Basketball

Charles Barkley is back in San Antonio for the NCAA men's basketball championship game on Monday ... and he couldn't leave without reigniting his friendly rivalry with the city -- and their "big ol' women!!"

Barkley added another installment to the playful feud on the stage at the Capital One JamFest Sunday night ... one day after his alma mater lost its Final Four matchup against Florida.

After being handed the mic and thanking everyone in attendance ... Chuck made sure to point out the ladies who call the Alamo City their home.

UConn is a national champion once again, and perhaps nobody was more proud of the new title than Vanessa Bryant -- whose daughter, Gianna, absolutely adored the Huskies.

Kobe's wife took to her Instagram page to congratulate Geno Auriemma and Co. after they destroyed South Carolina, 82-59, on Sunday in Tampa ... and wrote that Gigi would've been so happy with the way the women's basketball team hoisted yet another NCAA tournament.

"Gigi would've loved being there with you," she said ... before adding a quote from Gianna that read, "When you think you can't, UCONN."

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt took their blossoming romance to Madison Square Garden Sunday night to watch the New York Knicks play the Phoenix Suns.

The new couple sat courtside in the packed NYC arena — and they seemed to really enjoy the game as well as each other.

Check out photos, which show the comedian and the model walking hand-in-hand through a crowd and sitting side-by-side in their seats with big smiles as the Suns beat the Knicks 112 to 98.

There will be no Jump Men or Swooshes in Alijah Arenas' future ... Gilbert Arenas' high school basketball star son tells TMZ Sports he's signing a contract with Adidas!!

The McDonald's All-American said out at LAX this week he's planning to follow in his dad's footsteps and ink an endorsement deal with the three stripes.

No word yet on what the monetary numbers on the pact will be ... but Adidas has given Gilbert millions over the years for the rights to his signature shoe -- so we're sure Alijah's pockets will be plenty deep as he gets set to start his college hoops career.

If Larry Johnson were in Cooper Flagg's giant Blue Devil sneakers, he tells TMZ Sports he'd forgo the NBA for one more year ... and stay put in Durham.

Flagg, of course, is the prohibitive favorite to go at the top of this year's draft ... but Johnson made it clear to us he'd like to see the 18-year-old hang around Duke a bit longer.

The College Basketball Hall of Famer said the extra year of ACC ball would help Flagg tremendously in the long run ... even though he knows it'd be difficult for the teenager to postpone his pro career another 12 or so months.

Chris Webber has some sound advice for all the young athletes suiting up for the Final Four ... telling TMZ Sports one mistake -- like, say, calling a timeout when your team doesn't have one -- won't ruin their lives!!

We ran into the former NBA star and Michigan Wolverine before Houston, Duke, Florida and Auburn take the court during the NCAA tournament's semifinals this weekend ... and he reflected on his own career before dishing out some words of wisdom.

"I wouldn't trade one moment that I had at the Final Four," Webber said. "I wouldn't trade any of the stats. I wouldn't take the timeout."

Ja Morant might not care if he gets punished for his gun-themed celebrations ... but one former NBA great is pleading with the Memphis Grizzlies star to leave the safety on his controversial gesture -- telling TMZ Sports he's "ruining his career."

We spoke with Spencer Haywood out at LAX shortly after 25-year-old Morant was fined for his on-court antics ... and he had a strong message for the two-time All-Star and his inner circle.

"The people that are around him are not advising him right," Haywood said. "He's ruining his career, he's ruining his family's life, and his team most importantly, he's letting them all down. So, I'm just disappointed in Ja."

If Caitlin Clark really wants to play flag football at the 2028 Olympics, she won't be getting any superstar treatment to get a spot on the team -- so say the organization's CEO!!

The WNBA superstar recently mentioned at the NFL Annual League Meeting she always dreamed of playing football as a kid ... and even tossed out the idea of suiting up for the Red, White and Blue on the gridiron when the Games come around in a few years.

"Maybe LA 2028, maybe I'll do two sports," Clark said at the meeting. "Or if basketball doesn't work out, I'll head over to flag football."

8:55 AM PT -- The NBA just announced it's fined Ja Morant $75,000 for the finger-gun gestures.

In announcing the punishment, the league noted it warned Morant prior to Thursday's Grizzlies vs. Heat tilt that the acts "could be interpreted in a negative light."

Ja Morant made more references to firearms on Thursday night ... just hours after the NBA reportedly told him not to.

WNBA champ Elena Delle Donne is riding off into the sunset -- she just announced her retirement after 10 seasons.

The 6'5" hooper -- who played for the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics during her career in the W -- released a statement on her decision ... revealing it's something she contemplated over time before reaching the choice that's right for her.

"One of my favorite children’s books asked, 'How did it get so late so soon?'" Delle Donne said on Friday.

12:21 PM PT -- The Hawks gave an update on the fan to TMZ Sports on Wednesday ... saying, "We have reached out to the season ticket member injured last night while participating in an on-court game during a timeout."

"He is in good spirits and expects a full recovery."

An ATL fan appeared to suffer an ACL injury on Tuesday night ... going down with what seemed like a bad knee ailment during a challenge at the Hawks game.

The painful scene took place amid an intermission at the Hawks vs. Trail Blazers tilt at State Farm Arena ... when an Atlanta-backer was picked to participate in a basketball version of Tic-Tac-Toe.

The guy -- wearing a Hawks sweatshirt -- was supposed to hit a few layups before his opponent ... and score a Tic-Tac-Toe win in the process.

The NBA is, once again, looking into an incident involving Ja Morant and a possible connection to firearms.

League insider Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Association officials have launched an investigation into the Grizzlies superstar ... after he was seen making finger-gun gestures in Memphis' tilt with Golden State on Tuesday night.

Ja appeared to form his hands into mini guns ... and then aim them at Buddy Hield, who had been talking some smack to the Grizzlies guard just moments prior. The two guys both ended up getting technicals for their roles in the tiff.

Finally!!!

Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have reportedly struck a deal to officially acquire 100% ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx after more than a year of bitter negotiations with current majority owner Glen Taylor.

This deal was finalized on Wednesday, according to reports, after the MLB legend and former Walmart CEO put up $1.5 billion for the T'Wolves and Lynx in 2021.

In 2024, however, the deal fell apart after Taylor -- who owned the Minnesota franchise for 34 years -- claimed they missed a negotiated deadline.

The Dallas fan who screamed "Fire Nico" in Nico Harrison's face on Monday night says his phone was taken and thrown to the ground shortly after the incident ... and now, he tells TMZ Sports he's planning to file a police report over the whole ordeal.

Chris Taylor said the wild, phone-smashing scene went down at American Airlines Center during the Mavs' tilt with the Nets ... roughly an hour or so after he got in Harrison's grill and stated he should be canned.

Taylor told us team and arena officials approached him and were furious with him over his interaction with Harrison. He says later, a man who he believes was affiliated with them sat down behind him ... and got physical with him when he whipped out his phone to video the scene.

The NBA just handed down several punishments in relation to Sunday's Pistons vs. Timberwolves brawl ... with Detroit big man Isaiah Stewart getting the the stiffest penalty.

NBA Executive VP and head of basketball ops Joe Dumars announced the consequences of the scuffle on Tuesday ... saying Stewart is banned two games for "escalating an on-court altercation," adding his history of "unsportsmanlike acts" played a role in the length.

A handful of one-game suspensions were also shelled out for Detroit's Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser ... as well as Minnesota's Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo.

Jalen Suggs resumed his role as Hailey Van Lith's biggest cheerleader at TCU's NCAA tournament game on Monday ... this time, he rocked the hooper's jersey to further full-send their apparent relationship.

The 6'5" Orlando Magic guard was captured on video at the Horned Frogs' Elite Eight matchup against the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC ... and his wardrobe made it clear which side he was rooting for.

Suggs was sitting near the TCU bench in a No. 10 jersey ... electing to wear it backward to show the Van Lith name.