The L.A. Clippers played their first game after Chris Paul's surprise departure on Wednesday ... but the future Hall of Famer was on the home crowd's minds -- with Atlanta Hawks fans hurling chants asking where the heck CP3 was during the game!!
A group of Hawks backers broke out in the jeers while Ivica Zubac was at the free-throw line for L.A. ... with "Where's Chris Paul?" clearly ringing through the arena.
Luckily for Zubac, it didn't have much effect ... as he made both shots from the line. The biggest news of the day also didn't hurt the Clippers' play ... as they went on to get the 115-92 win against Atlanta.
Tyler Herro's nuts took a hit during Wednesday's game -- but it wasn't from an aggressive opponent ... it was courtesy of a referee!!
The low blow took place in the second quarter of the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks matchup at the American Airlines Center ... when Herro was about to shoot a technical free throw.
When the Heat guard stepped to the charity stripe, NBA official Jenna Reneau passed the ball ... but Herro wasn't paying attention and then BOOM -- direct hit on his manhood!
CP3 shared a screenshot of the Lob City hangout on Wednesday ... hours after the NBA world was rocked by the news the Clips abruptly sent him packing for good.
No word on what they talked about ... but we're guessing DJ and BG had to ask Paul for his side of the whole debacle.
Gilbert Arenas says the Clippers might as well pack their bags and get the hell outta of Los Angeles ... going OFF on the organization for disrespecting Chris Paul by sending him home during his retirement season.
The Clippers parted ways with the 12-time NBA All-Star guard in the middle of the night ... and Arenas went to TikTok to go on a passionate rant on the matter on Wednesday.
"Ooooooh, I done had it with the Clippers now," Arenas said. "Y'all gon' send thebest Clipper y'allever had home and not let him finish his last year?!"
Future Hall of Famer Chris Paul isn't getting a chance to ride off into the sunset with the L.A. Clippers -- the team just abruptly cut ties with the franchise great in the middle of a road trip.
CP3 announced the shocking news himself in the middle of the night ... going to Instagram to say he "Just Found Out I'm Being Sent Home" with a peace sign emoji from Atlanta, where the team is slated to play the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Later on, Clippers exec Lawrence Frank confirmed to ESPN the team is moving forward without Paul ... adding it will "work with him on the next step of his career."
Longtime NBA guard Isaiah Thomas is ready to suit up for a team right now ... telling TMZ Sports his body feels good, and he's staying in game shape -- and he says there are a few squads showing interest in bringing him on board.
The last full-season deal he inked was a one-year contract with the Wizards in 2019 ... and despite dealing with serious injuries, he averaged 17.5 points a game over the course of his career -- most notably with the Boston Celtics.
36-year-old Thomas is not looking to move on from the game just yet ... 'cause when we caught up with him at LAX, he said he's got "at least" one more season in him.
Don't worry, Knicks fans, the Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Townstrade will pay off soon ... this according to Charles Oakley, who tells TMZ Sports his addition to the team can pave the way for an NBA Finals run!!
We spoke with the Knicks legend as he was giving away food at Melba’s of Harlem's annual turkey drive this week ... and asked if he believes his former team can make a run at the NBA championship again this season with KAT.
"They should've won it last year ... yes, they can," Oakley said, "They just have to play. I think they got sidetracked last year, a lot of things goin' on."
Luka Doncicis giving props to his teammate, Jaxson Hayes, for sticking up for him during a scuffle in the Lakers game on Tuesday ... saying because the big man had his back, he will happily cover whatever fine he gets from the NBA.
In the fourth quarter of the NBA Cup showdown against the L.A. rivals at Crypto.com Arena, Clippers guard Kris Dunn shoved Doncic to the hardwood while battling for a rebound.
Luka Dončić on Jaxson Hayes having his back after Kris Dunn slammed the ball into his chest:
"I'll pay his fine for sure. Everyone on this team has each other's back."
When Luka confronted him, Dunn slammed the ball into his chest. Hayes immediately jumped in and gave Dunn a taste of his own medicine with a similar shove in the back, which ignited a brief scuffle.
Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn on Monday, a month after he was arrested for allegedly helping the mafia rig underground poker games, a scandal that rocked the NBA.
The now-suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach was arraigned on charges relating to wire fraud and money laundering, appearing alongside 30 other defendants in the Eastern District of New York.
Bond was set at $5 million. Billups put up his Colorado home as collateral, securing his release.
According to the feds, defendants, including members from four of the five crime families in NYC, would lure unsuspecting wealthy targets to card games under the guise they were legit ... using celebrities like Billups to make them appear legit.
LeBron James was quite the football player in high school ... but how about football?? USMNT player Diego Luna tells TMZ Sports he woulda been a BEAST on the pitch in his prime!!
There's always an athlete claiming they could dominate another sport ... so when we ran into Luna at LAX this week, we had to ask which American jock could actually pull it off for the Red, White, and Blue.
"LeBron man, put him up top," Luna said. "Scoring goals, just bossing people around. That would be pretty sick."
Rodney Rogers -- a basketball star who shined in college and went on to have a productive NBA career -- has died ... his alma mater, Wake Forest University announced.
WFU's athletic department released a statement from Rodney's wife, Faye, Saturday morning ... stating Rogers passed away peacefully Friday surrounded by loved ones.
Faye mentions Rodney rising above adversity -- he was paralyzed from the shoulders down in a 2008 ATV accident -- keeping upbeat and joyful despite all his challenges. Faye did not reveal a cause of death.
Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul -- regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history -- is retiring.
The NBA star announced his plans to retire following the 2025-26 season on X Saturday morning, along with a compilation of photos from childhood until now, and some clips of the greatest moments of his celebrated career.
Along with the video, he wrote ... "Back in NC!!! What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!" His message comes ahead of his game against the Charlotte Hornets in his home state of North Carolina.
Joey and Jesse Buss -- who have minority ownership shares with the Los Angeles Lakers -- have just been kicked to the curb by their own team ... and based on a statement released by the two bros, they ain't too happy about it.
The surprise news came just minutes ago via Shams Charania ... who reported Joey and Jesse will no longer hold their scouting roles in the Lakers' front office as the franchise reorganizes its basketball operations department.
Jerry's sons commented on the matter ... saying, "We are extremely honored to have been part of this organization for the last 20 seasons. Thank you to Laker Nation for embracing our family every step of the way."
Patrick Beverleywon't be appearing on Barstool platforms anytime soon -- Dave Portnoyjust revealed the former NBA player is "taking forced time away" following his arrest for felony assault.
The Barstool Sports founder explained his employee's status during "The Unnamed Show" on Wednesday ... saying Beverley -- who has a the "Hoopin' N Hollerin'" podcast with the company -- has "gotta figure all this out."
"We'll let the facts play out," Portnoy said. "Certainly, with what is hanging there, we can't have him be part of what we're doing right now, and we got to see how it settles, but this is horrible."
Lonzo Balland Michael Porter Jr. believe they would have been forces to be reckoned with in the WNBA as teenagers ... with both NBA stars claiming they'd dominate against pro women's players before they were old enough to drive cars.
MPJ stopped by Lonzo's "Ball in the Family" podcast recently ... and at one point in their chat, the current Brooklyn Nets player brought up how A'ja Wilsonsaid she could beat Knicks guard Josh Hartone-on-one.
The convo then transitioned into how Patrick Beverlysaid a WNBA team could beat an NBA team's bench players ... which Lonzo wasn't buying.
Bronny James has left the nest, according to his dad, LeBron, who revealed his oldest child moved into his own place ... and joked that his son has been ghostin' him ever since.
The Lakers superstar mentioned Bronny, 21, had vacated the James family home when a reporter asked about his son's growth in the NBA after Tuesday's game in Los Angeles.
"It's been great to see and to watch," James said.
