NBA

NBA star Iman Shumpert was INCREDIBLY calm for a guy who's fiancee unexpectedly gave birth in their home -- and you can hear the whole dramatic thing unfold on the 911 recording.

Thinking about entering a dance battle? Might wanna recruit Shaq as your partner.

The Big Fella teamed up with a little girl for a 2-on-2 battle at the Kohls headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin ... and killed it.

Watch the clip ... Shaq reached all the way back to 1994 and busted out a little Tootsee Roll action!!

Memba the 69 Boys? Reginald "Busta Nut" Gunderson and Michael "Quick Skeet" Fisher??

The 90s were fun.

DON'T BLAME JASON DAY for not protecting his wife from that crazy collision with LeBron James at the Cavs game ... so says Jason's mother-in-law who says they're all just glad Ellie's okay.

Ellie Day suffered a concussion and was carried out of the arena on a stretcher after James accidentally ran into her at the game ... while she and her pro golf star hubby were courtside.

Some critics have gone after Jason -- saying he should have done SOMETHING to shield her from the blow ... but Ellie's mom says it's wrong to point the finger at Jason.

"I don't blame [Jason] at all," Lucy Knapp tells TMZ Sports.

"I love Jason very much. He's a wonderful father and husband. He also a great son-in-law. He cares about his family very much."

"I just thank God that she's okay."

Lucy says she cried when she saw the incident on television and refuses to watch the replays -- but says Ellie appears to be doing well and is now resting and recovering at home.

J.R. Smith totally out-Santa'd St. Nick in the gift giving dept ... at least according to his mom who says the Cavs forward spoils her every Xmas with expensive bags, fancy cars ... and even a freakin' HOUSE.

We ran into Ida Smith -- who was in NYC working with the J.R. Smith Family Assist Foundation -- and being that it's the yuletide season we had to ask ... what's the best gift her super rich son left under the tree?

When we say super rich we mean it ... J.R.'s made over $40 million during his NBA career so he's definitely got the paper to make the holidays special.

Check out the clip ... Ida says Smith never disappoints, with her past holiday haul including a Louie bag, a brand new BMW, and on one faithful Christmas eve 10 years ago ... A BRAND NEW HOUSE.

16 hours before the Milwaukee Bucks crapped the bed and lost to the last place Lakers -- several Bucks players hit an L.A. strip club and partied until 2 AM ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

O.J. Mayo, Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton and Miles Plumlee rolled into Ace of Diamonds L.A. on Monday night ... and we're told they stayed a little after 2 AM.

The Bucks played the woefully bad Lakers on Tuesday night and lost -- just days after upsetting the previously undefeated Golden State Warriors -- leaving many people scratching their heads.

NBA great Steve Francis says he's 100% DRUG FREE ... and talk that he's using any type of illegal narcotic is baseless and totally out of left field.

TMZ Sports spoke to Francis about the health rumors that reignited last weekend after he showed up at the Lakers-Rockets game looking ... kinda different. Social media comments were brutal and included speculation he might be on drugs.

But Steve said all that drug talk is "so far from the truth. That's why I don't worry about social media." He added he's purely focused on his family, and his community in Houston. "I'm trying to be a positive influence on people."

As for his appearance at the game -- a source close to Steve told us there's no health issue, "He's just old."

"I think there's no defense for using that kind of language" -- Jason Collins on Rajon Rondo.

Collins -- the 1st openly gay player in NBA history -- was at LAX Tuesday when we asked for his thoughts on Rondo hurling a homophobic slur at an NBA ref earlier this month ... a ref who later came out as gay.

Shaq is NO JOKE on the turntables -- according to one of the most famous DJs on the planet ... who says The Diesel has real talent on the 1s and 2s ... and he's down to collaborate.

We spoke with DJ A-Trak -- who was Kanye West's personal tour DJ before blowing up on his own.

A-Trak says he's seen Shaq spin -- and says O'Neal is the real deal -- the best celebrity DJ in all the land ... "He's better than a lot of techno DJs."

It's been a while since Shaq dropped a new song -- but with A-Trak open to get involved, it's an opportunity Shaq might not able to pass up.

CAN YOU DIG IT?!?!?!

Luke Walton just got a LEGENDARY co-sign from one of the biggest names in basketball coaching history ... who says Walton has already proved he's got what it takes to be a head coach in the NBA.

TMZ Sports spoke with Luke's college coach Lute Olson -- who's in the Basketball Hall of Fame after a historical run at the University of Arizona.

Olson tells us he's been paying very close attention to how Walton's doing as the interim coach of the Golden State Warriors -- and says he's convinced Luke is ready for a full-time role.

"Just watching him on the sideline, he handles himself really well. He is a great communicator. I can tell the players really like him and respect him."

Walton is currently filling in for Steve Kerr -- who also played for Lute -- and Olson says he couldn't be more proud of his proteges.

As for Luke, Olson believes it's only a matter of time before he gets a serious job offer from another team.

Jahlil Okafor is NOT out of the woods for his violent Thanksgiving Eve street fights -- with the NBA telling TMZ Sports they're still investigating the situation and have not decided if he'll face additional punishment from the league.

As we previously reported, the Philadelphia 76ers suspended Okafor for 2 games -- after the rookie got in TWO FIGHTS that night ... allegedly knocking out two different men.

At least one of the alleged victims has already lawyered up and is threatening a massive lawsuit.

But the NBA tells TMZ Sports the investigation into Okafor is STILL going on -- two weeks after the incident.

"Based on what we currently know, we support the 76ers' approach in this matter," an NBA rep tells us ... "The league office is continuing to investigate the events of that night."

As for Okafor, he says he's "not proud" of his recent actions -- vows to hold himself to a higher standard moving forward.

It might be the most passionate, poetic job offer ever -- the letter an Italian basketball team sent to Kobe Bryant ... begging him to play for them after he leaves the NBA ... and it's friggin' beautiful.

The team behind the offer is Viola Reggio Calabria -- the team where Kobe's dad, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, dominated back in 1986-87 ... once scoring 69 points in one game.

The team got word that Kobe has been kicking around the idea of playing overseas -- and reached out through an open letter to the Mamba ... which included a picture of him wearing a Viola shirt back when he was 8 years old.

"The picture shows an eight-year old boy, proud to wear the jersey with the words Viola Reggio Calabria. Unbeknownst back then, he was destined to great things. That eight-year-old boy was you, Kobe."

There's more ...

"Dear child of Reggio Calabria, fantastic Kobe, on this most beautiful stretch of land that is full of affection for you we close our eyes and dream."

"There will always be a home for you at this great club on the Straits of Messina. Our dream might be too big but maybe it is the same dream you unknowingly had as that 8-year-old boy in the picture."

"We want you to come home, to wear our colours, to represent our city, just as your father did before you. There is a black and orange family waiting for you, with the same name on the back: 'Bryant.'"

"A warm hug, dear Kobe, our great basketball legend."

It's the end of the road for Kobe ... and that's why Philadelphia singing legend Shawn Stockman says the city should get down on bended knee for the Mamba ... and give him the key to the city.

Stockman is royalty in his native Philadelphia as part of legendary singing group, Boyz II Men ... so when we got him at LAX we had to ask ... how does the city say 'thank you' to it's favorite bball son?

Check out the clip -- Shawn says Kobe definitely deserves the full hero's send-off ... complete with parades, and the key to the City of Brotherly Love.

We know it's hard to say goodbye to yesterday ... but that would be a good start.

Call him old school ... but Shaquille O'Neal says when it comes to retiring Kobe Bryant's jersey, there's only one option ... his ORIGINAL number ... the ocho.

The debate has been raised in the Lakers front office -- since Kobe dominated in both #8 and #24 ... and team officials are still undecided about which number to hang in the rafters at Staples.

But Shaq says there's no decision -- ya gotta go with the original number. Then again, Shaq's probably biased -- since he won 3 rings with Kobe in his #8 days ... and never played with him as #24.

There's more to the clip ... Shaq also says he'd be down to have Kobe on "Inside the NBA" after the season.

Interesting celebrity foursome at the Knicks vs. 76ers game Wednesday night -- Chris Rock, Beastie Boys rapper Adam Horovitz, Ben Stiller and Jimmy Fallon.

Huge stars ... super successful ... and it got us thinking -- who's got the biggest bank account?

Chris Rock -- movies, syndicated TV show, stand-up ... dude's ballin'

Ad-Rock -- 33 huge years as hip-hop royalty

Ben Stiller -- movies, movies, movies, movies

Jimmy Fallon -- talk show money is no joke

Bottom line ... we don't really know who's got the most cash -- but if they combined forces, they could probably buy a team ... like the 76ers.

Ya play well, ya eat well ... that seems to be the motto with the New York Knicks -- 'cause Kristaps Porzingis just got invited to dinner at Carmelo Anthony's house.

Melo's actress wife LaLa -- star of "Unforgettable" -- was out in NYC when she told us Porzingis has been playing so well, he's "earned a spot at our dinner table."

FYI -- Porzingis has been playing out of his mind this season ... racking up 9 double-doubles in 19 games ... as a 20-year-old rookie.

In fact, the Latvian sensation is so impressive, Lala says Melo has even made the effort to learn some of Kristaps' native language. Interesting, since Kristaps once told TMZ Sports he didn't think ANYONE would wanna learn Latvian!

Funny how things change ...

Kobe did it. Shaq did it. Even Metta did it ... and now Jordan Clarkson says he may be the next Lakers player to drop a RAP ALBUM -- but there's a huuuuge catch.

Clarkson hit an L.A. club the other night to celebrate Julius Randle's birthday -- and on the way out, he told us he's kicking around the idea ... but ONLY after he wins an NBA title.

Good news for Clarkson -- he may have some time to work on the lyrics.

BTW, here's a video of Kobe rapping to jog your memory. Good times ...