Basketball

Shaquille O'Neal's Sacramento State and Master P's University of New Orleans basketball programs are going head-to-head in an epic scrimmage showdown ... a matchup made in TMZ Sports heaven!!

Just last week, we reported the rap legend -- who recently became the president of basketball operations at UNO -- wanted to set up a friendly competition with the Hall of Famer's Hornets ... and the Big Aristotle told us he was 100% in!!

Fast forward to Thursday ... and the two schools are now set to hit the hardwood on October 18 at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans for a spectacle called the "Southwest Shootout."

Bronny James has jumped over the biggest hurdle any man faces in a relationship -- he got his girlfriend's parents' approval ... with Salli Richardson and Dondre Whitfield telling TMZ Sports the Lakers hooper is good one!!

We caught up with the famous Hollywood couple/Parker Whitfield's mom and pops out at LAX this week ... and naturally, had to ask about their kid's romance with LeBron's oldest son.

While the two didn't spill on specifics, one thing's for sure -- they're Bronny fans.

A day after the NCAA announced it permanently revoked the eligibility of three players due to their involvement in a gambling scheme ... the organization announced it is now looking into 13 players from six different schools for alleged sports betting violations.

The NCAA shared the news in a press release on Thursday, saying that while each situation between the players varies -- the allegations range from betting on and against their respective teams, point shaving and game manipulation.

No identities were given by the NCAA ... but they said it involves players formerly associated with Temple, Arizona State, Eastern Michigan, North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley.

Jerry Jones still has one very large Cowboys fan in his corner despite his shocking trade of Micah Parsons -- Shaquille O'Neal!!!

The Big Diesel told TMZ Sports this week he still has Jones' back ... this despite the Dallas owner jettisoning his favorite team's best player to Green Bay late last month.

In fact, Shaq jokingly threatened to get physical with our Michael Babcock for even remotely implying that Dallas supporters should turn on the Cowboys' boss.

While Malik Beasley is no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation, the NBA is doing its due diligence into the serious allegations involving the free agent guard.

The league told ESPN it is conducting its own probe into Beasley after a sports book detected unusual betting interest in his stats in January 2024.

While it's unclear how long the league has been looking into the 28-year-old ... the outlet cited a source that said the process is "believed to be in its final stages."

Sophie Cunningham isn't feeling Angel Reese's comments on her team's shaky season ... saying the star Chicago Sky player was wrong for the public remarks, insisting that talk should remain in the locker room!

The Indiana Fever guard discussed Reese on her "Show Me Something Podcast" this week, days after the Sky suspended Angel for one game for "detrimental" comments to the team.

The controversial remarks came from Reese's recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, where she expressed frustration with the team's performance and roster.

Shawn Kemp spent his last night before beginning home detention enjoying the sights and sounds of a Lil Wayne concert.

TMZ Sports has learned the former NBA superstar -- who was just ordered to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for firing a gun during a 2023 parking lot dispute -- hit Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Wednesday to get down at "The Carter VI" tour.

He didn't seem like a guy too concerned about the sentence he was getting set to serve -- as video we obtained showed him vibing to Weezy's tunes.

Angel Reese just got punished again -- one day after the WNBA suspended her for picking up her eighth technical foul of the season, the Chicago Sky have now disciplined her for "statements detrimental to the team."

Chicago made the announcement ahead of its showdown with the Indiana Fever on Friday -- which happens to be the matchup Reese will serve her one-game ban given by the W -- saying she will sit out the first half of Sunday's contest against the Las Vegas Aces.

"We are committed to accountability so our players can stay focused on playing basketball," the statement read.

Steve Ballmer is adamantly denying the L.A. Clippers had a role in Kawhi Leonard's massive endorsement deal with Aspiration ... claiming the contract came months after the NBA superstar already agreed to an extension with the team.

The billionaire owner opened up on the recent bombshell report on ESPN on Thursday ... kicking things off by saying the Clippers have always abided by the league's salary cap circumvention rules, as it's "the right thing to do."

Ballmer then went into detail on his relationship with the now-bankrupt company ... saying the team was approached regarding a potential sponsorship deal, and he felt it was a "match made in heaven" based on its emphasis on carbon neutrality.

The Chicago Sky will be without Angel Reese for their showdown against the Indiana Fever Friday night -- the second-year player was officially suspended after picking up her eighth technical foul of the season.

The punishment was announced by the WNBA on Thursday ... with the league pointing out whenever a player or coach receives their eighth technical foul during the regular season, they are automatically handed a one-game ban.

Reese picked up her league-leading tech during the Sky's matchup against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. It happened after the 23-year-old hit Aaliyah Edwards in the head as they were fighting for a rebound.

Angel Reese is issuing a mea culpa to her Chicago Sky teammates after she seemingly knocked the Chicago Sky players and the front office in a recent interview about the team's losing season, explaining her remarks were taken out of context.

The two-time WNBA All-Star attempted to clear things up after Wednesday's game against the Connecticut Sun, responding to a reporter who asked whether she was truly upset with the organization, who currently have a dreadful 10-30 record this season.

This question stems from a recent Chicago Tribune interview where Reese said she "might have to move in a different direction and do what's best for me" after expressing frustrations with the team's play.

"I don't think I'm frustrated. I'm probably frustrated with myself right now," Reese said on Wednesday.

New year, new team, new endeavor for NBA hooper Jalen Green ... 'cause the Phoenix Suns guard is now an underwear model -- starring in a new campaign for Calvin Klein!!

The 23-year-old showed off the brand's Fall 2025 look in a commercial shoot ... which showed him walking around the city before ending up at a rooftop basketball court.

Considering this is CK we're talking about, it wasn't long before Green ditched his clothes and worked on his jumper in a pair of grey boxers.

Baron Davis is turning to one of his former NBA teammates to help him win a Mirrorball Trophy this year -- telling TMZ Sports he's getting dancing advice from none other than Iman Shumpert!

Just hours after it was revealed the former Golden State Warriors point guard would be on the newest season of "Dancing With The Stars" ... he told us he's already picking Shumpert's brain on how to two-step through the competition.

Shumpert, of course, won Season 30 of the show -- and Davis said Wednesday the guys have already FaceTimed to talk strategy. He added that "some note-taking" sessions are on the way as well.

5:20 PM PT -- The Los Angeles Clippers released a lengthy statement Wednesday evening addressing the allegations ... saying the idea Ballmer invested in Aspiration to "funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd."

"Steve invested because Aspiration co-founders presented themselves as committed to doing right by their customers while protecting the environment."

The statement goes on to say that neither the team nor Steve had "any knowledge of improper activity by Aspiration" -- which was a team sponsor from the 2021 to the 2023 seasons before defaulting on their contract -- "or its co-founder until after the government initiated its investigation."

"There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong."

It closes with L.A. saying they "welcome" the league's investigation into Aspiration ... and will continue "to cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation into Aspiration's blatantly fraudulent activity."

12:53 PM PT -- The NBA just announced it is launching an investigation into the claims made in Pablo Torre's report.

Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are under fire, accused of circumventing the NBA's salary cap with a huge, no-show endorsement deal ... but the team is firing back, calling BS on the allegations!

In the report from Pablo Torre -- who drew the ire of Jordon Hudson earlier this year -- Leonard is accused of signing a $28 million deal with a now bankrupt company, Aspiration, that was at least partially funded by the billionaire owner of the Clips, Steve Ballmer ... as a way around salary cap restrictions.

If true, that's obviously a huge no-no as far as NBA rules go.

Despite the lucrative deal, Torre says he was unable to find any instance where Kawhi worked with the tree planting company.

George Raveling -- a beloved college basketball coach and Nike executive who played a pivotal role in signing Michael Jordan to the brand -- has passed away. He was 88.

His family released a statement on Tuesday via social media ... saying Raveling was surrounded by family when he transitioned peacefully following a courageous battle with cancer.

"There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players, and assistants -- and to the world," his family said.

Zach Edey got a tongue lashing from a cop after he was busted for speeding earlier this year ... as newly released police video shows an officer chastised him for allegedly going over 100 MPH on a roadway.

The traffic stop took place on May 1 in Tippecanoe County, Indiana ... after Edey was accused of doing 101 in a 55.

Indiana State Police body cam footage shows almost immediately, the basketball player was berated by the cop for his lead foot.