Basketball

Larsa Pippen's got a thing for basketball players -- and apparently coaches, too -- 'cause Scottie's ex just opened up on a brief romance she had with a 47-year-old before linking up with her new boyfriend, Jeff Coby ... and he was a real whistleblower.

The reality TV star peeled back the curtain on her dating life on the latest episode of Angela Yee's "Lip Service" podcast ... when the topic of age being just a number was raised.

"I dated a guy that was 47 years old, before I dated Jeff, and he was so immature," Pippen said.

Angel Reese was pissed off to the max on Tuesday ... and she took her frustrations out on her coach's clipboard in the process -- swiping it out of her hands in the middle of the Chicago Sky's loss!!

The outburst happened with 29.9 seconds left in the game at George Mason University ... when Reese and the Sky were tied at 77-77 with the Washington Mystics.

As the Sky challenged a loose-ball foul, players headed back to the bench ... and Reese was visibly upset.

Dwight Howard's wife, Amber Rose Howard, has filed for divorce ... just six months after she tied the knot with the ex-NBA superstar.

Court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the rapper and reality star -- known widely as Amy Luciani -- requested the split from the basketball player at a Georgia courthouse on July 1.

Amber wrote in the docs "The marriage is irretrievably broken," adding, "there are no prospects for reconciliation."

Kalani Brown looked ready to be pulled for a chat ahead of the Phoenix Mercury game on Monday -- channeling her inner "Love Island" bombshell as she made her way to the locker rooms!!

The WNBA center arrived in style at the Footprint Center for the showdown against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings ... rocking a sexy, two-piece orange dress for the occasion.

Brown certainly understood the assignment ... looking stunning before throwing on her jersey and sneakers.

While NBA general managers are frantically working the phones to build championship rosters, Victor Wembanyama is continuing to knock out his side quests -- this time, he was spotted having fun at a nightclub in Japan!!

TMZ Sports obtained video of the 7'3'' center hanging out at 1OAK Tokyo early last Sunday morning ... where we're told he was chilling with some players from Japan's pro basketball league as "Get it Sexyy" by Sexyy Red blared on the speakers.

Our sources tell us Wemby was super friendly and welcoming to all the ladies and men around him ... and hung around for about 90 minutes before heading out.

Nancy Lieberman isn't taking any Detroit hate sitting down ... telling TMZ Sports Sophie Cunningham needs to get her facts right after dissing the D earlier this week.

Cunningham -- who joined the Indiana Fever this year -- took a jab at Motor City when she was asked about the WNBA's decision to expand, saying, "I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit."

She didn't sound thrilled about Cleveland and Philadelphia -- the two other cities receiving WNBA teams -- all that much, either.

Shaquille O'Neal was back on the set of "Gravesend" Tuesday ... filming scenes for the mob drama while looking far more like a crime boss than a lovable basketball legend.

Check out these images TMZ Sports has obtained ... the 15-time NBA All-Star was decked out in a huge gold chain, a black track suit and some specs as cameras rolled on him for his part in the Amazon Prime series.

Playing "Mustafa," he chatted away with businessman and producer, Jas Mathur, who also has the role of "Miguel" in the hit show.

Damian Lillard's time in Milwaukee has come to an abrupt end -- the Bucks are releasing the star guard amid his torn Achilles recovery.

The surprising move occurred during the first full day of free agency on Tuesday ... when Milwaukee let go of the 9-time All-Star to financially make room to sign ex-Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a four-year deal worth $107 million.

The Bucks will now pay Lillard the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five years.

Dick Vitale is taking WNBA players to task for snubbing Caitlin Clark on their All-Star Game ballots ... ripping their voting as nothing more than "PURE JEALOUSY."

It was revealed on Monday that Clark was named just the ninth-best guard when it came to the players' ASG vote ... and it didn't take long for Dickie V to go off on the league for the results.

"Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY," he wrote on his X page. "Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA. Charted planes - increase in salaries-sold out crowds - improved TV Ratings."

Cameron Brink has no problem strutting her stuff in the buff ... opening up on her experience going "fully naked" for a recent photo shoot -- saying she wasn't sweating it one bit!!

The Los Angeles Sparks forward talked about her time in front of the cameras for the "PLAYERS" publication with her mom, Michelle, and teammate Dearica Hamby on the latest episode of her "Straight To Cam" podcast ... and she gushed over the artistry involved in the collab.

On the cover, the 23-year-old rocked a black suit with a grey shirt and black pants ... with her upper half opened up to expose her chest.

EA Sports ... It's (Back) In the Game!

Electronic Arts revealed big news Monday morning, announcing the return of another fan favorite, their college hoops game, EA College Basketball!

"Bring the Madness. Let's run it back," the company wrote in an X post.

It's been 16 years since EA Sports last put out the last college basketball game, which featured then-Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin on the cover in 2009.

Malik Beasley is the subject of a federal investigation related to gambling on NBA games and prop bets ... this according to ESPN.

The nine-year NBA veteran is facing allegations connected to the 2023-2024 season ... when he played in 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks.

According to the outlet -- citing an anonymous source -- at least one major sportsbook detected unusual betting interest in Beasley's stats starting in January 2024.

Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend, Jade Jones, might need some earplugs ASAP ... 'cause the NBA superstar invested in a bell to help him out amid his Achilles recovery -- and he's already putting it to use!!

Jones shared the video on her Instagram on Friday ... showcasing the Pacers guard chilling on his knee scooter as he rings for her assistance.

"This guy did not order a bell guys please😩," she wrote.

Cooper Flagg had a subtle, yet hilarious, reaction to Luka Doncic's name getting dropped during his presser with the Mavericks ... appearing to side-eye Nico Harrison -- the guy who shipped the face of the franchise out of town.

The former Duke Blue Devil was officially introduced on Friday ... just days after Dallas selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 18-year-old received a series of questions from the media ... including one from ESPN's Tim MacMahon, who asked Flagg how it felt to be the potential face of the franchise, a role many once expected Luka to fill before "plans changed."

While Oklahoma City's on-the-court game is unrivaled, its ability to celebrate sure needs work ... but Alex Caruso assured TMZ Sports this week "the next time" his Thunder squad is in position for some champagne showers, it won't have another letdown.

If you missed it, following OKC's Game 7 NBA Finals victory on Sunday night, the notably young Thunder couldn't quite figure out how to properly douse themselves in bubbly ... and needed a big-time assist from 31-year-old Caruso to even open the bottles.

The OKC guard acknowledged to us on Thursday, "it was not a great showing" -- but he was sure it won't happen again.

Congratulations are in order for LiAngelo Ball and Rashida Nicole -- the hooper and rapper's partner announced she is pregnant with the couple's first child together!!

The 33-year-old shared the news with a series of photos on her Instagram ... saying she is "grateful, terrified, anxious, nauseous [and] HANGRY."

"As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going thru pregnancy and parenthood again. (Iykyk) I want to thank my daughter for being here for me during this process, always demonstrating unconditional LOVE & reassuring me that, "Everything is alright!"