Gossip / Rumors

Donovan Mitchell tells TMZ Sports he "ain't worried" about losing Rookie of the Year to Ben Simmons -- and the reason he doesn't care? The fans love him anyway!!!

The Utah Jazz star got a hero's welcome before an appearance at the Adidas store in Santa Monica on Tuesday -- the dude is like a frickin' rock star!!!

On the way in, we talked to Mitchell about the heated rivalry with Simmons for ROTY -- and he told us, "The media chose who they wanted to chose. And it's whatever."

He added, "I'm excited to be here. I've got all this support right here!"

LaVar Ball has heard the trade rumors involving Lonzo Ball going to the Spurs ... and has a message for the Lakers:

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. It'll be the worst move they ever made."

LaVar went off at his JBA season opener on Thursday afternoon -- when we asked about the rumblings that Magic Johnson could ship Lonzo to San Antonio to get Kawhi Leonard.

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. If they don't wanna trade him, keep him. He's gonna do his thing. I'm not worried about no trades.

LaVar says he's still 100% confident all 3 of his boys will eventually play on the same NBA team, despite the fact LiAngelo wasn't drafted on Thursday.

"He'll come in the back door as a free agent," LaVar explained.

Dwight Howard being traded around the NBA isn't because he's a crappy teammate ... so says ex-teammate Steve Nash, who tells TMZ Sports Howard's city jumping is just the way the league is now.

Dwight is on his way to Brooklyn (who reportedly will buy out his contract, so we don't know where he's going), his fourth team in four years -- a lot of stops for a future Hall of Famer.

There are some rumors that Howard might have worn out his welcome with teammates in Charlotte, something that's been said in some of his past stops as well.

Nash says that's not it at all ... telling our guy players moving around is just the way the association is now.

"That's the modern NBA. Guys change teams all the time, it's not uncommon."

It's time for TMZ SPORTS DECODES ... starring NBA superstar Paul George, who might've just given the basketball world a huge clue about his future and the future of Mr. LeBron James.

Or did he?

First a little context ... rumors in NBA circles say LeBron joining the Lakers depends on him luring another big name star to Hollywood, and most people think George -- an L.A. native -- is that star.

In order for that to happen, George would have to want to play with LeBron and, when we got him at the Fortnite Celebrity Pro-Am in L.A. and asked him ... he seemed like he was down.

"Yeah, I'm with LeBron every All-Star. Every one of my All-Stars I've been teamed with LeBron ... I like playing with him."

We continued decoding as we asked George if he even likes Los Angeles ... and once again, he gave us more positive feedback than an eastern Tinder swipe.

"I'm from L.A., I can say I love L.A. because I'm from L.A."

What do you get when you love both playing with LeBron and L.A.? Seems like Purple & Gold.

Pete Davidson donned Ariana Grande's signature bunny mask during an 'SNL' sketch in late 2017 ... perhaps letting the world in on the secret he was already feeling the singer, even though he was in a different relationship at the time.

Pete rocked a suit and Ariana's mask for a masquerade ball sketch that aired in November. At the time, Pete was a year and a half into his relationship with Larry David's daughter, Cazzie.

He confirmed their split last month -- shortly after Ariana and Mac went public with their breakup -- and, in the short period of time since then, Ariana and Pete announced they were dating and got engaged.

It's still unclear when exactly Pete and Ariana started dating, but one thing's for sure ... they haven't been shy about flaunting their love since then ... and he wasn't shy with his dough when he popped the question.

As we first reported, PD dropped nearly $100k for Ariana's custom engagement ring.

Whatever Nick Jonas has going with Priyanka Chopra appears to be the real deal, because she was his date for a wedding, and not just any wedding -- it was a family affair.

The youngest JoBro and Priyanka were arm-in-arm at his cousin's wedding near Atlantic City over the weekend. She was draped in a gold dress, and Nick was suited and booted ... but no socks with his white sneakers. So chic.

While they haven't made any official announcement ... all the "new couple" signs are there. They even traveled together for the wedding -- we got shots of them arriving at JFK airport.

We're told Nick introduced Priyanka to his older brother, Kevin, and his wife, Danielle. Yeah, ya know it's beyond just banging when family meet-and-greets are going down.

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra either don't care if people know they're banging ... or they're just really awful at hiding it.

Nick and the "Quantico" star arrived together at JFK on Friday headed off to who-knows-where -- but, one thing's for sure, this is a damn good looking couple ... even if they won't admit it.

Dating rumors started last year when they arrived together at the 2017 Met Gala, but she brushed it off ... claiming they were only posing together because they were wearing the same designer.

They also hit up a Dodger game together just a couple weeks ago.

Maybe they're rocking the same designer again as they jet off -- but something tells us they're whispering something hotter than fashion tips to each other.

Sofia Richie and Scott Disick aren't over yet -- despite multiple reports saying otherwise, and a photo of Scott cozying up with another chick last week ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell us Sofia and Scott have not broken up, and are still very much together -- contrary to what other outlets are reporting ... that they'd supposedly split.

We're told Sofia certainly wasn't happy with the photo of Scott getting handsy with a mystery chick at Kanye's album listening party Thursday night in Wyoming -- but she hasn't pulled the plug on their relationship. As for Scott and that girl ... they're just pals.

Sources say Scott has known the woman for years, and that holding her at the party was nothing sexual ... and only lasted a few minutes. They also did not go home together. Regarding him telling people at the party he was single ... we're told that was the booze talking.

Long story short ... Scott and Sofia are still an item. So, don't count 'em out quite yet.

Drake's alleged ghostwriter, Quentin Miller, was all smiles in the middle of Drake and Pusha T's war ... skirting questions he's the pen behind Drizzy's tracks.

We got Quentin at Aisle 5 in Atlanta on Thursday night and asked about collabing with Drake. ICYMI ... Pusha's other diss track, "Infrared," embraced the long-held view Drake doesn't write his songs, saying, "It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin."

You'll recall ... Meek Mill said as much in 2015 when he tweeted, "He don't write his own raps." Quentin was later ID'd as the alleged ghostwriter but he vehemently denied it.

Drizzy then released 2 diss tracks, including "Back to Back" in which Drake addresses the ghostwriting allegation saying, "This for y'all that think that I don't write enough. They just mad 'cause I got the Midas touch."

It's been about six months since Kendall Jenner was linked to a rumored NBA BF, but as her biking date with Ben Simmons shows ... you never forget how to date one of 'em.

Kendall was seen getting her ride on this weekend with the 76ers star point guard -- on a bicycle, folks ... relax. Eyewitnesses tell us they were cruising near The Grove in West Hollywood Sunday -- and we gotta say ... Kendall looks like the pro out of the two.

She's got solid form, AND she's got a purse on her, too, which looks perfectly in sync with her body. Much improved from 2016, when she ate s*** riding down a dirt road.

Ben, meanwhile, looks a little too big for his own bike here ... perhaps struggling to peddle, even. The dude is like 6'10", though ... maybe raise the seat next time, yeah?

Either way, it's nice to see Kendall switch up the activity for her 3rd NBA pal. Can't say we ever saw her hit the outdoors like this with Blake Griffin, or Jordan Clarkson either.

Pete Davidson's already taking his relationship with Ariana Grande to the next level ... with some permanent ink.

The "Saturday Night Live" comedian got a tattoo on the side of his head -- right behind his ear -- of Ariana's legendary black bunny ears mask from her "Dangerous Woman" album cover ... it's kind of her unofficial logo.

Pete also got Grande's initials inked on his thumb.

As we reported ... the new couple's been sharing pics together on social media, including one of Pete hugging up on Ariana and kissing her on the cheek.

We're told tattoo artist London Reese from The Black Lantern in Dana Point, CA did the artwork for Davidson somewhere in L.A.

Nikki Bella played with fire when she tried messing with the paparazzi ... and it burned her ass.

Nikki tells TMZ ... a story floating around showing her "canoodling with a mystery man" on a Miami balcony does NOT mean she's interested in him. She says it was supposed to be a joke to mess with paps since they had been following her and the rest of the "Total Divas" crew for days.

Nikki says the bartender is a 21-year-old model the show hired to serve them drinks at their penthouse ... but by Thursday Nikki had had enough with the paps. With a little liquid courage, Nikki says she hatched a plan to bring the guy out on the balcony and do some faux flirting to screw with the photogs.

Paps snapped away and a story about her canoodling hit the web ... something she had NOT intended to happen. Nikki wants to set the record straight -- she is NOT dating anyone else right now. And as she told us already ... she's actively trying to work things out with John Cena.

Drake knows how to pick 'em -- the mother of his alleged son starred on a reality show ... about professional side chicks.

We dug up an old trailer for a 2012 show called "Real Mistresses of Atlanta," in which Sophie Brussaux -- who used her stage name, Rosee Divine -- is introduced as one of the four leading ladies. She called herself a French model who likes luxury.

In one scene she's seen talking to an anonymous NBA player over the phone, and he tells her to buy a condo she liked. The implication is pretty clear ... he's married, but he's also Sophie's sugar daddy.

Producer Mickey 'Memphitz' Wright -- the ex-bf of "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" star K. Michelle -- created and produced the show. He reportedly shopped it around to TV execs, and sources at Oxygen tell us the network was very interested ... but, ultimately no one bought it.

There are no episodes or seasons listed on the Internet.

Meghan Markle's dad, Thomas Markle, has never asked his daughter for money -- despite reports -- because he says he leads a frugal life by choice and doesn't need extra cash.

Thomas is shooting down reports that, in the weeks before his daughter's lavish royal wedding, he reached out to Meghan for money on at least two occasions and Meghan refused to help him out.

Thomas tells us the rumor is "just plain bulls***" despite outlets repeatedly pushing the story. He says he's got a decent retirement fund and doesn't need his daughter's help when it comes to money, but if he did he knows Meghan would help him out.

Thomas says money has never been a topic of conversation between the two. Neither brings it up when they talk.

As for his health ... he says he's been resting a lot since his heart surgery and will be going to his 2-week follow-up appointment next week.

The woman Pusha T claims is Drake's baby mama proudly displayed her pregnancy journey on Instagram for months ... ending with a pic of baby Adonis himself.

We've learned the "Sophie" Pusha T mentions in his new Drake diss track, "The Story of Adidon," is Sophie Brussaux, a former French porn star. She's the same woman who was photographed with Drake in Amsterdam in January, 2017 ... just days after the alleged conception.

Sophie certainly didn't hide her pregnancy -- showing off her baby bump and even a cake from her baby shower with the name Adonis emblazoned on it -- the same name Pusha T uses in his track.

One thing missing throughout her posts ... any mention of Drake.

TMZ broke the story back in May, 2017 -- Brussaux claimed to have text messages between her and Drizzy supporting the claim he got her pregnant -- the alleged convo read ...

Drake: I want you to have an abortion.

Brussaux: I can't kill my baby simply to indulge you sorry.

Drake: Indulge me? F*** you.

Brussaux: What?

Drake: You do know what you're doing you think you're going to get money.

Drake's team, at the time, told us Sophie had a very "questionable background." They said, "She has admitted to having multiple relationships. We understand she may have problems getting into the United States. She's one of many women claiming he got them pregnant."

The rep added, "If it is in fact Drake's child, which he does not believe, he would do the right thing by the child."

NBA star Ben Simmons had a fancy dinner date in Bev Hills on Monday night ... and the woman in his car sure looks a lot like Kendall Jenner.

It makes sense ... considering new reports the Philadelphia 76ers star has broken up with Tinashe and moved on to Kendall. The romance has been going on for a few weeks, according to Page Six.

Our video was shot outside the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills -- where our sources say Simmons and the mystery woman had a bite to eat together. We're told the woman tried like hell to stay low key -- using her hoodie to cover her face.

Kendall's been connected to basketball players before -- most recently, she was with Blake Griffin and before that she was reportedly dating Jordan Clarkson.

If that really is Kendall (and it really seems like it is) ... welcome to the Kardashians, Mr. Simmons!

FYI, we last saw Simmons with Tinashe in Philly earlier this month -- riding in a Ferrari together.