NBA

October won't just feature pumpkins, ghouls and goblins this year, it'll also mark the first time in forever that "Roundball Rock" will be on NBA broadcasts ... and the man who created the iconic jingle tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be more fired up for it!

We caught up with John Tesh out in Los Angeles last week ... and he could hardly contain his excitement when talking to us about the song's return to airwaves.

The tune, of course, was a staple of NBC's coverage of the NBA throughout the 1990s ... but when the network lost the rights to broadcast Association games roughly two decades ago, the melody went on hiatus.

While NBA general managers are frantically working the phones to build championship rosters, Victor Wembanyama is continuing to knock out his side quests -- this time, he was spotted having fun at a nightclub in Japan!!

TMZ Sports obtained video of the 7'3'' center hanging out at 1OAK Tokyo early last Sunday morning ... where we're told he was chilling with some players from Japan's pro basketball league as "Get it Sexyy" by Sexyy Red blared on the speakers.

Our sources tell us Wemby was super friendly and welcoming to all the ladies and men around him ... and hung around for about 90 minutes before heading out.

Shaquille O'Neal was back on the set of "Gravesend" Tuesday ... filming scenes for the mob drama while looking far more like a crime boss than a lovable basketball legend.

Check out these images TMZ Sports has obtained ... the 15-time NBA All-Star was decked out in a huge gold chain, a black track suit and some specs as cameras rolled on him for his part in the Amazon Prime series.

Playing "Mustafa," he chatted away with businessman and producer, Jas Mathur, who also has the role of "Miguel" in the hit show.

Damian Lillard's time in Milwaukee has come to an abrupt end -- the Bucks are releasing the star guard amid his torn Achilles recovery.

The surprising move occurred during the first full day of free agency on Tuesday ... when Milwaukee let go of the 9-time All-Star to financially make room to sign ex-Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a four-year deal worth $107 million.

The Bucks will now pay Lillard the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five years.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's offseason just got $285 million sweeter ... the NBA champion just locked in a super max contract with the Thunder -- making him the highest-paid NBA player ever!!

The blockbuster four-year deal was announced on Tuesday, keeping the NBA MVP with the champion Thunder through the 2030-31 season.

Doing the math ... it means SGA will earn $71.25 million per year, making it the NBA's highest annual salary in league history.

EA Sports ... It's (Back) In the Game!

Electronic Arts revealed big news Monday morning, announcing the return of another fan favorite, their college hoops game, EA College Basketball!

"Bring the Madness. Let's run it back," the company wrote in an X post.

It's been 16 years since EA Sports last put out the last college basketball game, which featured then-Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin on the cover in 2009.

Malik Beasley is the subject of a federal investigation related to gambling on NBA games and prop bets ... this according to ESPN.

The nine-year NBA veteran is facing allegations connected to the 2023-2024 season ... when he played in 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks.

According to the outlet -- citing an anonymous source -- at least one major sportsbook detected unusual betting interest in Beasley's stats starting in January 2024.

Sauce Gardner is peeling back the curtain on his love life ... telling TMZ Sports things are pretty "cool" with Ice Spice -- and as it turns out, LeBron James had a role in their coupling!!

We caught up with the New York Jets star out in L.A. this week ... and asked him all about his budding romance with the rapper.

While Sauce didn't sing like a bird, he did say he liked how things were going ... and raved about all they have in common -- being based in the Big Apple, experiencing success at a young age and having their fair share of haters.

Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend, Jade Jones, might need some earplugs ASAP ... 'cause the NBA superstar invested in a bell to help him out amid his Achilles recovery -- and he's already putting it to use!!

Jones shared the video on her Instagram on Friday ... showcasing the Pacers guard chilling on his knee scooter as he rings for her assistance.

"This guy did not order a bell guys please😩," she wrote.

Cooper Flagg had a subtle, yet hilarious, reaction to Luka Doncic's name getting dropped during his presser with the Mavericks ... appearing to side-eye Nico Harrison -- the guy who shipped the face of the franchise out of town.

The former Duke Blue Devil was officially introduced on Friday ... just days after Dallas selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 18-year-old received a series of questions from the media ... including one from ESPN's Tim MacMahon, who asked Flagg how it felt to be the potential face of the franchise, a role many once expected Luka to fill before "plans changed."

While Oklahoma City's on-the-court game is unrivaled, its ability to celebrate sure needs work ... but Alex Caruso assured TMZ Sports this week "the next time" his Thunder squad is in position for some champagne showers, it won't have another letdown.

If you missed it, following OKC's Game 7 NBA Finals victory on Sunday night, the notably young Thunder couldn't quite figure out how to properly douse themselves in bubbly ... and needed a big-time assist from 31-year-old Caruso to even open the bottles.

The OKC guard acknowledged to us on Thursday, "it was not a great showing" -- but he was sure it won't happen again.

Dwight Howard is mourning the loss of his beloved dog, Sunday ... saying his companion was tragically killed in an alleged hit-and-run over the weekend.

The NBA center shared the sad news with his Instagram followers on Wednesday, posting several photos and videos of the good times with his Belgian Malinois.

Howard -- now playing in the BIG3 league after 18 NBA seasons -- said Sunday lost her life on June 18 in Suwanee, Georgia, after she was allegedly struck by a car that didn't stop.

Ace Bailey reportedly wanted NOTHING to do with the Utah Jazz prior to Wednesday night's draft ... so how did he feel about the organization taking him with the fifth pick??

Well, if you believe the former Rutgers star ... he's calling it a "blessing" nonetheless.

Bailey met with the media after he walked the stage at Barclays Center ... and all things considered, he appeared to be in great spirits.

V.J. Edgecombe couldn't hold back the tears after the Sixers drafted him with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft ... crying on live TV as he thanked his mom for all her sacrifices -- and it was super sweet!

The star Bahamian athlete walked up on the Barclays Center's stage on Wednesday and shook commish Adam Silver's hand after Philadelphia pulled the trigger on the 6'5" guard.

Edgecombe's mom started the waterworks ... as she witnessed her son's dreams come true -- a moment that deeply moved V.J. during his post-draft interview with Taylor Rooks.

Dillon Brooks' split with the mother of his children has gotten even nastier ... TMZ Sports has learned the NBA star is now asking for a restraining order against his ex.

Brooks filed for the TRO in Los Angeles on Wednesday ... alleging Heather Andrews -- who he shares a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old with -- has destroyed his belongings, hacked into his social media accounts, and even once threatened to cut off his fingers.

Brooks said in his request he met Andrews back in 2018 at a Las Vegas nightclub and started dating her a short time later. He said within months, she got pregnant with their first child ... and, around that time, he claimed her harassment of him began.