Memphis Grizzlies

Ex-NBA player Nick Van Exel is just now finding out coffee doesn't have to be hot ... and we're so happy he did, 'cause it's the best thing on the internet today.

The Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach lost his iced coffee virginity on Saturday ... and the dude has been so obsessed ever since, he even tweets about it before he goes to bed at night.

Now, NVE is 47 years old ... so that means the dude went a LONG time without the delicious cold beverages ... and he's letting everyone know how pissed he is for not telling him sooner.

"Just wanted to let everybody know -- all my Twitter followers, everybody that's in my phone, my friends, my family -- real disappointed in y'all that y'all didn't let me know about iced coffee before," Van Exel says.

"Real disappointed, but since it tastes so good, i'll forgive y'all."

Two beautiful people are back on the market ... NBA star Chandler Parsons and model Cassie Amato have broken up, TMZ Sports has learned.

But, you know what that means ... THE RETURN OF BACHELOR CHANDLER!!!

We're told the split wasn't nasty or anything ... they just grew apart and ultimately decided things weren't working out. They only dated for a year so it ain't the end of the world.

Plus, he's been based in Memphis while playing for the Grizzlies while she's an L.A. girl who operates out of Bel-Air (though we're told he'll be in L.A. this summer too).

The signs were there ... Parsons hasn't posted a photo of Cassie since October and he's essentially been scrubbed from her IG page too.

Speaking of her IG page, she's ridiculously good looking and instantly becomes one of the hottest single chicks in L.A.

Don't feel too bad for Chandler, he's gonna be just fine ... tall, handsome and entering the last year of his 4-year $94 MILLION contract with the Grizzlies.

Parsons has a reputation for dating beautiful women ... from Bella Thorne to Toni Garrn and Arianny Celeste.

Bad news, groupies -- Chandler Parsons says he's officially "a one-woman man" ... ending a truly epic run for the NBA's #1 stud.

But Chandler ain't gonna deny he was killin' the game earlier in his career, telling TMZ Sports, "I had a hell of a run."

We got Parsons up in the Bev Hills ... and asked him what it felt like to be the league's hottest bro -- having shacked up with celebs like Bella Thorne, Arianny Celeste, Toni Garrn and (maybe) Hailey Baldwin.

You could tell Chandler was down with it, but the Grizzlies star was quick to tell us he's only got love for smokin' hot model GF, Cassie Amato, these days.

Yeah, we know it's easy for any hooper to end up like Tristan Thompson ... but these pics make us wanna believe.

Stay strong, Chan-Dog.

The ex-wife of slain NBA star Lorenzen Wright is locked up in Southern California ... after cops busted her in connection with his murder.

TMZ Sports got Sherra Wright's mug shot. The Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. busted her Friday evening on a fugitive warrant for murder -- which was issued in Tennessee. Memphis police have charged her with 1st degree murder and conspiracy.

Lorenzen -- who played 14 years in the NBA -- was murdered 7 years ago. His remains were found in the woods, 10 days after he was seen leaving Sherra's Tennessee home.

The case had gone cold until recently -- police found the murder weapon in a lake, and earlier this month arrested Billy Turner and charged him with 1st degree murder.

Police aren't saying yet what the alleged connection is between Turner and Lorenzen's ex-wife ... who is sitting in jail pending extradition to Tennessee. Reports say they went to the same church.

It's over for Matt Barnes ... the scrappy NBA star has announced he's retiring after a "cool 15 year run."

"Traveled the world met alota cool people, some will be brothers for the rest of my life," Barnes posted on social media.

Barnes was drafted by the Memphis Grizzles in the 2nd round of the 2002 NBA Draft -- and went on to play with the Clippers, Kings, Lakers, Warriors and more.

He was a part of the Warriors team that won the championship in 2017.

37-year-old Barnes says he'll be focusing on expanding his businesses and spending more time with his kids ... and hopes to be a billionaire by the time he's 50!

He reportedly made more than $31 mil during his career ... so, not a bad start!

Think Kristaps Porzingis called it a night after his triumphant return at MSG on Wednesday?

Hell no ... KP put in OT at the club with a smokin' hot chick!!

The Knicks superstar kept it flowin' at Marquee ... cuddling up with a mystery blonde outside the venue before they bounced to the after-party.

Unclear if she's Zinger's GF -- but they look pretty cute together.

Either way, Kristaps was cool enough to make time for all the fanboys flanking him on the street ... talkin' hoops and droppin' high-5s like the true King of NY (sorry, LeBron).

A man named Billy Turner has been arrested and charged for the murder of Lorenzen Wright ... over 7 years after the NBA vet was shot and killed in a Memphis suburb ... and we have the mug shot.

The Memphis Police Department and Shelby County District Attorney's office held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that Turner, 46, had been indicted and charged with the 1st-degree murder of Wright.

Turner is currently in custody on a $1 million bond.

Lorenzen's remains were found in a wooded area on July 28, 2010 ... 10 days after the 34-year-old was last seen leaving his ex-wife's residence in Collierville, Tennessee.

The case went cold for years ... but there was a major break last month when cops discovered the gun they believed was used to kill Wright ... in a lake about 50 miles from Wright's body.

Lorenzen was a star at the University of Memphis, and played 14 seasons in the NBA -- including 5 with his hometown Memphis Grizzlies.

LeBron James is 100% right to call out David Fizdale getting axed by the Grizzlies -- so says Jermaine Dupri, who tells TMZ Sports someone's gotta explain the shocking decision.

FYI, LeBron went to bat for his former Heat assistant coach on Monday ... after Fizdale got the boot less than a quarter of the way into the season.

"I need some answers. Feels like my man was a fall guy," James said.

Dupri echoed LeBron when we got him outside Poppy in L.A.

"We need a little understanding! What's the reason?"

Chandler Parsons is going to bat for David Fizdale less than 24 hours after his coach was canned by the Memphis Grizzlies ... saying it was an ice-cold move by the franchise.

"It's a cold world, man," Parsons told TMZ Sports at LAX. "Fiz is a good dude, great coach. I learned a lot from him so I got nothing but good things to say about him."

Chandler says he ain't surprised that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other NBA superstars have called out the move ... given Fizdale's body of work.

NBA star Chandler Parsons continues to surround himself with some of the hottest women in Hollywood -- this time, he was out sunbathing in L.A. with model Hailey Baldwin.

The two caught some rays at the pool at the Montage in Beverly Hills -- and we're told the poolside tourists couldn't take their eyes off 'em ... probably due to the fact he's 6'10" and she looks insane in a bikini.

So, let's get to the point -- are they banging? Our sources say no -- they're just good friends who've known each other for a while and hang out when they're in the same city.

Too bad ... for both of 'em.

NBA star Chandler Parsons has a big fan in Bella Thorne ... they're not only going to see movies together, they also shared a kiss in Mexico.

Someone get Justin Timberlake a bucket of water ... 'cause that dude was ON FIRE Tuesday night!!

The pop star was messin' around on the court at the Lakers game (he's a part-owner of the visiting Memphis Grizzlies) ... when he decided to test his shooting skills from halfcourt.

Not only did JT sink the first shot ... but he followed up with ANOTHER swish -- and then got back on defense after the bucket!!

As for the game, Justin went up to his VIP box and had a dance party with his wife, Jessica Biel ... while the Lakers smashed on the Griz.

#GoLakeShow

Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol ain't worried about retribution from Conor McGregor after busting out his swag walk after hitting the go-ahead 3 pointer Wednesday night ... telling TMZ Sports, "We're cool."

You know the "swag walk" -- arms out, swingin' like you don't care (McGregor actually bit the move from Vince McMahon).

And when we got Gasol out at Nightingale nightclub in L.A. -- partying with teammate Mike Conley -- it was pretty clear to us he meant it as a tribute to the UFC star.

Gasol's shot was THE key moment in the Grizzlies' victory over the Clippers. So, yeah, we get it ...

How do you salute Craig Sager? GET UGLY, BABY!!!

The Memphis Grizzlies did just that -- sporting a bunch of disgustingly awesome Sager-inspired shirts Friday to pay tribute to the legendary courtside reporter ... who's in a fierce battle with cancer.

The shirts are being sold by the SagerStrong Foundation -- and part of the money raised goes to leukemia patients and their families.

Cool to see the Grizzlies not only showing love to Sager ... but helping a good cause in the process.

Scottie Pippen and his wife are FURIOUS at Christian Laettner -- claiming he still hasn't paid them back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he owes them ... and they want to collect, NOW.

Around 2007, Pippen invested a ton of money with Laettner and his partners to buy a stake in the Memphis Grizzlies ... but when the deal fizzled, he never got his money back.

Pippen sued Laettner and his partners and was awarded a $2.5 million judgment -- but has NOT received the full amount.

Enter Larsa Pippen ... who took the beef public this week -- tweeting at Laettner, "Hey @laettnerbball are you ever gonna pay us back homie?"

"It's crazy you've been f***ing us around forever @laettnerbball. Homie how do u sleep at night."

Sources connected to the case tell us Laettner still owes at least $600,000 to the Pippens.

Yeah, we'd be pissed too.

Chandler Parsons is clearly happy that his Memphis Grizzlies teammate, Mike Conley, just signed the largest contract in NBA history ... but he's not that impressed.

FYI, Conley just inked a 5-year $153 MILLION deal ... despite never making an NBA All-Star team.

So, what does Parsons say to the people who claim Conley's being wayyy overpaid?

"It's the market," Chandler said ... "The TV ... the money's going up. Everyone's gonna be getting that."

Note to parents -- MAKE YOUR KIDS BECOME PRO BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

By the way, Parsons also says he won't force Conley to pay for team dinners -- insisting they'll split the bills.

Ya know ... because Chandler just signed a 4-year deal worth $94 MILLION!