Basketball

Cops are now on the hunt for the person who allegedly nabbed Sabrina Ionescu's sneakers from a WNBA arena earlier this week ... telling TMZ Sports they've formally launched an investigation into the allegations.

A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. said on Friday it did take a report ... after the New York superstar claimed her Nike kicks were stolen from Michelob ULTRA Arena, where the Liberty had gone up against the Aces twice this week.

So far, no arrests have been made ... with the spokesperson saying, "This is an ongoing investigation."

25-year-old Ionescu initially brought the alleged theft to light on Thursday ... saying on her X page, "Never thought I would get my shoes stolen from an opposing arena."

"Please just bring me my insoles back," she added ... "RIP to my Sabrina 1s."

Ionescu shared photos of the two pairs that she says were stolen ... one in Oregon Duck colors, and another gray edition that she got to honor Nike founder Phil Knight.

The two-time WNBA All-Star signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2020 and became the first women's hoops player to create a unisex collection with the corporation.

Damian Lillard is set to release his fifth studio album "Don D.O.L.L.A." this week -- a feat he says is only reserved for legit artists and not ones halfway committed!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of Dame previewing the album last night at Soho House in West Hollywood ... where he told the crowd he considers himself a seasoned rapper at this point, listening to criticisms to always improve on his craft.

The NBA star says March's season-ending injury gave him time to beef up the album ... which boosts guest appearances from Rick Ross, Mozzy and longtime collaborator, Lil Wayne ... who's appeared on ALL of Dame's albums thus far!!!

Several pro athletes also dabble in making hip-hop music, but Dame says he earned his stripes freestyling for "4-Bar Fridays" on IG before graduating to SoundCloud.

All of the professional sports teams in Los Angeles have come together to help those affected by the wildfires in Hawaii ... pooling up $450,000 to send to the Red Cross to support the victims.

The Lakers announced the generous donation Thursday morning ... saying they and the other teams in the City of Angels wanted to do what they could to make sure Hawaiians are getting aid during their time of need.

In addition to the Lakers -- who had previously held their training camps in Hawaii for more than two decades -- the Clippers, Angels, Angel City Football Club, Chargers, Dodgers, Anaheim Ducks, L.A. Galaxy, LAFC, Kings, Rams and Sparks all contributed.

"Despite California and Hawaii being separated by more than 2,000 miles," the Lakers said in a statement, "the two states are very connected with a robust Hawaiian community calling Southern California home."

More in the sports world have also recently pitched in, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, whose been consistently speaking with organizations in Hawaii with the hopes of getting people to donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Fund.

Legendary surfer Kelly Slater told us last week he and the surfing community also plan on helping out by sending money and supplies.

Somebody check on Michael Jordan -- it sounds like his arch nemesis' ex-wife is close to being his daughter-in-law ... 'cause Marcus just revealed a wedding date with Larsa Pippen is "in the works."

The happy couple hit up Jones in West Hollywood for dinner on Wednesday ... and as they were leaving the restaurant, the G.O.A.T.'s son was asked if wedding bells were in his future.

"We're looking for a location," Heir Jordan said with a big smile on his face.

When the cameras followed up about whether they had a date set, Marcus explained the two have kickstarted the planning process.

To spark further speculation, Larsa was spotted wearing a ring on THAT finger ... although it's unclear if it's a legit engagement ring just yet. It's worth noting -- Pippen has worn the ring in a few recent Instagram posts as well.

It may be MJ's worst nightmare -- remember, #23 famously said he did NOT approve of the relationship while leaving a restaurant in Paris last month.

Larsa and Marcus later addressed the clip ... with Scottie's ex claiming MJ's comments left her "embarrassed" and "traumatized," and the latter insisting his pops gave his blessing ... but didn't want to fuel speculation their relationship had anything to do with his infamous feud with Michael's longtime wingman.

Regardless of what the Hall of Famer thinks, Larcus were inseparable at Drizzy's show earlier Wednesday evening ... with Pippen grinding all over Jordan throughout the night.

Fittingly, Marcus' shirt read, "Hug me I'm horny!!"

Former NBA player Enes Kanter says if he threw on a wig, changed his name to "Eneshia" and joined the WNBA ... he'd be the greatest player the org's ever seen -- averaging 60 points and 30 rebounds per game.

The 31-year-old ex-Oklahoma City Thunder star made the claims during an interview with Fox News this week ... while trying to explain why he believes transgender women should be banned from competing against cisgender females.

Kanter said those born as men innately have an unfair advantage over their biological female counterparts due to strength and size discrepancies ... and, to prove his point, he said he'd absolutely dominate the WNBA if it allowed him to play now.

"I'm 7-foot, 270 pounds," he said. "And, if I decided to identify myself as a woman and decided to play in the WNBA ... would that be fair to all the women who have been chasing their dreams since they were a little kid?"

He continued, "If I am allowed in, I will average 60 points and 30 rebounds. I will break records."

Kanter -- who averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during his 11-year NBA career -- said he doesn't understand why there's even a debate surrounding the topic ... and he implored both men and women all across the country to join him and speak out.

"Men do not belong in women's spaces," he said. "Restrooms, locker rooms or sports."

"Everybody knows we are bigger, stronger, taller, more muscular," he added. "It's just not fair. It's just not fair, period."

It may not have been the WNBA Finals, but the New York Liberty certainly partied like it Tuesday night ... letting the champagne bottles pop after winning the franchise's first-ever Commissioner's Cup!!

It's the third year the WNBA has held the in-season tournament ... and the Liberty earned the hardware after defeating the Las Vegas Aces, 82-63, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Sin City, the first time the defending champions lost on their home court this season.

The whole team gathered in a circle in the locker room after the big win ... simultaneously opening and spraying their bottles of bubbly to kick off the celebration.

Star forward Breanna Stewart even got an extra assist on the night ... helping her teammate who was struggling with the bottle.

Sabrina Ionescu -- who scored 12 points in the title game -- was extra lit with the MVP, Jonquel Jones, as the two hoops stars showed off their dance moves and took sips out of the championship trophy.

The Liberty had every reason to party .... besides it being the franchise's first championship win of any kind, each player gets $30k out of the $500k prize pool, while Aces players get $10k each.

James Harden has spent much of his career with Daryl Morey ... but swears he won't play another minute for the "liar" team president.

The former NBA MVP, who requested a trade out of Philly in June, spoke at an Adidas event in China Monday night ... and addressed the rumors about his relationship with Morey and the Sixers.

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said in video taken by Shams, days after trade talks with the Los Angeles Clippers dissolved.

"Let me say that again. Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

James and Daryl's feud stems from Morey's refusal to offer Harden a long-term max contract extension, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported over the weekend.

FYI, Harden was traded from the Nets to the Sixers late in the 2021-2022 season, playing 21 games in Philadelphia, where he averaged 21 points a game. Last season he played in 58 games, also averaging 21 for the 44-38 squad which finished 6th in the East.

Once upon a time ... Harden and Morey were partners in crime in Houston, with Harden winning the 2018 MVP award while with the Rockets.

Houston's former GM traded for Harden in 2012 before heading to the City of Brotherly Love to become team president in 2020.

Now, the relationship has clearly eroded, and it seems there's no love lost.

Training camp is approaching, beginning in October. Only time will tell if Harden shows up ... or if he means it when he says he'll never again play for Morey.

Several San Antonio Spurs championship jerseys were allegedly stolen from former NBA player Kevin Willis in a recent storage locker heist ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to police documents, the theft was reported to cops by Willis on Tuesday afternoon ... after the 60-year-old ex-Spurs center noticed 10 title unis belonging to his former San Antonio teammates were missing from his spot at a Roswell, Ga. rental storage facility.

In the docs, cops say Willis told them the pieces were worth approximately $100,000. They also say he told them an additional rack of clothes worth around $9,000 was taken from the unit.

In a 911 call, Willis can be heard telling dispatch the jerseys had been inside of frames inside the locker.

"This stuff came from when I was playing," he said. "These have been around for 20 years and they took all the high-profile personnel that was on there. They took all of those. And they left four of them back or something like that."

Police say when they went on to inspect the locker, they noticed "the locks appeared to have been cut and were on the inside of the storage unit." They added that Willis told them the last time he had seen the unit was in June.

Cops noted in the docs that Willis requested an investigation and wanted to press charges. So far, though, no arrests have been made.

Willis was picked by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft ... just eight picks after the Bulls selected Michael Jordan.

Caleb White -- one of the best high school basketball players in the country -- has tragically died ... after his family said he collapsed during an on-court workout at school on Thursday.

White's grandfather, George Varnadoe Jr., announced the sad news in a series of Facebook posts ... saying following the medical emergency, despite the best efforts of first responders at White's Pinson Valley High School and doctors at a nearby hospital, the point guard was pronounced dead.

He was just 17 years old.

"Our whole family was really looking forward to his upcoming senior season and afterwards, playing for a D-1 school and then perhaps the NBA," Varnadoe Jr. wrote in one of the social media posts.

"But......it wasn't meant to be."

The Alabama High School Athletic Association said in a statement Thursday evening it'd be providing grieving students and staffers with counseling in the upcoming days.

White -- a first-team all-state selection as a junior -- averaged 20.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season ... and according to ESPN, he was the No. 3-ranked prospect in the entire state of Alabama.

Varnadoe Jr., though, said White was so much more than a hooper ... calling the teenager "an honor student, very respectful, high intellect" and an "excellent role model."

"RIP Caleb!" Varnadoe Jr. added. "I love you man!!!!"

Kobe Bryant's new sneaker, the Protro 8 is dropping in two weeks on what would've been Mamba's 45th birthday ... and now we're getting a look at the new Vanessa Bryant-designed Nike kick.

The footwear and apparel giant unveiled the "Halo" kicks on Thursday, just 24 hours after Vanessa teased fans with a silhouette of the sneakers on social media.

In fact, Vanessa reportedly helped design the sneakers to honor Kobe on his bday ... August 23.

FYI, the kicks are an updated edition of Kobe's eighth signature shoe, which originally dropped in 2012. It marks the second release from Kobe's line (the Kobe 4 Protro "Mamabacitas" were released in May) since the family reconciled their relationship with the Swoosh last year.

Of course, the previous contract between Kobe and Nike expired in April 2021 ... after the sides were unable to reach a new, long-term deal. But, Vanessa and Nike execs ultimately struck a deal, and that's great news for Kobe's millions of fans.

"This will be one of many Kobe 8 'Halo' styles coming soon," Vanessa wrote this week.

Ice Cube is giving several of his fellow rappers the opportunity to live out their hoop dreams once again ... with the return of his Big 3 Celebrity Game.

On Thursday, Cube and Monster Energy unveiled this year's lineup... he and Big Daddy Kane for Team Webull will be defending their title against Clyde Drexler and Doug E. Fresh's Team PrizePicks ... come August 19 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Rappers NLE Choppa, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Symba, Rico Nasty, Millionz Dollarz Worth Of Game's Gillie & Wallo will be joining ex-NFL stars such as Terrell Owens and Vernon Davis, among others ... a collaborative effort to raise money and awareness for underprivileged youth.

"We are enthusiastic about this collaboration as it brings funds and attention to significant causes as well as joy on the court,” Cube said of the upcoming event on Thursday.

Cube's been going hard in the paint for the Big 3 this year, ripping "the powers that be" that block his league from expanding.

WNBA star Kahleah Copper got into it with a reporter after a loss this week ... going off about his question and firing back with a heated response before abruptly leaving the press conference.

The interaction went down following the Chicago Sky's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday ... and despite Copper's 23 points, her team fell 79-88.

During the post-game media availability, the three-time All-Star was asked about the lack of bench scoring after a solid outing from the supporting players the game prior ... and let's just say it struck a chord with Copper.

"What they gotta do?! What they do last game?! That's a real question?!" the hooper asked. "You for real!?"

He definitely was ... and when Copper realized that, she gave a basic answer before storming off the stage.

"So what they gotta do? Score, right?! Alright, bet!"

If Dwight Howard never plays another minute in the NBA, he won't have to worry about being unemployed (forget the $250 mil he made hooping) ... the NBA star and minister officiated a wedding in Spain last week!

The wedding was for London Wilmot, athlete and celebrity stylist, and fiancé, Pure, a model ... and you can't help but notice the 6'10" center standing at the altar as the officiant.

Howard, who received his ministry credentials last year, shared footage and photos of the lovely ceremony on Instagram ... revealing this isn't the first time he's married a couple.

"Took a trip out to Spain to officiate another wedding," the 37-year-old said on Wednesday.

"Man, it's no feeling better than seeing two people come together and unite in love."

From the look upon Wilmot and Pure's faces, they were thrilled to have the NBA champ as their minister.

The 17-year NBA vet has been keepin' himself busy since his last stint with the Lakers in 2021. He's been with the Taiwanese men's pro basketball league and was named an All-Star, All-Defensive First Team, and was awarded the Most Valuable Import of the T1 League for the 2022-23 season.

He also attended a WWE try-out last year ... channeling Sho'nuff from "The Last Dragon" movie, and did a damn good job.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will be writing a hefty check to the NBA -- the All-Star guard was just hit with a $50,000 fine as a result of his postgame chair-swinging outburst last season.

Remember, Edwards picked up a chair and moved it in frustration as he ran toward the tunnel after the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Wolves from the playoffs back on April 25 ... with two female Ball Arena workers claiming they were hit by the seat, suffering undisclosed injuries.

The 22-year-old hooper was cited for assault the day after the incident ... charges his attorney slammed as "baseless" at the time.

The league announced Wednesday those charges were dismissed last month ... and with the criminal investigation closed, it was now free to hand down punishment on the 2020 first-overall pick.

The fine is pretty significant ... but it's not the first time he's had to cough up some big dough to the Association -- back in 2022, he was fined $40K for making a homophobic comment on social media.

Luckily for Edwards, he's reportedly made around $30.7 million through three seasons in the NBA alone.

LeBron James and his son, Bronny, have jetted off to Minnesota ... in an effort to seek out further treatment for the USC hooper following last month's medical scare.

The two touched down in Rochester at some point over the weekend ... and they've been spotted in and around the Mayo Clinic there since -- seemingly seeking further answers to why the 18-year-old suffered cardiac arrest back on July 24.

Following one of their visits to the medical facility on Monday ... the duo -- plus some friends -- got dinner at Terza Ristorante in downtown, though when they left, they were mobbed by a crush of fans.

In video from the scene, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see Bronny -- wearing a white shirt and black jacket -- exiting the eatery's backdoor first ... with LBJ not far behind.

Once the two get into a waiting SUV -- a group of LeBron supporters pull out their phones and begin screaming for the Lakers superstar, while surrounding the ride.

The guys, though, are able to peel away before the scene gets too chaotic.

As we reported, Bronny needed to be hospitalized for several days following his emergency on SC's campus ... though he was released on July 27 -- and seen just one day later looking fine while out at dinner with his family in Los Angeles.

Stephen Curry turned into an emo boy at the Paramore concert on Monday ... joining the band onstage and belting out "Misery Business" -- and the NBA superstar killed it!!

The four-time champ and his wife, Ayesha -- who just celebrated their 12-year anniversary with a trip to Greece -- made their way to the Chase Center after landing back on U.S. soil ... but Chef Curry was no bystander.

The two-time MVP joined Hayley Williams and the gang in the middle of the concert ... grabbing the mic and showing off his pipes for their most popular song.

Curry got REALLY into the performance ... reciting every word and jumping up and down as the crowd enjoyed every second of it.

As it turns out, Curry is a big fan of the rock band -- back in 2018, they performed at his 30th birthday celebration.

Curry has been all over the music industry this offseason -- the 35-year-old was also spotted at Drake's concert, and more recently, he appeared in Tobe Nwigwe's music video.