Basketball

Arizona cops were so befuddled by Cameron Payne's insistence on giving them a fake name during his arrest earlier this year ... they actually called the NBA player and his decisions "dumb" -- new police video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows.

The arrest went down at Payne's Scottsdale residence at around 2:30 AM on June 14 ... after cops jetted over to speak with the 30-year-old New York Knicks guard following claims that he was in a verbal dispute with his girlfriend.

The Scottsdale Police Department body cam video shows once cops arrived on the scene ... both Payne and his GF were adamant nothing was wrong. Officers then stated all they would need was Payne's real name and date of birth -- and they'd go on their way.

Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones celebrated in style after helping the New York Liberty win their first-ever WNBA Finals on Sunday ... commemorating the accomplishment by raging with fans and the team's famous mascot, Ellie the Elephant!!

Stewart was spotted out on the town shortly after the Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx in overtime at the Barclays Center ... taking Game 5 and the championship series in epic fashion.

Shortly after the victory, the 6-foot-4 forward danced the night away and chugged a bottle of bubbly in the middle of a crowded NYC venue .... all while Jones held up her WNBA Finals MVP trophy.

Cops certainly knew who they were arresting when they threw the cuffs on Rajon Rondo earlier this year ... as police body cam footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows officers discussed his NBA career just after pulling him over.

The stop, as we previously reported, happened back on Jan. 28 in Jackson County, Indiana ... after authorities alleged Rondo's black Tesla didn't have a license plate properly secured to its rear.

The video shows that after initially speaking with Rondo and obtaining his information ... cops went back to their squad car -- and chatted for a few moments about the ex-Celtics guard's time on the hardwood.

If an NBA player isn't a fan of their 2K rating, they'll have to go about raising it the old-fashioned way -- hard work -- 'cause Ronnie 2K tells TMZ Sports he won't accept any bribes!!

We caught up with the face of the popular basketball video game franchise out at LAX ... and while he said plenty of hoopers have tried to shower him with gifts to increase their virtual abilities, he refuses to cave into their wishes.

"I have had all the bribe requests in the world," he said this week. "But those ratings are too sacred, I ain't changing [them]."

LeBron James' 22nd year in the NBA needs to be his last -- at least that's what Mark Cuban's saying ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports the King is just too damn good!!

We caught up with the Dallas Mavericks minority owner out in NYC this week ... and asked all about the Lakers superstar's future.

Needless to say, Cuban thinks it's time for James to wrap it up.

LeBron James isn't just Bronny's dad and teammate, he also acted as his coach on Thursday ... giving the Lakers rookie some sound advice during their game against the Suns.

The moment happened during the preseason matchup at the Footprint Center in Phoenix ... where Bronny played 17 minutes in the overtime win.

At one point in the contest, LeBron -- who didn't suit up for the tilt -- was talking up the 20-year-old guard near the bench ... and the TV broadcast zoomed in to catch the conversation.

Karl-Anthony Towns was more concerned about his former team than Billie Eilish performing her ass off right in front of him ... 'cause the New York Knicks star was caught watching the Timberwolves' preseason game right in the middle of her concert!!

KAT and his girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, swung by night one of the "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" stop at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday ... and at one point in the set, he whipped out his phone to check out some NBA action.

Interestingly enough, Towns was glued to the Wolves' 123-125 loss to the Chicago Bulls during Billie's rendition of "Bury a Friend" ... and the hilarious moment was posted to Woods' Instagram story.

Kim Kardashian has added another superstar athlete to her SKIMS roster -- this time, it's Cleveland Cavaliers hooper Donovan Mitchell ... who fully committed to being a new undies model!!

Spida got half-naked for a locker room-themed photo shoot for the brand's new campaign ... just a few days before the NBA season kicks off on Oct. 22.

28-year-old Mitchell sported several different Cotton and Stretch undies from Kardashian's line ... and not only did he look good showing off his athletic bod -- he said he felt good in them, too.

8:35 AM PT -- Good news ... Jared McCain has been discharged from the hospital and is now resting at home. He sustained pulmonary contusions, which are bruises on the lungs, from the fall during the Nets-Sixers game.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain was taken to the hospital after a scary fall during Wednesday night's game ... where the first-round draft pick smacked his head on the hardwood.

The alarming moment occurred during the fourth quarter of the Nets-Sixers game at the Wells Fargo Center ... when McCain, attempting to rebound his own miss, was contacted, causing him to fall backward and slam his head on the court.

The thud could be heard on TV ... and there was immediate concern for the 20-year-old hooper, who lay on the floor, visibly injured.

Shocking turn of events in a nearly 30-year-old trial ... the judge who presided over the murder case of Michael Jordan's slain father, James Jordan, has stunningly asked parole officials to release the convicted killer ... saying he fears the wrong guy could be behind bars.

Retired Judge Gregory Weeks, who oversaw the 1996 murder trial, petitioned the North Carolina state parole board, calling on the commission to release Daniel Green, the man who was found guilty of killing MJ's dad in the mid-90s during a botched robbery.

The reason? Judge Weeks says a forensic blood expert failed to disclose key findings during the trial ... evidence that could've cast doubt as to whether Green was guilty of the horrific crime.

Tyler Herro was more focused on combat than hoops after the Miami Heat's preseason win on Tuesday ... 'cause his postgame interview came to a screeching halt due to a scrap in the stands!!

The wild moment went down shortly after the home squad secured the 120-117 win over the San Antonio Spurs ... and despite the contest not having any real significance, a few spectators decided it was a night worth fighting for.

It's unclear what led to the brawl ... but footage shows three guys throwing a slew of punches in the Kaseya Center seats, with a woman in a row above also getting involved by swinging at the group.

Bronny James is opening up about his near-death experience at USC ... with the 19-year-old Lakers rookie admitting he's still not fully recovered.

"My days aren't normal anymore," James told Men's Health magazine in a brand new cover feature that dropped on Tuesday.

"I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was" ... LeBron's oldest son added.

Georgetown University's women's basketball team is catching flak for honoring a former player who was fatally shot by a police officer who she slashed with a knife.

The Hoyas' official X account posted a tribute to ex-player Sydney Wilson, mourning her "tragic loss" last month ... but now the post is drawing criticism because newly released police body cam footage shows her attacking the cop -- cutting his face -- before he shoots and kills her.

The tribute post has been on the Georgetown women's basketball team's X page since September 20. Sydney, who played for GU from 2009 to 2013, died Sept. 16 in the police shooting -- and the video of the fatal altercation was just released Monday.

The wife of WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart has gone to the police for help ... after receiving a homophobic email wishing death on the couple.

Marta Xargay Casademont -- a former pro shooting guard who retired in 2021 -- reportedly went to the NYPD last week after receiving the terrifying message from an anonymous sender.

"I hope someone shoots your wife dead" ... is just one of the awful things in the email.

Kanye West's getting hit with a new allegation involving Diddy, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are going on dates in the Big Apple, and Donte DiVincenzo is sending a message to his former NBA team ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Charles and Babcock break down the new claim against Kanye ... and the connection with Diddy.

LeBron James is establishing some boundaries when it comes to Bronny ... making it crystal clear he's not going to speak for his son -- telling reporters if they want to know anything about the Lakers rookie's experience, they can ask him directly.

The four-time NBA champion explained his stance during media availability on Monday ... saying Bronny's fully capable of taking his own questions.

"He's a grown man, ask him how he's handling it," LeBron said of the Bronny-related question.