NBA

Gregg Popovich's wife, Erin, has died ... according to a statement released by the San Antonio Spurs.

Erin died Wednesday, but the cause of death is unknown at this time. The news comes as a shock to players and fans -- although it's being reported she'd been ill for an extended period ... Coach Popovich hadn't said anything publicly.

Erin and Gregg were married for 4 decades and have 2 kids and 2 grandchildren.

Spurs GM R.C. Buford says, "We mourn the loss of Erin ... She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us."

The Spurs are scheduled to take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their playoff series Thursday night in San Antonio. Kevin Durant was told the sad news at practice and was at a loss for words.

Erin was 67.

Basketball prodigy Mo Bamba ain't even in the NBA yet, but that didn't stop rising rap star Sheck Wes from giving him the ultimate tribute in his breakout single ... and TMZ Sports has the backstory.

We spoke with the Harlem spitter about his uber-catchy song titled after the ex-U. of Texas hooper ... and he explains Bamba asked him for a shout-out in one of his tracks ... and Sheck did him one better!!

Sheck says he and the 6'11" Bamba spent their childhood together in NY ... and explains how their journeys are similar, despite different career paths.

FYI -- If you haven't heard of the 19-year-old MC yet ... it's just a matter of time before you do. He's signed to both Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music and Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Records.

As for Bamba ... he was a 5-star recruit out of high school and is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Forget the Pacers ... the Cavs are gonna smash on EVERY NBA TEAM standing in the way of their quest for another ring -- so says UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic.

We got Stipe -- a proud Cleveland native -- after the LeBrons got rocked in Game 1 of their series with Indiana ... and he told us everyone needs to chill the hell out.

"They're fine. It's one game. It happens," Miocic told TMZ Sports. "They'll start smashing people."

Stipe was so confident, he even Guaran-Sheed the Cavs would crush any Western squad that makes it to the Finals (so, the Warriors or Rockets).

"It's my Cavs, of course they're gonna win."

We also spoke to the champ about the 'Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated' reality show he coached on that premieres Wednesday on FS1 ... and he told us why the fighters this season are must-see TV.

Khloe and True are on their own now with Tristan Thompson, because her fam just hopped on a private jet out of Cleveland.

Kris Jenner and her daughters -- Kim, Kourtney and Kendall -- were wheels up and bound for L.A. Tuesday afternoon. Kris has stayed in Cleveland since last week when Khloe gave birth, but the sisters flew back into Ohio yesterday.

As we reported, Khloe and Tristan's relationship is in ruins right now, and her plan is to bounce out of Cleveland as soon as she and True are medically cleared to make the flight back to Cali.

Ric Flair has a message for all you Cavs fans fretting over that Game 1 beatdown the Pacers put on you ... CHILLLLLLL ... 'cause Nature Boy says LeBron James and the Cavs will win on Wednesday.

As long as LBJ goes for 40.

We got Ric -- a huge Cavs fan and the man LeBron credits with keeping him off the street as a kid -- out in NYC ... and asked if Cleveland is in trouble after the Pacers took it to them in Game 1.

"LeBron, you gotta do 40 tomorrow night, man."

Look away, Spurs fans ... Gregg Popovich has done the unthinkable -- DECLARE HIS ALLEGIANCE TO THE WARRIORS!!

He's clearly just kidding around ... but it's funny!

After going down 0-2 against Golden State Monday night, Pop was spotted leaving Oracle Arena by a couple fans -- who gave him a shout-out for a solid Game 2.

That's when Coach Pop went full Benedict Arnold on his own squad ... which sent the Dubs faithful into a frenzy.

How's this for turning the tables ... a former NBA lottery pick getting a massive $400,000 alimony check from his WNBA star wife?

That's exactly what happened between Candace Parker and Shelden Williams ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

Candace -- one of the biggest stars in WNBA history -- married Williams back in 2008, two years after he was selected 5th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Despite the fact Williams reportedly made more than $12 MILLION during his 6-year NBA career, Parker has apparently done better ... and agreed to shell out the $400k alimony payment. In exchange, she won't have to pay ongoing spousal support.

The couple also divided the profits on their former home in Encino, CA which they just sold for $3.75 mil.

As for their 8-year-old daughter, the couple agreed on joint legal and physical custody -- but neither party will pay child support. Instead, they both agreed to equally fund her education and split any major costs associated with her care.

Kevin Hart is getting in the last word after Dwyane Wade buried Hart's 76ers and blasted him on national TV ... telling the NBA star things are about to get REAL in Miami.

You've seen the highlights -- Wade stared down Hart (and Allen Iverson!) after hitting the dagger in Game 2 of the Heat-Sixers series.

Then, in his post-game interviews, Dwyane made a point to credit Kev for his 28-point night -- "You can thank Kevin Hart for that."

Kev clapped back at D-Wade on his flight home -- and it's hilarious.

"Well played, Dwyane. Well played."

"You gonna blame this on me -- blame Kevin Hart? Oh, I see what you're doing. On ESPN, you gonna say that? WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, SUCKA! We bout to come to Miami and heat it up, you hear me?"

"I'm frustrated. I'm pissed."

James Comey says he modeled his management of the FBI after LeBron James -- and says he used the NBA superstar's never-ending desire to win to motivate the organization.

Yeah, he's being 100% serious.

Comey appeared on "Good Morning America" and said, "I admire LeBron James. I used to talk about him all over the FBI."

"He illustrates what the endless pursuit of excellence looks like."

Comey says he was incredibly impressed by how LeBron pushes himself every offseason -- finding parts of his game to make better.

During his run as FBI director, Comey says he would tell his staff to be more like LeBron ... "We have to find parts of our game to make better."

He also said (close your ears, Bulls fans) that LeBron is undoubtedly the best basketball player alive.

LeBron James stole something extremely valuable at a barbershop ... so claims a company that is suing the basketball legend for allegedly jacking their idea for a TV show.

Adventure Enterprises claims in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, it pitched a TV show to LeBron called "Shop Talk." The backdrop for the show was a barbershop where celebs share their business success stories while getting a haircut.

The company claims it had numerous talks about the idea with LeBron's company, UNINTERRUPTED, over a period of 2 years ... fleshing out the idea and figuring out a strategy for pitching it to various networks.

According to the lawsuit, LeBron went and cut Adventure Enterprises out of the picture and created a ripoff show called "The Shop," featuring LeBron in a barbershop with his contemporaries, "while engaging in an intimate conversation describing cultural experiences." The show aired as a webisode.

Adventure Enterprises claims it confronted LeBron's people, and what they got back was an apology and assurances it was a one-time deal and wouldn't happen again.

Apparently it did happen again, because another segment aired on ESPN no less.

Adventure Enterprises is gunning for an injunction prohibiting LeBron and his company from producing any more episodes. They also want some serious cash.

The company is also suing LeBron's business partner, Maverick Carter.

Khloe Kardashian is following in her sisters' footsteps when it comes to unconventional baby names ... the name of her baby girl is True Thompson.

"Our little girl, True Thompson, has completely stolen our hearts and we are overwhelmed with LOVE," Khloe wrote.

"Such a blessing to welcome this angel into the family! Mommy and Daddy loooooove you True!"

It's interesting she used Thompson as the baby's last name -- which she didn't have to do. Also, the fact she says "our" in the post makes it seem like she's still in a relationship with Tristan ... despite all the cheating.

Our Kardashian sources say the name runs in the family. We're told True was the name of Kris' grandfather, Khloe's great grandfather.

Khloe also broke the details of True's birth stats today, weighing in at 6 lbs, 13 oz when she was born.

It's Khloe and Tristan Thompson's first kid together. Tristan has a son from a previous relationship.

TMZ broke the story ... Khloe gave birth early Thursday morning -- around 4 AM EDT -- at a hospital outside Cleveland. Kourtney, Kim, Kris and Khloe's BFF Malika were by her side during the birth. Tristan was also there.

The lead-up to Khloe giving birth has been rocky, to say the least. As we first reported ... Tristan cheated on Khloe back in October when she was only 3 months pregnant. He was caught on video making out and motorboating 2 women at a hookah lounge outside of D.C.

And just last week ... Tristan was seen taking a woman back to his NYC hotel.

Could you imagine getting on an airplane ... WITHOUT YOUR PHONE?!

Nightmare, right?!

Well, that's ALMOST what happened to "This Is Us" star Sterling K. Brown ... if not for the heroic actions of Lakers rookie Josh Hart!

Brown tells us he left his phone in the car and ALMOST had to suffer an entire flight without Twitter, Instagram and all the movies and TV shows he had on his cell.

Well, thankfully for him ... Hart was there to save the day!

We caught the whole thing on video -- and afterward, Hart told us he wants to treat Brown as his guest to a Lakers game next season!

In a superfight between the Rocky Balboa and Dr. J statues in Philly, it's a KNOCKOUT win for the doc -- so says Julius Erving himself.

You might've heard ... Erving just got a 2nd statue in The City of Brotherly Love decades after his 1st one was unveiled -- a slam-dunkin' sculpture on the 76ers' Legends Walk.

So when we saw doc at LAX, we had to ask who's effigy gets more love -- his, or Sylvester Stallone's?

Julius told TMZ Sports he gets the nod 'cause he's got 2 ... and 'cause his are "a real person, engaged in real battles."

DOWN GOES ROCKY!!!

Shaquille O'Neal saw potential danger, and decided he needed to help after spotting a 2-car wreck Friday afternoon.

The accident -- Honda vs. BMW -- went down in one of L.A.'s busiest intersections ... Sepulveda and Santa Monica Boulevards, and Shaq happened to be driving by in the aftermath. We're told the big fella thought it looked bad enough that he should stop, and try to be of assistance. Y'know, in case a door needed to be ripped off or something.

Luckily, it turned out no one appeared to be seriously hurt. Some passersby saw Shaq on the scene, and thought he was in the accident, but he was really just a giant Samaritan.

We're told Shaq surveyed the situation, realized everyone was okay, shook a few hands ... and went on his way. No paramedics or cops were involved, just a tow truck.

No truth to rumors Shaq handed out cards for the General.

Dr. J doesn't think the baby Philadelphia 76ers have to wait to get to the top of the NBA mountaintop ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks the team can win it all THIS SEASON.

Philly is playing OUT OF THEIR MINDS RIGHT NOW, having won 16 games in a row. Despite that dominance, most experts still think the team is too young to take the whole enchilada THIS SEASON.

"Based on how they're playing now, they can go all the way."

BTW, Dr. J is part of the last team to hoist the O'Brien in Philly, so it's a huge vote of confidence for the young guys.

Brooke Hogan says Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson getting through TT's cheating scandal is gonna be hell on earth ... but NOT 'cause of Khloe's reality show!

Brooke is a huge reality TV star herself (she's starring in MTV's "The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars") -- so we asked Hulk's daughter if "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" reportedly airing out Khloe and Tristan's dirty laundry is a bad call.

Hogan told us the show might actually HELP by humanizing their situation ... and said a bigger issue is Thompson's jam-packed NBA playoff schedule.

"It's gonna be hell for Khloe ... a guy that travels is hard."

"My mom dealt with it, I've dealt with it ... it's definitely not easy especially after a cheating thing," Brooke told the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1).

In other words -- with Tristan gone from Cleveland half the time, it ain't gonna be easy to make things right with KK.