NBA

Derek Fisher says Carmelo Anthony needs to be focused on family ... not basketball ... and promises he'll reach out to his former player and help him cope with the separation from his superstar wife, La La.

Derek coached Melo on the Knicks a few years back -- and when we got him out in Calabasas with his GF, Gloria Govan, we had to ask if he'd he heard the news about Melo's marriage.

Interesting question for Fisher (Govan LITERALLY sips tea when we ask) ... but he goes full-on friend, saying Anthony should tune out everything except his family. He also promises to call Melo to offer his support.

James Worthy ain't backing down from Kevin Durant -- saying the NBA star was not only WRONG when he trashed him on a recent podcast, but claims KD's underhanded allegations could seriously damage his career.

Worthy is upset about a story Durant told on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" -- in which KD says he met Worthy last year and they had a very cool conversation about Durant leaving OKC for Golden State.

But Kevin says he learned a short time later that Worthy trashed him about the move during a TV interview. Durant felt betrayed and called James "shady" and "corny."

But Worthy says Durant's version of the story is simply untrue -- and he was so upset, he tracked down the TV interview in question to prove he's not a two-faced liar.

Worthy says he reached out to the Golden State Warriors in an effort to clear things up with Durant and had hoped KD would set the record straight on a podcast this week, but that didn't happen.

Worthy says he's REALLY upset at KD's agent, Rich Kleiman, for encouraging the NBA star to "go negative."

Still, James says Durant is one of his favorite players and he hopes they can squash the beef.

Rajon Rondo rocked a short sleeve suit jacket to the Bulls game Friday night ... and we gotta say -- kinda swag!!!

Ronda is currently nursing an injured thumb and has a cast on his right hand that might prevent him from fitting his arm into a regular full sleeve.

So, he made an adjustment and went short-sleeved ... and totally pulled it off!

Russell Westbrook's potty mouth just cost him $15,000 ... 'cause the Thunder superstar just got slapped with a fine for his "I don't give a f*** about the (stat) line" comment.

You've seen the clip ... Brodie was asked about his 51-point triple-double performance in Wednesday's loss to the Rockets and snapped back with the viral quote.

It's not the first time Russ has been fined for cussing ... and probably won't be the last. But the dude can afford it ... he's in the middle of an $85 million contract.

Carmelo Anthony and La La are hashing out a temporary custody agreement in which she will get primary custody of their son ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the former couple tell us 10-year-old Kiyan will live with La La in NYC, but Melo has a totally open line of communication and will able to spend time with his son as much as he'd like.

We're told the 2 believe they can work out all the details without going to court ... it being done with their lawyers.

Both Carmelo and La La agree it's important they work out a structure for Kiyan so he's not whipsawed from place to place while they end their marriage. We're told La La has issues with Carmelo for sure, but she's adamant he's a great dad and deserves time with his son.

We're told they are absolutely getting divorced, even though legal docs haven't been filed ... yet.

Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey says he NEVER got physical with his Playboy Playmate ex-fiancee, Kennedy Summers ... claiming she made the whole thing up to damage his reputation.

As we previously reported, Summers -- the 2014 Playmate of the Year -- filed a police report earlier this week accusing Withey of domestic violence in an alleged 2016 incident.

John Salley knows exactly what Carmelo Anthony should do amidst all his basketball and woman drama -- head west and play for the Lakers!!

The 4-time NBA champ says Melo's not the type to seek advice about his split with La La, but he's optimistic things will get better for the superstar on and off the court ... and thinks L.A. is the place to start fresh.

Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey has been accused of domestic violence in a police report filed by his Playboy Playmate of the Year ex-fiancee, Kennedy Summers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources confirm the report was filed in Manhattan Beach, CA on Tuesday and references multiple alleged incidents. We're told cops are focused on one alleged incident from 2016.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops were called to an incident involving Withey and Summers last year, but no report was made at the time and nobody was arrested.

Sources connected to Summers tell us she filed the report now because Withey and the Jazz are in an NBA playoff series with the L.A. Clippers and she's concerned for her safety when he's in L.A.

Kennedy’s rep, Zack Teperman, tells us ... "Given the ongoing circumstances, our client now needs to protect herself and come forward about everything so this doesn't happen to her or others in the future."

Withey and Summers have had relationship issues for years -- they broke up back in 2016 after Summers trashed the NBA player on social media when she found out he took someone else on a movie date behind her back.

They reconciled and got engaged a few months later before finally calling things off for good in October.

We reached out to Withey's camp for comment. So far, no word back.

NBA superstar Isaiah Thomas says "the pain I am feeling right now is impossible to put into words" following his sister's fatal car crash.

Thomas' 22-year-old sister, Chyna, died Saturday in Tacoma, WA after her car violently slammed into a metal pole. Thomas -- who played in Game 1 and 2 of the Celtics' playoff series against the Bulls -- traveled home as the family prepares for the funeral and he's clearly grief-stricken.

He said, "I never could have imagined a day where my little sister, Chyna, wouldn't be here. She and my family are everything to me ... This has been without question the hardest week of my life."

Thomas went on to say he's overwhelmed by the love and support he's received from friends, fans, the City of Boston, the Celtics org and NBA community throughout.

There's only one way to celebrate a monster playoff performance like DeAndre Jordan had Tuesday night -- HIT THE NIGHTCLUB!!

Jordan headed straight to Avenue Nightclub in Hollywood after dominating the Jazz with 18 points and 15 rebounds and helping the Clippers tie the series at 1-1 ... hanging out until after 1 AM.

But don't trip ... Lob City has a couple days off until their next game, so he should be good to go come Friday.

Scottie Pippen and Larsa have finally made a decision on the state of their marriage -- and will move forward with the divorce ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The good news ... the NBA legend and the former 'Real Housewives' star are on really good terms and have vowed to remain friends after the split.

We broke the story ... Scottie filed divorce docs back in October after 19 years of marriage. The two have 4 kids together.

But the two spent months trying to work things out and just last week they traveled to Universal Orlando Resort as a family.

In the end, the two sides decided it's just not working and the best move is to split. We're told both Scottie and Larsa have vowed to remain friends and co-parent their kids.

Of course, the couple had issues in the past -- but, as one source put it, "Couples argue. It never got physical."

The good news ... both should do well on the dating scene. Especially Larsa. See proof below.

Rudy Giuliani says basketball fans shouldn't turn their backs on Carmelo Anthony in the wake of adultery allegations ... because HALF of all athletes cheat.

The ex-NYC mayor was out in L.A. when we asked how he felt about the standoff between Melo and the NY Knicks ... with Phil Jackson saying he wants Anthony off the team next year.

"He's a Knick," Rudy told us ... "Once a Knick, always a Knick."

They look pretty identical, but Rob Lowe is finally setting the record straight -- telling TMZ Sports he's NOT new Lakers GM Rob Pelinka ... but he knows what he would do if he was!

The resemblance is uncanny and people in L.A. have been talking about it ever since Pelinka got the job ... so when we saw Lowe in L.A. on Monday, we asked him if they were separated at birth.

"How do you know I'm NOT the Lakers new GM?"

Carmelo and La La Anthony are separated ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell us the actress and NBA superstar are now living separately. La La moved out of the family home last week and has her own place in NYC now.

We're told the couple's had ups and downs in the past, but the current NBA season has been extremely stressful on the marriage for several months. Carmelo's been plagued by trade talks ... with the Knicks looking to move him to another team.

Our sources say the split is still amicable. They were together just this past weekend at their 10-year-old son Kiyan's basketball game.

We're told La La and Carmelo have NO plans to uproot Kiyan from his friends and school in NY.

Problem is ... it seems likely Carmelo will have to leave town, because just last week Knicks President Phil Jackson said it was time for him to go.

Neither is talking divorce yet, just separation. The couple got married in 2010.

The KISS shirt that Russell Westbrook rocked to the OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets playoff game Sunday night went over REAL WELL with Gene Simmons.

The leader of the KISS army was out in L.A. where he gave all sorts of props for Westbrook's fashion statement ... explaining why Westbrook's fashion choices are part of a bigger, smarter plan.

But make no mistake about it, Gene thinks the real winner last night ... was Gene!

Hey, the guy's been relevant in pop culture for 45 years ... that's no small feat.

Big win for J.R. Smith this weekend -- and it happened BEFORE the Cavs' playoff game!

J.R.'s micro-preemie daughter -- born at only 1 pound -- made another huge stride on Friday and had her very first bottle!

As we previously reported, Smith's wife, Jewel, gave birth to Dakota "Kota Bear" Smith in early January almost 5 months before her due date.

Though the odds were stacked against her, Kota is continuing to fight -- and being able to feed from a bottle instead of a feeding tube is a pretty big deal!

J.R. posted about the experience -- "My boo got her first bottle today! #proudofyoubaby #kotastrong."

It's just the latest in a series of impressive feats from the littlest Smith -- her breathing tube was removed last month and she's continuing to gain weight.

Keep fighting!