Basketball

10:25 AM PT -- The University of Alabama issued a statement on Friday about Aden Holloway after he was granted permission to travel outside the state this weekend.

"Nothing has changed with regard to Aden's status with the team.”

Alabama hooper Aden Holloway just got a green light from a judge … but don’t expect him to magically reappear on the court Friday night.

TMZ Sports has obtained court documents that show Holloway asked for -- and received -- permission to leave the state of Alabama after his recent arrest on felony marijuana charges. Because of his bond conditions, he needed approval just to travel … and a judge signed off Friday morning.

The plan? Head to Chicago and return Monday -- right as Alabama gears up for its Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan in a matter of hours … and a possible Elite Eight game if the Crimson Tide advances.

The viral courtside clash between Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese and star player Oluchi Okananwa didn’t just light up social media -- it might’ve actually outshined a national title.

Frese told TMZ Sports the now-infamous third-quarter moment -- where she got in Okananwa's grill, pointed and said “I believe in you, but you’ve got to want this moment!” -- has generated more attention than Maryland’s 2006 championship run.

“We didn’t get this many views back then,” Frese said … noting the clip has racked up tens of millions of eyeballs online.

It wasn't going down in the DMs between Shaquille O'Neal and Sabrina Carpenter ... so says the NBA legend who is addressing the now-viral messages, with the Big Fella insisting he's got way more game!

The drama all started when screenshots of an alleged exchange between O'Neal and the pop star hit social media, which Diesel not only addressed but read aloud during his "Big Podcast with Shaq."

"Damn, baby. I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day," O'Neal repeated.

Another of the alleged messages ... "I can't be horny and want some of that Snow Bunny kitty for myself?!" and "My meat would have you in the hospital."

The party's not over for Haley Cavinder and Jake Ferguson -- the couple's bachelor-bachelorette celebration went to overtime in Vegas, where Haley and her twin, Hanna, turned heads in teeny bikinis at one of the hottest dayclubs in Sin City!

Haley and the Dallas Cowboys tight end got engaged in April 2025 and kicked off their bachelor/ette festivities earlier this month with family and friends, starting with a trip to the Bahamas.

They've since moved on to Vegas for the grand reopening of the famed Marquee Dayclub ... where the Cavinder twins showed up over the weekend, and stole the spotlight, wearing barely-there swimsuits.

Iowa star Alvaro Folgueiras knocked down the biggest shot of the NCAA Tourney, sending home the defending champion, and number one seed Florida Gators -- and the 20-year-old is walking TMZ Sports through the insane moment!

Folgueiras and his Hawkeyes were down two points with just seconds remaining in their round of 32 game on Sunday ... before the Spanish player knocked down the biggest shot of his life, hitting a three with 4.5 seconds on the clock, and sending Florida back to Gainesville.

Babcock spoke with the 6'10" hooper just 24 hours later ... and he still can't believe what transpired in those final moments of the thrilling game.

The University of Iowa scored a massive upset over the defending National Champion Florida Gators in the Round of 32 Sunday night ... and one Hawkeye's hooper made sure to rub it in a little during the postgame handshake line, hitting the gator chomp!

Freshman forward Cooper Koch -- who scored 12 points in 28 minutes of play -- was captured on video hitting the reigning champs' celly while he was making his way through the handshake line -- and all the Gators players could do was watch as their season came to a heartbreaking end.

The Florida players weren't the only ones who were taunted ... Koch found some time to troll their fans who were courtside, too.

Steph Curry didn’t drop 30 … he watched the original No. 30 go up.

The NBA superstar had the night off Thursday -- but instead of resting up, he pulled up courtside in Charlotte to watch his dad, Dell Curry, get his jersey retired by the Hornets.

And yeah … full-circle doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Steph -- who has become a global icon in the same No. 30 -- sat front row as the man who wore it first in Charlotte saw his number rise into the rafters at Spectrum Center.

Dell, clearly overwhelmed in the moment, fought back tears as he addressed the crowd.

Draymond Green's wish isn't getting granted anytime soon -- relocating the Memphis Grizzlies to Nashville isn't on the Music City mayor's to-do list.

The Golden State Warriors star has been vocal about how he doesn't like playing in Memphis ... and recently, he went as far as to say he'd love it if the NBA relocated the Grizzlies 200 miles east.

"Do everybody a favor and move that team to Nashville," Green said on his podcast this week.

"There's no great hotels in Memphis. I love the people of Memphis. They are incredible. Shout out to the people of Memphis. I love them, but just from an NBA standpoint, man -- there's not a sauna or a hot tub in sight."

Byron Scott -- a three-time NBA champion with the Showtime Lakers and former NBA Coach of the Year -- wants back on the sidelines … and he’s got his eyes locked on Arizona State.

TMZ Sports caught up with the longtime NBA figure, who also had head coaching stints with the Nets, Hornets, Cavs and Lakers … and when the Sun Devils opening came up following Bobby Hurley’s exit, Scott didn’t hesitate.

“Oh, I have a ton of interest,” he said.

For Scott, this isn’t just another job -- it’s personal. He starred at Arizona State in the early ‘80s, and his connection to the program still runs deep.

South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson isn’t just chasing a March Madness upset -- he’s coaching for his dad.

Hodgson got emotional talking to TMZ Sports ahead of No. 11 USF’s first-round matchup with No. 6 Louisville … revealing his father, Larry, is battling dementia -- but is still doing well enough to understand what’s about to happen.

And what’s about to happen is huge.

Some guys let themselves go in retirement … but Blake Griffin clearly hasn’t!!!

The former NBA star hit the beach with his fiancée, Francesca Aiello, and let’s just say -- the dude is still in peak form. Griffin went shirtless for the outing, rocking a pair of green shorts and showing off his ripped, tanned physique as the couple strolled along the sand.

Francesca -- a swimwear designer who owns Frankies Bikinis -- was just as eye-catching … stunning in a patterned bikini while the two held hands and soaked up the sun, with their dog tagging along for the beach day.

Breathe a sigh of relief, WNBA fans -- there will be no lockout this season ... with players reaching a deal with league officials on a new collective bargaining agreement after months of negotiations.

Both sides sealed things early Wednesday morning with a champagne toast ... and according to Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president, Nneka Ogwumike, the agreement finally gives the ladies a "meaningful share of league revenue."

"It strengthens housing and retirement," Ogwumike told Front Office Sports, "and expands resources for family planning and parental leave. It redefines what it means to be a professional in this league."

Marcus Spears Jr. might be the No. 1 basketball recruit in the 2027 class -- and according to his dad, former NFL star Marcus Spears, the kid has already taken over the family court.

So much so that Dad has officially retired from playing the five-star prospect one-on-one.

“The one-on-one is over,” Spears told TMZ Sports over Super Bowl weekend. “If I play him one-on-one, I’m setting myself up for failure. I’m done with that.”

Swagu said the turning point came when his son was just 15 years old and already pushing the ESPN NFL analyst to the brink -- and the kid has only gotten better since.

The Big 12’s flashy court experiment didn’t even last the whole tournament.

Conference commissioner Brett Yormark announced late Thursday the league is ditching its much-hyped glass LED court for the rest of the tournament ... meaning the semifinals and championship of the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament will be played on a traditional hardwood floor instead.

The abrupt switch came the same day Christian Anderson -- a star guard for Texas Tech who leads the conference in assists -- slipped multiple times on the court and left the Red Raiders’ quarterfinal game with an injury, putting the controversial playing surface in the spotlight.

Dwight Howard is officially walking away from basketball ... claiming while he still has gas left in the tank, the sport made the decision for him -- and now it's time for family.

The 40-year-old No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft released a lengthy statement on Thursday ... acknowledging that most folks might think he already handed in his retirement papers, but that wasn't the case.

DH12 -- who last played in the NBA in the 2021-22 season before taking his talents overseas -- is now going to put all his energy into his family and the community.

Bam Adebayo, fresh off one of the most impressive scoring performances in NBA history, had one very important order of business post-game ... praise his WNBA superstar GF A'ja Wilson, calling her his inspiration!

The Miami Heat big man put on a show at the Kaseya Center, posting the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant, who famously scored 81 in 2006.

After the Heat's 150-129 win over the Wizards, Adebayo shared a special moment with his girlfriend, Wilson ... and even brought her along to his post-game presser, where he had some heartwarming words about his lady.