Most folks wish they were a few inches taller, but Kevin Durant is opening up on how being vertically gifted actually made him insecure ... admitting he was once depressed over being "too tall, too skinny."
The two-time NBA champion shared his mental battle on Bobbi Althoff's "Not This Again" podcast ... saying around six years ago, he struggled with his appearance.
"I was insecure about how I looked," he said. "It hit me all at one time."
The Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their 2025 NBA championship bling ahead of Opening Night ... and technically, they got two rings in one!!
The champs' new hardware features more than 800 custom-cut gemstones set in 14-karat white and yellow gold. They have diamonds throughout ... as well as blue and orange sapphires to represent the Thunder colors.
First look at the Thunder's championship rings:
14-karat white and yellow gold with blue and orange sapphires. Diamonds with each player's number.
Don't tell Amen Thompson and Jose Alvarado preseason games don't count ... 'cause the two NBAers had to be pulled apart from each other during a fight in the Rockets vs. Pelicans matchup!!
Things got physical in the second quarter of the contest at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama ... when the two guards battled for a rebound.
Alvarado started to lose his balance in his attempt and grabbed Thompson's jersey to break his fall. Thompson tried to push him off ... but Alvarado kept tugging away, forcing him to collapse -- irking him in the process.
"Every jersey I wore meant more than wins and stats," Wall said. "It was about representing something bigger. And it's something I couldn't do without you."
Chase Budinger was able to successfully transition from the NBA to pro volleyball ... but he tells TMZ Sports he's yet to see a single hooper who could repeat his feat.
The ex-Houston Rockets forward swung by the TMZ offices this week to give some staffers a lesson or two on how things are done in the sand ... and afterward, he explained just how tough it is to be an AVP player.
He told us his opponents can "jump out of the gym," and "it's even more crazy, because they're doing it on the beach."
Lil B decided to reignite the beef not long after the bombshell news that Durant had been shipped to HTX ... dissing KD's part-time rap career and accusing him of ducking him in a one-on-one pickup game challenge all these years.
KD last rapped on Stalley's "Scared Money" track but scoffed at the Basedgod's swipes, claiming the rapper was all up in his DMs begging for a feature.
Kevin Durant was just traded to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal ... and fans got his live reaction to the move during his appearance at Fanatics Fest!!
The massive transaction happened early on Sunday ... coincidentally just hours before Durant's former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, faces the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to mark the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Phoenix Suns will give up Durant for a bunch of Rockets talent -- Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the draft and five second-rounders.
Robert Horry tells TMZ Sports he knows he fits the criteria to be in the Hall of Fame ... but at the end of the day, he's not sweating it if the powers that be think otherwise.
We caught up with Horry out at LAX this week ... and asked him all about how he's still waiting for his spot among the all-time greats.
While his stat line isn't comparable to Michael Jordan's or Larry Bird's, Horry says people need to realize the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame highlights more than just one's NBA career.
Travis Scottgot some R&R before his highly anticipated Coachella set by catching the L.A. Clippers game on Wednesday -- and unlike past experiences, he had no issues with security this time.
Celebrities flocked to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood for the Clippers' home contest against the Houston Rockets ... including names like Floyd Mayweather, Draya Michele, Steve Ballmer and La Flame himself.
Scott -- a Rockets fan -- was courtside with his Cactus Jack artist Sheck Wes ... and while he had great seats for the outing, we take it he was also thinking about closing down the massive music festival on Saturday.
If the boat's a-rockin', ya gotta come a-knockin' ... 'cause it might just be 50 Cent whipping the crowd into a frenzy onboard!
TMZ has obtained video of the rapper surprising a ship full of people Friday night ... after Flo Rida brought him out as a special guest during a performance at a party hosted by Houston Rockets governor Tilman Fertitta's.
Check out the video ... Flo gives his longtime friend a wonderful intro -- calling him one of the greatest rappers ever -- before 50 struts out and drives the crowd wild.
It's Draya Michele's birthday, but it's Jalen Green who's enjoying the cake ... 'cause the Houston Rockets hooper wished her a special 40th by sharing a pic of himself grabbing her backside in a lovey social media post.
22-year-old JG gave the special shout-out on Thursday ... saying, "Happy Pday to the realest on my side. I love you."
The last three words are obviously a big deal ... and goes to show just how serious the two are, despite all the chatter surrounding their relationship.
The NBA just punished Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson for his role in Sunday's scrap with Tyler Herro ... handing down a two-game suspension.
The Association announced the penalty in a statement ... days after Thompson and Herro were ejected from the Rockets vs. Heat game for starting an on-court brawl at the Toyota Center.
During the incident, Thompson tossed Herro to the ground WWE-style before an inbound pass late in the fourth quarter ... with the two sides jawing and grabbing at each other's jerseys right before the big moment.
The NBA turned into the WWE on Sunday ... when Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson threw Miami Heat star Tyler Herro to the hardwood during an intense altercation -- resulting in utter chaos.
The wild moment happened with just over 30 seconds left in the Heat's 104-100 road win over the Rockets ... when Thompson was applying heavy pressure on Herro ahead of an inbound pass.
The sports world is mourning the passing of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo... and some basketball figures gave their reactions in real time at media day activities on Monday -- including Raptors team president Masai Ujiri, who was devastated by the news.
The longtime exec. went before reporters to passionately explain how much Mutombo meant not just to him and the sport ... but to the world.
"It's really hard to believe," he said as he held back tears. "It's hard for us to be without [Dikembe Mutombo]. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. It's a tough one."
Houston Rockets star Jalen Green and his girlfriend, Draya Michele, hit the town for a lunch date on Wednesday ... and they brought their little bundle of joy along!!
TMZ Sports caught up with the parents at Cecconi's in West Hollywood just minutes ago ... and the two had their newborn baby girl in tow.
Jalen and Draya -- who have been linked to each other since August 2023 -- welcomed the addition to their families on Mother's Day (May 12) ... so, understandably, they requested we not conduct the kid's first interview just yet.
Houston Rockets star Jalen Green welcomed a baby girl to the world earlier this year ... but the mother has zero issues with the fact he's expecting another kid with his current girlfriend, Draya Michele -- 'cause TMZ Sports is told there is absolutely no bad blood in the situation.
Our sources tell us Green is, in fact, the father of a baby born on Feb. 12. The mother is 23-year-old California student Myah Iakopo.
We're told Green and Iakopo knew each other for a while ... but they were not ever in a serious relationship. Regardless, the former 2nd overall pick has vowed to be super involved in baby Peace Moira's life ... and is financially supporting the child as needed.
