NBA

Guys named "Denzel" gotta stick together -- so says Denzel Washington ... who tells TMZ Sports he actually "tracked down" NBA draft pick Denzel Valentine to say what's up.

Denzel -- the actor -- was at Madeo over the weekend when he explained why it was important for him to meet the former Michigan State star.

FYI, Valentine -- who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the #14 pick -- was actually named after the "Training Day" star.

Moral of the story -- Wanna meet Denzel Washington? Just name your kid after him. It's that easy.

Good news for Mavs fans ... David Lee tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Dirk Nowitzki will leave Dallas for greener pastures ... despite the fact Dirk just opted out of his contract.

Instead of signing his option and returning to make $8.7 mil next season -- Dirk opted out and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. There are rumors he's considering going to the Golden State Warriors.

So, when we saw Dirk's Mavs teammate, David Lee, out in L.A. Friday -- we had to ask for his thoughts.

Lee gives a pretty compelling reason for why he thinks Dirk will be back in Big D next season.

There was A LOT of money at Playhouse nightclub in L.A. last night -- with some of the biggest stars in the NFL, NBA and music colliding to turn up on a Thursday.

NBA draft pick Thon Maker didn't need a college education to make a highly intelligent move Thursday night -- blowing off all the raging celebratory parties in NYC ... to focus on business!

Thon was taken with #10 overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks -- but after his name was called, the 19-year-old told TMZ Sports there was no way he was hitting the town ... he was hittin' the hay instead.

"I'm going to sleep," Maker said ... "I got an early flight, I got practice tomorrow, and a press conference ... I'm going to sleep."

Here's Dez Bryant doing his best Bo Jackson impression ... trying to convince the world he can dominate in 2 sports by taking on some basketball competition in a L.A. pickup game.

Dez hit up L.A. Fitness in Hollywood Thursday ... and hopped on the hoop court with a couple of his homeboys and straight GAVE WORK to the local actors (waiters) in the building.

Sources at the gym tell TMZ Sports Dez's team went on a three game run ... and the All-Pro did his part -- stroking a game-winning 3 from Steph range, which you can see at the end of the clip.

Don't panic, Cowboy fans ... we're told Dez was taking it WAY easy ... just shooting jumpers and not driving into the paint AT ALL.

The NBA Draft is one of the biggest fashion stages in the world -- so ya gotta go big or go home!

A bunch of 1st rounders are already suited up and ready to make a statement -- including Marquese Chriss and Jaylen Brown ... whose custom threads were all designed by Jhoanna Alba and Jill Evans at ALBA Legacy.

They say rich guys get everything free ... which apparently includes dat ass ... 'cause a famous NYC strip club is giving all the guys drafted into the NBA Friday an all-expenses paid trip to bootyland.

TMZ Sports talked with Scores NY -- a world-famous strip club -- and they tell us all lapdances, food, and drinks are on them tonight for any guy whose name gets called by Adam Silver.

There is one problem ... the club is 21+ and a lot of players like Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram and Dragan Bender aren't even 20 yet.

Never fear, young pups ... Scores' honchos tell us they're bringing the club to you ... with a TURNT UP STREET PARTY outside of the club featuring dancers, food, and soft drinks for the tykes.

Ex-NBA superstar Antoine Walker famously blew through his $110 MILLION fortune -- so, with the NBA Draft going down in a few hours ... he dished some $$$ advice to the upcoming rookies.

Walker lays it out ... from the very FIRST thing the rookies should do with their money -- to warning the players to beware of the costly "fetish" that cost him MILLIONS!

Here's the summary of this video -- Busta Rhymes LOVES Derrick Rose. He LOVES Carmelo Anthony.

Porzingis?? Not so much.

Busta is a huuuuge NY Knicks fan -- and says the combination of D-Rose and 'Melo is a major step in the right direction for his beloved squad.

But when we brought the other star on the team -- Kristaps Porzingis -- Mr. Rhymes didn't seem too enthused about the Latvian sensation.

"Carmelo and Derrick Rose ... and I'll vouch for that. I ain't vouching for nothing else."

The 21-year-old fan who was pushed off an upper level deck at Oracle Arena during Game 7 of the NBA Finals is in intensive care and fighting for his life ... this according to his father.

The victim is Salvator Bimbo -- a Golden State Warriors fan who traveled from L.A. to see the game with his brother.

Bimbo's father says a fight broke out at the game and a rival fan grabbed Salvator by the legs and pushed him over a railing.

"My son’s cheekbone is smashed, his nose, his upper-eye, his head, his brain,” Salvator's father told KRON4.com.

"He’s leaking from his ears blood. Not very good. He’s a beautiful young man. Did not deserve this.”

Salvator's family started a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs. They're also begging anyone with information about the suspects to come forward.

So far, no arrests have been made.

We saw Carmelo Anthony and his wife, La La, out in NYC Wednesday night -- so, we had to ask about Derrick Rose ... and the rumors that Kevin Durant will be the next big star to sign with the Knicks.

Check out the clip ... the Durant question makes 'Melo smile.

About to be an overnight MILLIONAIRE? Great. Pay attention.

Don't be a dumbass and blow your fortune like Antoine Walker ... be smart like Kawhi Leonard ... so says NBA veteran Wilson Chandler.

WC was a 1st round pick in 2007 and knows exactly what it's like to be a young guy with crazy disposable income.

So, we asked him to give a message for the hoop stars in Thursday's NBA Draft -- and dude dropped some valuable knowledge.

LeBron James went full Richard Pryor during his speech at the Cavaliers championship parade ... shocking fans and giving TV censors heart attacks.

We can't recall the King ever dropping even a single 4-letter word on camera, but this time on the mic he let loose -- working the stage like a stand-up comedian -- even though kids, including his own, were watching.

Here's Dwyane Wade talking about the one BIG hang-up he had when it came to stripping down naked for ESPN ... and it ain't something you'd expect from the guy.

D-Wade was at LAX when we brought up the spread from ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue ... a spread his famous wife, Gabrielle Union, LOOOVEEED!!!

Check out his face when we read some of her tweets ... including the one where she wrote, "Why dontcha circle back to the house ... meet ya in 10."

Wade blushes ... it's adorable.

BONUS -- We also asked about the chances he teams up with LeBron sometime again in his NBA career. Check out his answer ...

Iggy Azalea drives a hard bargain ... she's also now driving a 1962 Impala that Nick Young has given her as a parting gift.

We've learned that Iggy and Nick struck a deal ... he gets the engagement ring back and she gets the car she had given him for Xmas.

Here's the breakdown ... the ring is 10.43 carats, and reportedly valued at half a mil.

As for the whip ... a '62 Impala is a classic ... a cherry one can go for as much as $100k.

It sounds like Nick made off like a bandit, but here's the twist. In California, and most states, an engagement ring is a gift in contemplation of marriage and if the nuptials never happen, the ring -- by law -- goes back to him.

As for the Impala, it was not tied to the marriage -- it was a Christmas gift -- so he did not have to give it back.

Now you know, Nick ... for next time.

Big offseason for L.A. Lakers forward Julius Randle ... who just proposed to his smokin' hot model girlfriend with a diamond that's bigger than her knuckle!!

The 21-year-old NBA player popped the question to Kendra Shaw during a romantic getaway to Greece ... and clearly, she said "Yes."

Randle started dating Shaw during his 1st season at the University of Kentucky -- and decided it was time to lock it up for good!

We're working on the ring details -- but DAMN ... we're guessin' it wasn't cheap.