NBA

It sure sounds like Austin Reaves wants to be a Los Angeles Laker next season ... but not only that -- he tells TMZ Sports he'd love to "run it back" with LeBron James, too!!

We caught up with the upcoming free agent after the Purple and Gold's playoff exit ... and asked how he'd feel about getting the King to stay in L.A.

Of course, Reaves would have to put pen to paper himself before he thinks ahead to the 2026-27 roster ... but Lakers Nation has gotta be wondering how they could've done this postseason if everyone was healthy.

Naji Marshall is proving he's just as generous off the court as he is talented on it ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned he left a massive tip for a server during a family dinner in New Orleans.

Sources at Otis Seafood House tell TMZ ... the Dallas Mavericks forward stopped by the popular NOLA restaurant Saturday for a birthday dinner with family and quickly made an impression on everyone in the building when he dropped a whopping four-figure tip.

Our sources say Marshall happily took photos with the entire group before quietly pulling the restaurant manager aside and offering to pay for their meal.

A genuine piece of the Chicago Bulls dynasty history is up for grabs -- and it's ain't a replica!

The exact 1992-93 NBA World Champions banner that hung in the old Chicago Stadium after Michael Jordan and the Bulls completed their first three-peat is now live at Grey Flannel Auctions.

The massive vinyl banner -- measuring a whopping 9 feet 8 inches by 14 feet 4 inches -- features bold black "CHICAGO BULLS" lettering at the top, the iconic Bulls logo below it, and "NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS 1992-93" sewn underneath.

San Antonio Spurs player Carter Bryant had a two-or-one opportunity in the middle of the Western Conference Finals ... and it must've been an emergency, 'cause he apparently wound up using the restroom with the normies!!!

The baffling scene was captured on video by an Oklahoma City Thunder fan attending Game 2 of the series at the Paycom Center ... with the footage showing the rookie turning the corner and washing his hands in a hurry.

While it's hard to believe, all signs point to it being legit -- the fan shown in the video is wearing a shirt given to attendees prior to tipoff on Wednesday -- and the bathroom TV appears to show broadcast footage from the game.

Timothée Chalamet clearly doesn't have a playoff superstition when it comes to his hair ... because he got a cut and shaved off his beard in the middle of the New York Knicks' playoff run.

The actor and diehard Knicks fans sat on celebrity row at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night to watch his favorite team complete a stunning comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers ... but the Knicks weren't the only ones making a comeback -- Clean Cut Chalamet is back.

Check it out ... Timmy's hair is noticeably shorter and he's shaved off his thin mustache -- a transformation for the star many online are saying makes him look much younger than his 30 years.

The Knicks won game 1 thanks to an insane comeback, and some diehard New York fans are already looking forward to the NBA Finals ... calling out Victor Wembanyama outside Madison Square Garden!

"We want Wemby! We want Wemby," hundreds of fans chanted outside the World's Most Famous Arena ... a place known for postgame insanity after big Knicks wins.

The vibes were clearly sky high for the Knicks fans Tuesday night ... after mounting one of the largest comebacks in NBA Playoff history.

NY trailed Cleveland by 22 points with less than 8 minutes left ... before going on a 30-8 run to force overtime.

WWE Superstar Danhausen is taking credit for the Cleveland Cavaliers' epic collapse against the New York Knicks ... but now he has some demands in order to keep the momentum going in the Big Apple's favor -- he wants to be right in the middle of Celebrity Row with Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.

For those who don't know, Danhausen has a knack for cursing people ... or in this case, entire NBA franchises.

He issued a curse on the Cavs ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals Tuesday morning due to his love for NYC and his hate for The Miz (a big Cleveland fan) ... and fast forward to the end of Game 1, the Knicks came back from more than 20 down to win in overtime.

The New York Knicks bulldozed their way through their opponents so far this postseason ... but will their dominant run come to an end against the Cleveland Cavaliers??

If you ask former Knicks superstar Amar'e Stoudemire, his answer is a big "heck no" ... 'cause he feels they're just getting started!!

We caught up with STAT prior to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday ... and had to ask how a super-rested Knickerbockers squad will fare against a Cavs team that just finished off the Detroit Pistons less than 48 hours ago.

Jaylen Brown and Stephen A. Smith have major beef ... and it just got kicked to a whole other level.

The Celtics star went on his live stream over the weekend to address comments made about him by the ESPN personality ... and in a clip you're going to have to see to believe, he made it pretty clear he and SAS are far from good.

JB said of Smith talking trash about him ... “F--- Stephen A ... Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands: You want me to be quiet and stop streaming ... well I want you to be quiet and get off these networks. Because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism.”

Brandon Clarke's fiancée Amber Lorraine is mourning his heartbreaking loss ... revealing the two were preparing to get married before his sudden death last week.

Amber shared an emotional tribute to Instagram Sunday alongside a series of photos and a clip including Brandon getting down on one knee -- admitting that the day he proposed was the happiest day of her life ... and she has no idea how to move forward without him.

In the lengthy caption, Amber called Brandon her soulmate and opened up about the life they were building together ... saying they were supposed to marry soon, start a family, and eventually live somewhere where they could be surrounded by animals and a garden.

LeBron James made a high-profile splash Saturday in Las Vegas, showing up with his wife, Savannah James, for the opening weekend of Omnia Dayclub at Caesars Palace.

In video obtained by TMZ, the NBA superstar arrived in the afternoon while the party was already in full swing, with RÜFÜS DU SOL keeping the crowd going as the dayclub packed in a full Saturday scene.

LeBron didn’t linger on the sidelines for long ... as we're told he was quickly escorted to a VIP cabana where he settled in and held court throughout the afternoon.

NBA star Miles Bridges' ex-girlfriend Mychelle Johnson denied she showed up at one of his games with the intention to mess with his car -- days after being hit with a temporary restraining order, TMZ has learned. 

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the Charlotte Hornets star's ex scoffed at his claims that she abandoned their kids with a nanny to drive out to his game. 

She admitted she attended his game on March 21, 2026, on Miles' birthday, because a friend of hers had an extra ticket. 

Charles Barkley believes there are "a bunch" of gay athletes throughout all pro sports ... but the reason they aren't open about their sexuality is that even in 2026, society remains largely homophobic.

The Chuckster shared his thoughts as the "Inside the NBA" crew remembered Jason Collins on Wednesday ... and while the 47-year-old coming out as the first active gay player in 2013 was a historic moment for the league, it's clear he feels there's more work to do.

As Kenny "The Jet" Smith said an announcement like that might not be as big of a deal in present day because of Collins' bravery -- Barkley disagreed.

50 Cent and Eminem just gave fans a full on nostalgia moment ... reuniting courtside in Detroit like it was the early 2000s all over again.

The hip-hop heavyweights and longtime friends were spotted at Little Caesars Arena for Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Tuesday night, where the Detroit Pistons battled the Cleveland Cavaliers.

50 and Em were seen laughing, chopping it up, and soaking in the action and once they hit the jumbotron, the crowd erupted with social media quickly following suit over the rare public reunion.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is devastated by the death of his close friend, Brandon Clarke ... releasing a heartbreaking statement on the tragedy on Wednesday -- admitting he can't wrap his head around his "twin" being gone.

JJJ and Clarke were inseparable -- even after the 26-year-old was traded to the Utah Jazz this season, they continued to maintain a solid brotherhood.

Jackson Jr. went to social media to pour his heart out over the loss ... saying, "i couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. i love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating. i just wish i could talk to you."

The NBA acknowledged the two tragic losses in the family ahead of Tuesday's playoff game ... with the San Antonio Spurs honoring both Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins prior to tipoff against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The fans at Frost Bank Center took part in a moment of silence for both players ... with P.A. announcer Roland Ruiz addressing the news with heartfelt words about both pros.

"The NBA family mourns the passing of two if its own -- Brandon Clarke, a beloved member of the Memphis Grizzlies since 2019, whose leadership and passion earned him respect throughout the Memphis community and around the league, passed away at the age of 29, and 13-year NBA player and NBA Cares ambassador Jason Collins died after a long battle with brain cancer," the Ruiz announced.