NBA

Atlanta Hawks player Dahntay Jones says he feels REALLLY bad about injuring Kobe Bryant's ankle right before the NBA playoffs ... but he's adamant, he didn't do it on purpose!

Jones was at LAX yesterday when he told TMZ ... even though it's only been 2 months since the controversial play, he doesn't hold a grudge against people like Ice Cube -- who called him a dirty cheater days after the play.

"I apologize once again," DJ told us ... "I wish you a speedy recovery, Kobe."

Forgive him yet?

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James really are gunning for the NBA playoffs.

The massive Miami Heat superstars took time out from practicing for this week's playoffs to show off their rock hard buff shirtless pecs, arms and abs on the beach in Miami this weekend.

Unfortunately, the A-list ballers will have to put on jerseys to battle the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.

Telling apart newly out and proud NBA player Jason Collins from his identical twin brother Jarron Collins just got a whole lot easier.

Jason and Jarron were spotted leaving "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in Hollywood on Wednesday looking pretty similar as usual, except for one thing ... Jarron wore a shirt that highlighted a major difference between them.

As a joke, Kimmel gave Jarron the "I'm the Straight One" t-shirt during his interview on the TV show last night ... not that there's anything wrong with that.

NBA star Nick Young is being sued by a woman who claims he raped her, but law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... when she went to cops with the allegations, they dismissed them as bogus.

As we previously reported, the woman claims Nick -- a member of the Philadelphia 76ers -- slipped a date rape drug into her drink at a Hollywood bar in 2011, took her to his home and raped her vaginally and anally.

She's filed a civil lawsuit, but now we're learning shortly after the alleged incident, she went to LAPD cops who dismissed her claim because her story didn't make sense. What's more ... law enforcement says at the time she went to cops, she was already talking about a lawsuit, and that made them even more suspicious.

A woman is suing Philadelphia 76ers star Nick Young for sexual assault -- claiming he roofied her back in 2011 ... took her to his place and then raped her.

The woman filed the lawsuit anonymously under the name Jane Doe, claiming she ran into Young at Crown Bar in West Hollywood ... and he bought her and her friend champagne.

According to the suit, the woman's recollection of the evening ceased shortly after she downed the drink ... and she believes it's because Young had slipped the date rape drug gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) into it.

The woman claims she woke up the next morning in Young's bed, bleeding from her vagina and rectum.

She says Young admitted to having sex with her the night before, but claimed he stopped because she passed out.

According to the suit, the woman demanded to be taken home by Young -- he obliged -- and she beelined for the UCLA Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, where she took a rape kit and was tested for STDs. She claims a test at the center confirmed she had been drugged, and determined the injuries to her vagina and rectum were consistent with rape.

Following the hospital treatment, the woman says she's continued to undergo psychiatric evaluations.

Dwyane Wade's latest move has come up short ... real short.

Wearing a high and tight expensive polka dot double-breasted suit that only Urkel could love, the Miami Heat star showed off some major ankle skin before playing the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

While the cropped pant look is a trend right now, the fashion plate baller should know manpris will always mess up your game.

Jason Collins -- the first active pro athlete to come out as gay -- has already hooked up with a new posse, led by none other than Lance Bass! Teamwork is fabulous, ain't it?

Kobe Bryant's parents have turned their backs on their son -- claiming Kobe was LYING when he accused his mother of stealing more than a million dollars worth of his basketball memorabilia ... and putting it up for auction, TMZ has learned.

Kobe's mom and dad -- Pamela and Joe -- both filed sworn declarations in the legal dispute between Kobe and Goldin Auctions, the auction house planning to sell off the valuable stuff ... insisting Kobe willingly gave his mother the items in question ... and it's her right to sell them.

According to Kobe's dad, Kobe gave his mother the memorabilia over the years, telling her, "Here mom, these are for you." Kobe's mom insists she never took anything from him without permission.

Even Kobe's grandma has filed a declaration in support of Pamela.

Kobe's sister Sharia Washington, on the other hand, filed a declaration claiming their mother has been conspiring to sell Kobe's stuff for years ... telling her the family could profit greatly from Kobe's stardom.

He wants to stop Goldin from selling the items and to have them returned to him. A judge has blocked the auction, but only for now.

So we gotta ask ...

Oklahoma City Thunder all-star Kevin Durant has overcome his fear of spider-ly lawsuits ... TMZ has learned his legal war over the nickname "Durantula" has finally come to an end.

TMZ broke the story ... Durant was sued by former Public Enemy guitarist Mark Durante, who claimed he had trademarked the name and used it to sell merchandise long before KD came along. Durante wanted a judge to stop KD from using it.

KD responded, arguing that he didn't give himself the moniker and never used it to make money. Durant also said no one would ever confuse him with Durante anyway ... probably a safe bet.

But now it's all water under the bridge ... TMZ has learned that Durant and Durante have reached a private settlement and the lawsuit has been dismissed with prejudice ... meaning Durante can never file it again.

Both sides even agreed to pay their own attorneys' fees.

And now, a song.

Jason Collins is not currently the member of any NBA team, but he's part of a different club of sorts these days ... and membership gets you a congratulatory handshake from Lance Bass.

We spotted Collins and Bass outside Boa in West Hollywood Friday night. Collins was there with his twin brother Jarron and Bass was there with a group of buds. Our photog asked Jason about his dating life ... but the bballer prefers to keep his personal life close to the vest.

Los Angeles Clippers fans (yes, they have those now) are on edge wondering if star point guard Chris Paul will re-sign with the team this summer ... and TMZ has the answer ... kind of.

CP3 was at Boa last night when our photog asked him the question everyone wants to know ... would Jason Collins make a good Clipper?

Ok, seriously ... then we asked Chris about the possibility of him NOT re-signing with the Clippers ... and his answer of "I hope so" makes us think he heard the question wrong and he really meant he hopes he DOES come back to LA.

Lil Wayne still hates the Miami Heat so much ... he hooked up the Chicago Bulls with free booze after they upset LeBron James and company -- and TMZ got a pic of their celebration.

It all went down Monday night at Excess Mondays at Mansion nightclub in Miami where, we're told, Wayne invited a few Bulls players (who were already in the club) to party with him ... just hours after they beat the Heat 93-86.

The guys with Weezy were (left to right) -- Mack Maine (pres. of Young Money Entertainment) ... along with Bulls' Taj Gibson, Richard Hamilton, Vladimir Radmanovic and Nazr Mohammed.

Our sources say Wayne provided the boys with bottles of vodka and told 'em he was rooting for them to knock the Heat out of the playoffs.

Wayne's beef with the Heat started back in February -- when he claimed he was tossed out of a game in Miami for rooting for the Lakers.

A judge just gave Kobe Bryant a reprieve from his mother's attempt to sell his memorabilia ... by shutting down the sale ... at least for now.

TMZ has learned a judge issued a temporary restraining order against Goldin Auctions, prohibiting them from selling Kobe's jerseys, championship rings, trophies, and lots of other stuff until a full hearing can be held next Monday.

Sorry Nets ... and Lakers ... Cavs ... and ANYONE else hoping to hire Phil Jackson as a head coach, 'cause the Zen Master will never, ever coach another basketball game in his life, so says Jalen Rose.

Rose -- former NBA star turned ESPN analyst -- was at LAX yesterday when we asked where he thinks the 67-year-old coaching legend will end up.

"Phil Jackson isn't gonna be coaching anymore," Rose said ... explaining that Jackson has nothing left to prove when it comes to Xs and Os ... and if he does come back, it'll be in a "power position."

Kobe Bryant has fired off a lawsuit of his own over more than a million bucks worth of memorabilia ... claiming his own mother stole some of the stuff right from his home.

TMZ previously reported ... Kobe's mom, Pamela Bryant, has given an auction house 100 items from Kobe's basketball career from grade school on -- including jerseys, championship rings and trophies and lots of other stuff.

Pamela told the auction house the stuff was hers and got a $450,000 advance. Kobe told the auction house the stuff was his, so the auction house sued Kobe and asked a judge to rule they had the right to sell the memorabilia.

Now Kobe has countersued the auction house, claiming Pamela stole some of the items from his home and refuses to return many other items that Kobe left at her house when he grew up and left.

TMZ broke the story ... Kobe has given Pamela millions of dollars as well as homes and cars, but the two began feuding after he offered to buy her a house in Vegas but she wanted a more expensive one and he refused.

Kobe is asking a judge to shut down the auction and order the return of the items to him.

Former NBA player Yao Ming is still a big star ... wherever he goes.

The gargantuan 7' 6" retired baller towered over everyone else as he lumbered through the airport in Manila this weekend.