Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant is well aware of the countless social media posts about his dry skin ... but the joke's on the haters behind the tweets -- 'cause he's laughing to the bank!!

The Houston Rockets superstar sat in front of a camera and read some mean posts ... while providing some classic clap-backs in the process.

KD gave props to the funny and creative jabs ... but he came out on top overall -- since the whole clip was part of an ad with CeraVe.

Cameron Diaz might be ready to plant some new roots ... and she’s been scoping out some of South Florida’s most impressive homes -- one of which belongs to a prominent NBAer.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Cameron has been quietly touring high-end homes in the Miami suburbs and Miami Beach over the past few weeks with her husband, Benji Madden, as they explore potential new digs.

Kevin Durant has hit plenty of game-winning shots over the course of his career ... but Monday's dagger against the Phoenix Suns had extra meaning -- with KD admitting it hit different after feeling "scapegoated" by his former squad.

Durant spoke about the moment with the media shortly after the Rockets' 100-97 win over the Suns.

The 37-year-old said it "most definitely" had more meaning than the average game-winning shot, especially since he said he had no desire to leave the team before the July 2025 trade.

LeBron James is gearing up for what will be his record-setting 20th NBA Christmas Day game later this week ... and the King is opening up on always having to work on the holiday -- saying he'd much rather be on the couch with his fam.

James made the comments following the Lakers' loss to the Clippers over the weekend ... when he was asked why Christmas basketball matters to him.

"It's the game that I love," James said. "It's a game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day, watching a lot of the greatest play the game on Christmas. It's always been an honor to play it."

But the 40-year-old was honest with reporters -- while he knows the impact of playing in these games -- he wishes he could also soak in the special day like the rest of the world gets to enjoy it.

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.

The rings feature the OKC logo, the Larry O'Brien Trophy and "NBA Champion" all in diamonds. Their 68-14 record is also etched into the jewelry.

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.

Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall is putting his pro career behind him ... announcing his retirement from basketball on Tuesday.

Wall shared the news in a video on his social media account ... saying he gave the game "everything I had."

"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."

Kevin Durant and "Basedgod" rapper Lil B have been beefing for more than a decade -- and not much has changed now that KD is a Houston Rocket -- their feud is spicier than ever!!!

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 Scott got 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.