LaVar Ball is being dragged off one court and into another ... because a contractor who built him an at-home basketball court is now saying he was stiffed on the $200K bill.
The father of basketball stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball is getting sued by MD Steel Inc. for unpaid labor expenses for the installation of a basketball court and subsequent home renovations.
TMZ obtained docs that detail the various work expenses MD says amounted to roughly $970K ... and in the filing, the company claims LaVar paid roughly $750K but never paid off the balance! He's now asking the court to help him collect the remaining $221,928!
The W in WNBA stands for wrestling when it comes to Caitlin Clark -- so says CongressmanTim Burchett, who tells TMZ DC the league better stop abusing its biggest star ... or they'll be flat broke when she leaves for a European league.
The politician from Tennessee is outraged over how the Indiana Fever superstar's being treated by her peers ... as she's been targeted with rough fouls in games. Most recently, she took a fist to her throat during Wednesday's contest against the Phoenix Mercury.
Burchett reacted to a screenshot of the act on X ... saying, "The thug treatment of @CaitlinClark22 by the @WNBA is pathetic" -- but he had more to say when Jacob Wasserman ran into him on Capitol Hill Thursday morning.
Dan Hurley's certainly on board ... telling TMZ DC he'd love to have his UConn Huskies play on the South Lawn next after the recent UFC Freedom 250 extravaganza!!
Coach Hurley -- who attended the elaborate MMA event on Sunday and other UFC fights in the past -- lit up when Charlie Cotton pitched the idea of getting some college basketball at 1600 Penn next.
The Spurs say their ticket policy is nothing new ... and has been that way the entire playoffs.
"The 150-mile radius restriction introduced during the Playoffs remains in place throughout the NBA Finals. This allows us to continue prioritizing local fans across San Antonio, Austin and surrounding communities."
Suddenly, there's a "No City Slickers" rule in place for the NBA Finals game 5 ... the San Antonio Spurs are yanking tickets away from Knicks fans hoping to watch their team win its first 'chip in 53 years.
The message is loud and clear on the Ticketmaster page for Spurs tickets ... anyone buying tickets for Saturday night's crucial game will be blocked if ya ain't from 'round these parts. The actual warning reads, "Sales to this event will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center" ... the Spurs home arena.
Even if you're an out-of-towner who already has tickets, you're likely to get screwed, too. The Ticketmaster warning adds, violators of the rule will have their tickets "canceled without notice" ... but you will get a refund.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky didn't stop the music after the Knicks energized New York City with a big win in the NBA Finals ... partying with fans in the streets deep into the night.
Check out the footage ... the power couple celebrated with Knicks fans until 3 AM following Game 4's historic comeback win ... shooting hoops in the middle of a huge crowd.
Rocky scored first and then Rihanna took her shot ... and she's looking like a regularJalen Brunson out here.
Rihanna and Rocky weren't decked out in Knicks gear ... but the "Fashion Killa" seemed to channel some Knicks orange with his look ... and Rihanna was stylish as per usual.
Travis Kelce's absence from Taylor Swift's whirlwind week had fans asking questions ... but the star tight end had a pretty good excuse ... pro football.
While Taylor was making headlines from Hollywood to Madison Square Garden, Travis has been in Kansas City taking part in the Chiefs' organized team activities and mandatory minicamp in advance of the upcoming NFL season.
Travis' NFL commitments explain why he was nowhere to be found at the "Toy Story 5" premiere earlier this week -- where Taylor made waves by getting a VHS copy of the original film signed by Tom Hanks -- and why he wasn't sitting courtside with her Wednesday night as she watched the Knicks pull off their historic NBA Finals comeback.
The Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak was snapped Monday night, and many fans are blaming President Trump ... but is that fair?? Charles Barkley says hell no!
"No, s*** no. That had nothing to do with it. I thought the Spurs outplayed them," the Hall of Famer told Adam Glyn in New York City, shortly after Game 3 ended.
Of course, Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, pulling up to the Garden for the highly anticipated game, watching with his friend, Knicks owner James Dolan, as the team lost 115-111, with the Spurs pulling within one game of New York.
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POTUS's presence meant hella increased security around the World's Most Famous Arena. Fans were told to arrive hours before the game, and were subjected to airport-like security. Barriers were also installed around MSG to keep fans away from the building perimeter, and watch parties were banned.
9:27 AM PT --Stephen A. Smith clapped back at President Trump for seemingly falling asleep during game 3 of the NBA Finals -- saying, "Didn't you call out former President Joe Biden, 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you?”
President Trump is pouring cold water on Stephen A. Smith's possible aspirations to ascend to the White House, saying he doesn't have the "IQ" or the "aptitude" to become commander-in-chief.
Trump's vicious remarks came during a press gaggle late Monday night in NYC, before he boarded Air Force One to fly back to D.C. after watching Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
Stephen A. Smith: If Trump coming causes the Knicks to lose tonight, I'm blaming him. I'm blaming the President of the United States. I'm telling you that right now. We better not lose tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/iwgdCsjn4i@HQNewsNow
Check out the clip ... a reporter first tells Trump that Smith -- a famous sports commentator -- has been talking about running for president and that he would blame Trump if the Knicks lost to the Spurs (the Spurs ended up beating the Knicks 115-111.)
Talk about an Indiana Fever -- Caitlin Clark battled an illness during Thursday night's game against the Atlanta Dream ... and it was so rough, the WNBA superstar had to leave the court to vomit amid the action.
The moment went down as both teams were gearing up for the second half of the Commissioner's Cup matchup at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... when all of a sudden, Clark jetted to the nearest trash can to blow chunks.
Clark told reporters she was under the weather and tried to eat some applesauce before the third quarter ... but ended up puking that out, as well as whatever else was in her stomach at the time.
Clark -- who appeared pretty ill after the contest -- told reporters she felt light for the rest of the outing as a result ... and the 83-71 victory had to serve as some great medicine, too.
Buffalo Wild Wings' recent social media post is falling flat ... 'cause the restaurant chain just offered the kid who ran onto the court during Game 1 free food for the rest of the NBA Finals -- and a lot of folks think it's weird to "reward" such behavior.
B-Dubs went to X in search of the individual on Thursday ... saying it's trying to track him down so he can tune in to the rest of the Finals "on us" after he was handed a lifetime ban from NBA arenas over the Victor Wembanyama selfie stunt.
We took a peep at the replies ... and the wing joint is getting fried like a chicken.
Charles Barkley has had plenty to say about San Antonio and its "big ol' women" over the years ... but he was forced to eat his words (and some churros) on Wednesday -- when he was confronted by the city's mayor!!
The hilarious interaction went down right on "Inside the NBA" ahead of Game 1 at Frost Bank Arena ... when Ernie Johnson, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Chuckster were joined by Gina Ortiz Jones, who took the opportunity to defend San Antonio right in its biggest critic's face.
After a montage of Chuck's classic jabs, GOJ wasted no time going after the guy ... saying, "I've learned a long time ago you can't teach courage, you can't teach class, and Mr. Barkley reminds us of that."
8:50 AM PT -- The fan's stunt resulted in his arrest and a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas, the league announced.
Another fan involved in the incident was also handed a ban for life, the league added.
A fan interrupted Game 1 of the NBA Finals in hopes of getting a selfie with Victor Wembanyama ... with the unwelcome guest rushing the court and approaching the San Antonio Spurs superstar with his phone before getting yanked away by security.
The odd moment went down in the fourth quarter as the Spurs and New York Knicks duked it out ... when a guy wearing a black zipped hoodie, white shirt and black pants sprinted onto the hardwood.
It's clear the 7'4" French center was his target (he kept shouting "Wemby" as he ran) ... but considering the hooper's height, the court stormer never got a clear shot of his face. We take it he has much bigger issues to deal with at the moment than a botched selfie.
Two huge Spurs fans went home happy after Victor Wembanyama and Co. tied up in the Western Conference Finals ... and the folks at home were pretty satisfied, too.
After going viral for their appearance at Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series, OnlyFans models Blue and Julie J. Swan hit up Frost Bank Arena yet again to catch the NBA action on Thursday ... and viewers certainly took notice as the ladies sat feet away from the court.
The two went quite viral for wearing busty 'fits to the venue ... and have been caught in the background of game footage a few times now, with screenshots popping up all over social media.
Before this boy grinning ear to ear was runnin' down the court, he was just celebrating his February birthday ... and was absolutely fascinated by basketball at just 7 months old!!!
He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers -- he is commonly referred to as one of the greatest European players of all time.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdanisays he's down to watch the Knicks in the NBA Finals, but don't expect to see him sitting courtside with President Trump... that's IF the commander-in-chief shows up at Madison Square Garden.
Jacob caught up with Mamdani Thursday in Queens, and asked him about Trump saying he plans to attend a Finals game after being invited by Knicks owner James Dolan.
Mamdani doesn't sound too interested in making it a bipartisan basketball outing ... saying, "If the president went to a game, that's his decision to make. If I go to the game, I’ll be doing so separately."
9:53 AM PT -- Kendrick Perkins hopped on "The Pat McAfee Show" to share more of his story ... claiming one of the kids on his team was "body-slammed" by an alleged "7'0", 400-pound" player after the game -- and he confronted the opposing team's coach over it.
Perk said he was met with disrespect ... and that's when he got pissed.
He said he has to protect every player on his team ... and especially when their parents aren't around, they're his responsibility.
Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed ... and he said both sides dapped it up and apologized to each other.
7:41 AM PT -- Kendrick Perkins went to social media to address the video ... saying, "Damn right and it probably won’t be the last time!"
"I’m going to protect every single kid in my organization like they’re my own."
Ex-NBA player Kendrick Perkins found himself in the middle of the action at his son's AAU game over the weekend ... when he lunged at the opposition in a heated altercation -- but his side says he was simply defending his players.
