (she and Stephon married in 2002) ... and secondly she's already friends with some of the other "wives."

Sources tell us, Tasha was previously asked to do season 1 of "BB Wives", except Stephon nixed the idea -- but now he lives in China part time playing for the Beijing Ducks ... and changed his tune.

It's official ... Chad Johnson will NOT spend a day in jail for allegedly headbutting his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada last month -- but he will be spending a lot of time in counseling.

Chad showed up to a Florida courtroom for his sentencing this morning, where he pled "no contest" to a charge of domestic battery, stemming from the violent August 11th argument with Lozada over a condom receipt.

In exchange for the plea, Chad escaped a jail sentence -- but was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to enroll in a batterers intervention program.

The judge also issued a no-contact order for the duration of his probation, blocking Chad from contacting Evelyn in any way -- no email, no Twitter, no nothing.