NBA

NBA player Royce White -- who famously missed his rookie season with the Houston Rockets due to mental health issues -- is at the center of a criminal investigation in Texas after allegedly beating up his then-girlfriend ... TMZ has learned.

We know ... White's ex-girlfriend Tania Mehra -- a Maxim model -- filed a police report on August 30 to report an incident that went down at Royce's Houston-area home back in June.

According to law enforcement, records show someone called 911 on June 22, 2013 to report a laceration above Tania's right eye. Cops say at the time, Tania claimed she suffered the injury from an "accidental fall."

But Tania changed her tune last week ... and filed an incident report in which she claims she LIED on the night of the incident -- and says in reality, Royce is to blame for her injury.

Cops tell TMZ, "The victim said she had lied earlier because the suspect played for the NBA and did not want the incident to damage his career."

Law enforcement also tells us, "The victim stated that White had assaulted her after she became angered by his advances toward her friend."

Cops say the incident is "under investigation" -- and so far, no charges have been filed against the 22-year-old NBA player.

Sources connected to the investigation tell us ... Tania claims Royce also grabbed a candleholder and threw at at her during the altercation ... but it missed, instead smashing into a mirror and causing it to shatter.

We've reached out to White's reps for comment -- so far, no word back.

FYI -- White was famously profiled on an episode of HBO's "Real Sports" in a segment that chronicled his battles with OCD and anxiety disorder.

NBA star Steve Nash scored a huge legal victory over his ex-wife -- blocking her from moving their kids to L.A. -- and then promptly agreed, for some strange reason, to let the fam come to Cali after all ... TMZ has learned.

As we first reported, the Los Angeles Lakers point guard has been battling his ex, Alejandra Nash, for months over her desire to move their 3 kids from Phoenix to L.A. -- in part because Steve thinks L.A. is a horrible place to raise kids. He even said so in open court.

Steve also believed Alejandra only wanted to be in L.A. because California laws could result in her getting increased child support payments.

Ultimately, the court agreed -- according to documents the judge ruled Alejandra failed to prove the move was "in the children's best interests" -- and her relocation request was "motivated, at least in part, by issues surrounding child support, which is an inappropriate basis for relocation."

Now this is where it gets weird.

Sources connected with the case , tell us Alejandra and the kids are currently living in L.A.! Further, we're told the children have already enrolled in public school in the South Bay section of L.A.

It's a huge mystery -- Nash fought tooth and nail to stop Alejandra, won the case ... and then upped and forfeited the 'W.'

Calls to Nash's attorney haven't been returned.

Kris Jenner quarterbacked the move to get attorney Robert Shapiro involved in representing Lamar Odom in his DUI case for one big reason ... and it's not about the criminal case.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Kris went to Shapiro because of his personal experience with drug addiction.

Shapiro's 24-year-old son Brent died of a drug overdose in 2005 -- and Shapiro has been involved with drug addiction foundations and charities ever since.

We're told Kris wants Shapiro to not just represent him in the DUI case -- which frankly is a case that will almost certainly end in probation and license suspension -- but she wants him to become a voice, urging Lamar to seek help.

As we previously reported, Khloe and the rest of the Kardashian clan have been unsuccessful in persuading Lamar to go to rehab.

We're told ... although Kris has asked Shapiro to represent Lamar -- and Shapiro has agreed -- Robert told her he would not take the case unless Lamar is open to treatment.

Khloe Kardashian's ultimatum to Lamar Odom -- get into rehab or get out of our home -- hasn't exactly forced him to take action ... in fact, Lamar's gone completely off the grid with his wife ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Khloe dropped the tough love on Lamar over the weekend. In the wake of his DUI arrest on Friday, sources tell us she made it clear to Lamar ... he needed to get help, or else the marriage is over.

But we're told since they spoke for 4 hours on Saturday ... Khloe's heard absolutely nothing from Lamar.

As one source put it ... right now Khloe is "totally in the dark" about Lamar's comings and goings -- and the prospects of saving their marriage are getting dimmer everyday.

But Khloe is refusing to let the drama with Lamar affect her social life ... and this weekend, she hit up a Labor Day BBQ fiesta at Katy Perry's house.

During the party, Khloe posed for sexy photos with her friends ... and later tweeted one of the shots to her Twitter page.

Just a few days before the party, Khloe tweeted (and later deleted) the words, "Smile and no one will notice” ... and after this weekend, it seems she's following her own advice.

Lamar Odom needs some legal firepower after his DUI arrest, and its OJ Simpson's lawyer Robert Shapiro to the rescue ... TMZ has learned.

Lamar has hired Shapiro in what promises to be a sticky situation. TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was popped early Friday AM on the 101 Freeway ... and cops believe he was under the influence of both drugs and booze.

Shapiro is known for plea bargaining. These cases are pretty standard -- he'll probably plead no contest to one count of DUI and get probation. He'll also be required to attend an alcohol ed class. And, since he refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test, he'll automatically get his driver's license yanked for 1 year. No getting around that.

This has Kris Jenner's paw prints all over it. She's used Shapiro for other legal messes in the past -- most recently Robert Kardashian Jr.'s criminal battery and theft case.

Dear Tony Parker's rap career ...

You were only 6 years old ... but Tony has decided to put you out of your misery.

You were cheesy ... you were part French ... and you were terrible.

You also inspired YouTube comments like, "Tony, what the f*ck is this?" and "Bad bad bad."

Maybe it's a good thing Tony decided to pull the plug ... at least according to L.A. Lakers player Nick Young ... because, as we said before, you were really, really bad.

But we're not too sad, 'cause as long as YouTube exists, you'll never really die.

Au revoir for now ...

R.I.P. Tony Parker's rap career
2007 - 2013

Khloe Kardashian has given Lamar Odom an ultimatum -- get help or get an apartment.

Our well-placed sources say Khloe has laid down the law -- Lamar can't live at home until he completes rehab -- which he's been unwilling to do since his addiction spun out of control.

Khloe has kicked Lamar out before, but we're told this time she's vowing not to fold ... and Friday's DUI bust was the last straw. Our sources say Lamar didn't call Khloe or his lawyers after the arrest. They found out when TMZ broke the story hours later. Khloe was pissed.

Khloe and Lamar did spend time together Saturday at their home -- but Lamar was sent on his merry way after 4 hours of jawboning about his addiction to crack and other drugs.

Lamar Odom can't be that drugged out ... he was able to find the last Blockbuster video store in LA.

Lamar went deep into the heart of the San Fernando Valley today -- to Reseda -- to pick up some DVDs for his Labor Day enjoyment.

Lamar Odom was seen for the first time since his DUI arrest (barely) ... getting around the only way he can now ... IN A TAXI.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was popped for a DUI in L.A. early Friday morning after cops believed he was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Lamar refused all chemical tests and as a result his driver's license was suspended for year.

As for where he was headed ... the agency who took the photos claims they were snapped outside the gated community where Khloe and Lamar's house is. But frankly, it's hard to tell.

1:00 PM PST -- Khloe was just photographed driving into the gated community moments after Lamar.

Lamar Odom went after his drug enabler with a vengeance, calling the woman a "groupie junkie" and "crack head" ... and he did it while Khole Kardashian was breathing down his neck.

TMZ has seen text messages between Lamar and Polina Polonsky, an attorney who Lamar stayed with during the last few months ... partying with him while he was doing crack.

We've learned on July 13, Khloe confronted Lamar at a downtown L.A. motel, where he was holed up with the woman and doing drugs. In an effort to save her husband, Khloe practically manhandled him out of the room and back to their home.

Once home ... Lamar started texting Polina right in front of Khloe, telling Polina he had "f**ked up." Polina responded by saying, "You're corny." Lamar -- standing next to his furious wife -- then fired his salvo, texting Polina, "Groupie junkie ... crack head."

Lamar went on, "U might want to b careful. Narcs know. They have footage, audio n pics."

Polina responded, "Stay in your lane." He fired back, "4real Know where u work U live Ur parents."

Lots happened this week ... most notably Lamar Odom slipping deeper into trouble over his addiction. So we gotta ask ...

Allen Iverson's ex-wife is sick and tired of dragging him to court to squeeze out child support ... she's asking a judge to make him cough up the next 13 years worth RIGHT NOW -- a cool $1.2 MILLION.

TMZ broke the story ... after the couple's nasty divorce Iverson was ordered to pay $8000/month in child support for their 5 kids. Problem is, Tawanna has gone to court on numerous occasions because A.I. won't pay.

It came to a head in July when a judge threatened Iverson with jail, unless he forked over $40,000 in back support -- which he did. But Tawanna says she doesn't want to keep running into the same problem.

On August 1st she filed docs asking a judge to make A.I. cover ALL the support through October 2026 (when their youngest turns 18). After the math, it comes to $1,272,000 ... which Tawanna wants put in a trust for the children.

Lamar Odom allegedly pulled a Kylie Jenner just 6 days before his DUI arrest -- rear-ending another car and causing a chain-reaction collision on an L.A. freeway.

The 3-car accident occurred at around 6 PM on the 101 Freeway -- the same freeway on which Lamar was popped for DUI on Friday morning.

So how did the media find out about the story? Turns out ... the person Lamar hit is a reporter for the L.A. Times. It's unclear why the Times waited so long to publish the story.

According to the reporter, Lamar's white Mercedes slammed into the back of his ride near the Gower Street exit.

After the collision, the reporter says he tried to swap insurance info with Odom ... but the NBA star was resistant ... and insisted the damage "doesn't even look that bad."

Eventually, the reporter says he obtained Odom's insurance info ... but when he tried to give the insurance card back to Lamar, he bizarrely resisted at first ... before realizing he needed to have his insurance card to drive.

The reporter says the accident was not reported to the cops.

Lamar Odom got some secret visitors yesterday -- two drug counselors who work with the National Basketball Players Association ... just hours before he was busted for DUI.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the counselors -- former NBA players Dirk Minniefield and Cliff Robinson -- had contacted Lamar to offer help, and he accepted -- thus, the meeting.

Cliff and Dirk know a thing or 2 about addicts and drug addiction -- they both struggled with substance abuse during their careers. They currently work with the NBPA ... counseling rookies and struggling NBA players about handling addiction.

During the visit Thursday at Lamar and Khloe's house ... we're told Lamar was receptive and, as one source said, "It was very positive."

Here's the problem ... Shortly after Dirk and Cliff left, Lamar drove off and never came home.

As we first reported, he was arrested early this morning for DUI ... and law enforcement sources tell us they believe he was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol.

11:07 AM PT -- TMZ has just obtained a photo of Lamar's Mercedes SUV inside the tow yard, where his car was taken after the DUI arrest.

10:05 AM PT -- According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept., Odom was released from custody at 8:33 AM. However, it's unclear if Odom has actually left the station yet.

9:17 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... officers at the scene smelled alcohol on Lamar and believe he was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol. The sources say Lamar's driving and conduct were consistent with drugs. We're told there were no drugs or alcohol found in Lamar's car ... only cigarettes, 2 bottles of cologne and other innocuous items.

Lamar Odom was arrested for "driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" early Friday morning ... TMZ has learned.

The bust occurred in the San Fernando Valley at 3:54 AM. Lamar -- who was driving a white Mercedes SUV -- was popped by the California Highway Patrol and taken to a nearby station, where he was booked and is being held on $15,000 bail.

He was pulled over on the 101 Freeway for going too slow -- 50 MPH. Cops say Odom had been driving in a "serpentine manner."

Lamar initially did not respond to cops, and drove 3 exits before finally coming to a stop. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ he showed obvious signs of intoxication.

Lamar failed numerous field sobriety tests.

When Lamar was booked, we're told he refused all chemical tests.

Lamar's booking sheet shows he is 6'10" and 235 lbs.

Lamar has been tooling around town lately ... this after TMZ broke the story he had been on a crack binge.

Atlanta Hawks head coach Michael Budenholzer says he was NOT driving drunk when he was arrested for DUI last night ... and says he has some semi-convincing proof to back his claim.

Budenholzer was arrested in Atlanta around 10:30 PM Wednesday night ... after a Georgia State Trooper noticed the NBA coach's car had a broken taillight.

During the stop, cops say they noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Budenholzer's breath -- and asked him to submit to various field sobriety tests, including a breathalyzer.

According to the incident report, obtained by TMZ, MB agreed to everything BUT the breathalyzer ... and then proceeded to perform poorly during the other field sobriety tests.

During the arrest, Budenholzer reportedly admitted to having consumed 1 glass of wine earlier in the evening. He was arrested and hauled to a nearby jail.

Budenholzer was eventually released from custody around 3:45 AM this morning (5 HOURS after the initial arrest) ... and his lawyer says the coach went directly to a local hospital where a blood test revealed his B.A.C. was less than .01.