Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry was devastated to hear the news of Nipsey Hussle's death ... expressing his frustrations with "senseless crimes" after the Warriors game on Sunday.

TMZ broke the story ... the rapper and community leader was gunned down Sunday outside of his own clothing store near the Crenshaw area of L.A. He died at the hospital shortly after.

Steph -- who has worked with Nipsey on projects over the past year -- took time to reflect on his experiences with Nipsey after the game.... praising his charitable work in his city.

"That was tough. Obviously surprised a lot of people," Curry says.

"I got to know him last year and had a great conversation about who he was as a person, what he stood for, what his message was, how he tried to inspire people considering where he grew up and how he turned that into something extremely powerful, represented an entire city."

"Definitely a sad, sad, tragic event. Send prayers to his family, his community, to Lauren London, hopefully, they stay strong through this, it's tough. You know, senseless crimes that don't need to happen, especially with a guy who was doing what he was doing."

There's reportedly video of the moment Steph heard the news from Kevin Durant.

Some of the biggest names in sports -- from LeBron James to Odell Beckham -- expressed their sadness over the news.

"Just spoke with you the other day on text bro!" LeBron said. "Telling you how proud I was of you and how I was gone get you to more Laker games next season. Been A Stand Up dude from Day 1.

"May you rest in PARADISE Young King 👑‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ This One Hurts Big Time!"

Odell added ... "This world ain’t right .... I swear. Im hurrt... this ain’t sitttttin right wit me ! HOW! I’m so mad , I’m so fxxkin HURT!"

"Our culture keeps getting taken from us!! RIP" Jarvis Landry tweeted.

"Nipsey tho?!?! Come on people we gotta put these f**king guns up", Eric Ebron said Sunday.

Colin Kaepernick ... "This is so painful! @nipseyhussle was doing great work for the people. Keep his legacy alive by carrying on his work! Sending love to his family. Rest in Power King."

Nipsey was 33 years old. RIP.

Klay Thompson thinks Warriors fans have been spoiled by their historic dominance ... grousing about Dub Nation's lack of support Sunday night after an embarrassing loss to the Suns.

The Warriors -- currently 1st place in the Western Conference -- just lost to the 2nd-worst team in the whole NBA ... and Klay's laying some of the blame on the fans. Yes, the fans.

"I expect our crowd to be a little more into it," Thompson said after the 115-111 loss. "I know it's not the playoffs, but it is our last go-around at Oracle (Arena)."

"Least you could stand up when someone makes a good play, especially in the beginning. We need that energy."

"We expect our fans to bring that from the jump."

There's been a lot to celebrate in Oakland lately -- 3 championships in the past 4 seasons, a 73-win season, and a starting lineup full of All-Stars.

Thompson's assuming all that success must get boring to the fans ... but as the Dubs make yet another run at a title, he makes it clear he wants more.

2019 is looking up for Michelle Wie ... the golf superstar is engaged to her boyfriend, who happens to be the son of one of the greatest NBA players EVER!!

Wie said "yes" to Jonnie West -- whose dad is Jerry West.

30-year-old Jonnie is the Director of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors, where Jerry was an exec from 2011 to 2017.

Wie is clearly stoked about the engagement, posting photos of the proposal in San Francisco with the caption, "My person for life!!!!! #WieGoesWest."

Great to see Wie so happy after a rough February, when she pulled out of HSBC Women's World Championship after reinjuring her hand.

Of course, Wie had surgery on the same hand last year. Sucks.

Being president is pretty cool ... but Barack Obama's biggest accomplishment came on the hardwood ... 'cause 44 says he's the man behind Stephen Curry's dangerous jumper!!

Obama and Curry hosted a town hall meeting for the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in Oakland on Tuesday ... and naturally, Barry had to let the jokes fly when introducing the 2-time MVP.

"Even Bulls fans have to acknowledge that it's been fun to watch the Warriors and the greatest shooter of all time -- because I gave him some tips right before, about 5 seasons ago, there's film of this in the White House."

Steph doubled down on the quip ... saying Obama fixed his "chicken wing" jumper as well as his resume ... calling him "the best mentor" (which might not be a joke).

The duo traded zingers before getting serious about helping minority youth in America, the work their MBK Alliance has accomplished in the 5 years of its existence ... and what needs to happen moving forward.

Steph Curry and Barack Obama's bromance took another step forward with a dinner date ... although Ayesha Curry and a couple o' Legends were there too.

The Currys sat down with 44 for a serious power dinner Monday night in San Francisco at Ayesha's restaurant, International Smoke. Her collaborator and chef, Michael Mina, posed with the smiling trio and shouted out Barack, saying ... "No greater privilege than to cook for this man on Presidents Day. Thank you for the highest honor @barackobama!"

The star power at the dinner table didn't stop there -- John Legend and Chrissy Teigen showed up to make it a fab fivesome. Chrissy also shared a shot of herself enjoying a drink with Chef Michael.

You'll recall, Steph set up a meeting last month in Washington, D.C. between his BFF and his Golden State Warriors teammates ... who opted out of meeting President Trump to celebrate their NBA Championship.

As for why they're all in the Bay Area ... Barack, Steph and John are all taking part in the My Brother's Keeper conference in Oakland, aimed at supporting boys and young men of color. It's being hosted by the Obama Foundation.

Good eats, good cause ... good times!

Draymond Green spared no expense when he proposed to his girlfriend last month -- TMZ Sports has learned the ring he used to pop the question is worth $300,000!!!

Remember, Warriors coach Steve Kerr accidentally broke the news a few weeks ago that Green got engaged to actress and "Basketball Wives" regular Hazel Renee ... but now, we've got deets.

There was a helicopter. There was a yacht. Oh yeah, and a big ass ring.

Turns out, Day Day hit up Jason of Beverly Hills for the 6-carat flawless diamond ring ... and the NBAer had his fingerprint on the whole thing.

"Draymond was very involved in the design process," Jason Arasheben, CEO Jason of Beverly Hills tells us.

"I took multiple trips up to the Bay to show him stone options and to choose the setting. He was very particular about the quality of the center stone. He wanted only the best for Hazel."

... and he got it!

Congrats to the couple -- and if you're wondering when the two will actually tie the knot, maybe ask Steve Kerr (he seems to know things).

You can't ball like Steph Curry ... but you can at least be romantic like him -- 'cause Ayesha Curry is giving TMZ Sports the superstar's Valentine's Day secrets!!!

We asked the real chef Curry to spill the beans on her hubby's go-to V-Day plans while out in New York on Wednesday ... and she gave us a rough outline of how it goes down in the Curry household.

Ya gotta hear it straight from her -- there's some steak ... some wine ... and "lots" of secret ingredients!!!

Kevin Durant went scorched Earth on the NBA media after the Warriors game Wednesday night -- telling off reporters for trying to "tear me down with my words that I say."

Yeah, he was mad.

By the way, the Warriors DESTROYED the Spurs in a 141 to 102 ass-beating -- so it's not like he was mad about the game.

What set Durant off was when a reporter asked why he'd been unusually quiet with the media lately.

KD: "Why do you care?"

Reporter: "Because you usually talk."

KD: "Well, I ain’t feel like talking the last couple of days."

Durant pointed out one specific reporter, Ethan Strauss from The Athletic -- and said:

"You’ve got a dude, Ethan Strauss, who come in here and just give his whole opinion on stuff and just make it seem like it’s coming from me. He just walk around here, don’t talk to nobody. Just walk in here, survey and then write something like that."

Durant continued, "I’m trying to play basketball. Y’all come in here every day, ask me about free agency, ask my teammates, my coaches. You rile up the fans about it. Yo, let us play basketball. That’s all I’m saying."

"Grow up. Grow up. Yeah, you. Grow up. Come on, brah. I come in here and go to work every day, and I don’t cause no problems. I play the right way, or I try to play the right way. I try to be the best player I can be every possession. What’s the problem? What am I doing to y’all?"

Durant explained that he doesn't trust the media -- "Every time I say something, it gets twisted up and thrown out. So many different publications try to tear me down with my words that I say. So, if I don’t say nothing, it’s a problem. I just want to play ball. I want to go to the gym and go home. That’s all. Is that a problem? Alright, then."

Could the Golden State Warriors starting 5 *actually* single-handedly beat the Eastern Conference All-Star starters?!?!

You better believe it ... so says Chris Webber, who tells TMZ Sports the Dubs are just too damn good to lose that fantasy matchup.

The 2019 All-Star game starters were announced Thursday night ... here's the East:

-- Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker

Here's the Warriors starting lineup:

-- Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Boogie Cousins, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green

Webber does a great job breaking down why the Eastern Conference All-Stars would LOSE if they took the court against the Warriors ... and he's pretty damn confident about it.

Of course, Webber used to play for the Warriors -- but there's no bias here. Webber's hittin' us with truth bombs.

As for the Western Conference All-Stars ... here's how that team looks:

-- LeBron, KD, Steph Curry, James Harden and Paul George.

That's scary.

Wanda Durant's son, Kevin (heard of him?), might just be the smoothest scorer in NBA history, but Mama tells us she's even more proud of what her boy does OFF the court for his community.

KD -- a 4-time scoring champ, league MVP, 2-time champion, and 10x All-Star -- recently opened his Durant Center, an after-school facility in his hometown focused on helping low-income students get to college.

Kevin put up $10 million to get the Center started, and when we talked to his mom and asked her which part of her son's life she's most impressed by, she went with the outreach, and not the NBA accolades.

"Off The court, of course. Off the court really shows who he is as a person."

They boycotted #45 ... but the Golden State Warriors got LOTS of love for #44 -- with the entire team meeting with Barack Obama on Thursday before taking the court against the Wizards.

Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and the rest of the squad met with President Obama at his Washington D.C. office ... and then posed for a group photo afterward.

Unclear what they all talked about -- but after the game, Durant told the media, "It was amazing."

Draymond described the meeting this way to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne -- "A private team meeting, team event, it was good."

Of course, the Warriors famously boycotted the White House after winning the NBA Championship in 2017 ... after visiting Obama in 2016 and 2015.

Durant previously told TMZ Sports, "We don't f*ck with [Trump]."

They DO, however, like Nancy Pelosi ... the Speaker of the House not only attended the Warriors vs. Wizards game on Thursday -- she also met with players after the game, including Draymond.

By the way, the Warriors won the game 126 to 118.

Boogie Cousins will be making a statement with his shoes when he takes the court Thursday night ... rockin' Puma kicks to support Meek Mill's push for criminal justice reform.

Meek teamed up with Puma to launch the new Clyde Court #REFORM kicks -- the profits of the shoe will go to Meek's Reform Alliance whose mission is to reform the probation and parole system in the U.S.

Boogie is down with the cause and has promised to wear the shoes when his Golden State Warriors take on the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

Everything about the shoe has a special meaning. The black coloring represents the American prison system. The red symbolizes the blood and sacrifice of those who have fought for justice. Gold stands for future victories.

There's also a quote on the heel from Olympic legend/social activist Tommie Smith which says, "We had to be seen because we couldn't be heard."

Kevin Durant blew off practice with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday -- BUT IT WAS FOR A GREAT REASON -- the guy just opened his new after-school facility in Maryland!

KD had made a $10 MILLION donation to the project last year -- to cover "construction and operating expenses" for the center in Prince George's County ... where Durant is from.

Durant had teamed up with College Track to create the facility. The mission is to help kids from low-income areas get the resources they need to get to college.

On Wednesday, Durant met with some of the kids from the inaugural 69-person class -- and everyone seemed super excited!

The NBA superstar talked about the project to the Washington Post ... describing it as the "full circle stuff that you dream about."

Steph Curry is the most famous person to EVER play basketball at Davidson College (by far!) ... so, why hasn't his jersey been retired?!

Simple -- Steph's gotta get his degree first. Seriously.

Remember, Steph is a LEGEND at Davidson, where he was a consensus 1st Team All-American and famously led the Wildcats to the Elite 8 in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

So, when we spotted Steph's old college coach, Bob McKillop out in D.C., we had to get an explanation for why Steph's old #30 jersey ain't hangin' in the rafters.

"I think he's in the process of completing his degree," McKillop told us after heaping TONS of praise on his old player.

We followed up with the school and athletic director Chris Clunie told us that Steph is still actively working on his degree ... and as soon as he completes his education, boom -- the jersey gets retired.

Clunie says the school is extremely proud of all that Steph has accomplished on and off the court. They love the guy.

Forget Los Angeles ... Shaq says if he were a young baller in today's NBA -- his next free agency contract would be with the Knicks!!!

"If I was a youngster, Madison Avenue would be turning into Shaq Avenue."

It's interesting ... seeing as EVERY big-name free agent over the last several years has passed on the Knicks for other (mostly Golden State-colored) pastures.

But, the Diesel tells us he doesn't understand why dudes aren't just lining up to play in Madison Square Garden.

"People always talk about business and business after basketball. Knicks don't have a star player, so any superstar that comes there, Madison Avenue is going to open up them doors."

That could change soon ... while the free agent market ain't exactly warm for NY next summer -- a high draft pick could be in the cards.

Does that mean Zion Williamson could be the next Knicks superstar?? We know one guy who'd love to see that ...

Marshawn Lynch threw on his best hoodie and sandals and hit up the Oakland City Council meeting on Wednesday ... and made the following statement to city officials:

"We're losing the Warriors. We're losing the Raiders. Best not lose the A's. Appreciate it."

Marshawn is an Oakland guy, born and raised -- and is clearly upset with the mass exodus of the major sports teams in the area.

The Raiders are moving to Las Vegas and the Golden State Warriors -- who play in Oracle Arena in Oakland -- are moving to the Chase Center in San Francisco next season.

The Oakland A's currently play at the Oakland Coliseum but are hoping to build a new 34,000 seat waterfront stadium in the area where they could play in 2023.

Enter Marshawn who didn't have much to say -- but made his point crystal clear.

Oakland A's president Dave Kaval was grateful for Beast Mode's support -- tweeting out, "Thank you Marshawn! Let's do this!!"

Kaval has previously commented on the stadium situation -- saying, "We've been there 50 years ... We have a great sense of the importance of that development on the future of East Oakland."