NBA

LeBron James is back with the Cleveland Cavaliers -- at least for a few days -- as the 2016 team reunited for a luxurious European vacation to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their iconic NBA Finals victory.

The King, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Richard Jefferson, J.R. Smith, and Channing Frye linked up for some golf, wine, helicopter rides, and tomfoolery this week ... and it didn't take long for the guys to start cracking jokes at each other's expense.

There were "deez nuts" jabs, invasions of privacy during "pee pee" time ... and, naturally, some retirement body shaming from Love, who is still hooping in the league at 37 years old.

In one of his several Instagram Stories documenting the trip, Love set his sights on Frye ... claiming there's a new "big three" in Cleveland -- "chins, t***ies, gut."

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't been touring venues and tasting cake -- he had his hands full winning a championship!!

The Knicks star, fresh off delivering New York its first NBA title in 53 years, revealed he put wedding planning with fiancée Jordyn Woods on the back burner while he was laser-focused on hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

"I need to start planning. I need to start there. The only thing I've been planning this whole time was an NBA championship," Towns told us of his upcoming nuptials from a Raising Cane's restaurant in Times Square in Manhattan.

Tragedy struck a bachelorette party hosted by Tyrese Haliburton's fiancée, Jade Jones, in St. Barts earlier this month when one of her friends died ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ Sports ... 26 year old Makenzi Kern passed away unexpectedly from health complications ... and the family does not suspect that foul play, drugs, or alcohol contributed to her death.

We're told the family is distraught by the loss.

Tyrese Haliburton’s fiancée, Jade Jones, and her girlfriends were all smiles at her Bachelorette party before tragedy struck and one of the guests, Makenzi Kern, died. 

Jade and her girlfriends posted countless photos of their celebration in St. Barths starting on June 2. 

In snaps, Jade was seen laying on a white bed with balloons spelling out "Bride." The group posed for photos in front of a pool with the beach in the background, while holding drinks. 

Jalen Brunson took an apparent shot at Victor Wembanyama during the Knicks' championship celebrations ... with the New York star raising a glass as the room chanted "F*** Wemby."

The clip is making rounds on social media on Monday ... showing the Finals MVP surrounded by a group of guys as they prepare for a champagne toast.

It's hard to tell who initiated the anti-Wemby jab -- it very well could have been Brunson himself. If it wasn't him, the All-Star guard didn't seem to mind at all ... as it came off like a friendly poke, not a full-on declaration of hatred for the 7'4" center.

Mikal Bridges is still on cloud nine -- enjoying a few adult beverages and jammin' out to pop rock -- two days after the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years!!!

The usually reserved 6'6" wing player went live on social media on Monday, and it was a vibe ... at one point asking himself, "It's 11 AM. What the f*** am I doing?" before asking for another shot.

Among the topics Mikal covered was the possibility of his teammate getting a statue outside the Garden.

James Harden didn't look too thrilled to be posing for a mug shot early Saturday morning ... with the NBA star giving a blank stare after his gun-related arrest.

TMZ Sports has obtained the booking photo from the Houston Police Department ... showing the 36-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers guard staring down the camera lens.

As we previously reported, Harden was taken into custody around 3:41 AM when a handgun was observed on the seat of his car and not in a holster after being pulled over for a traffic violation.

Former NBA Star Dwight Howard says his wife is a master of lies and manipulation ... and alleges she tricked him into marriage with false claims about her fertility ... at least according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Dwight filed court docs requesting a protective order against Amber -- also known by her stage name Amy Luciani -- claiming they have had a rocky relationship for years … which led to him filing for divorce.

He said Amber started a “crusade of lies and defamation” against him … costing him job opportunities. He said she is also spreading lies about him to his family, friends, and the mothers of his children.

Charles Barkley couldn’t hide his surprise over one familiar face showing up courtside during Game 5 of the NBA Finals ... and he made sure to call it out on live TV.

As "Inside the NBA" was heading to a commercial break on Saturday night, Barkley reacted in real time after cameras cut to actress Sydney Sweeney in the crowd.

"Is that Sydney Sweeney?" Barkley said, sounding genuinely shocked before adding, "Everybody’s a New York Knicks fan now."

Jalen Brunson is making it clear he’s got Monica McNutt’s back after she caught heat from Taylor Swift fans during the NBA Finals ... and he has a message for the Swifties.

Following the Knicks’ championship-clinching Game 5 win, Brunson took a moment to address the controversy surrounding McNutt’s comments about Swift during the Game 4 broadcast.

Brunson, who was seen celebrating with McNutt courtside, bumped into her during the postgame excitement before turning his attention to the online backlash.

A shooting in Times Square left one teenager injured following the Knicks’ Game 5 NBA Finals victory ... with police describing a night of widespread chaos across New York City.

Law enforcement sources tell us the most serious incident unfolded around 43rd Street and Broadway, where a 17-year-old victim was shot during the post-game celebrations.

Authorities say the NYPD, not an ambulance, transported the teen victim to the hospital because emergency vehicles were unable to access the area due to massive crowds that had "completely taken it over."

Officials also confirm a firearm was recovered at the scene, and three people of interest are currently in custody as the investigation continues.

Timothée Chalamet is going viral after making his priorities pretty clear ... he'd take a seat at a New York Knicks game over The Oscars any day.

In the viral video circulating online, the four-time Oscar nominee suggests he’d choose being in the building for a Knicks game over attending the Academy Awards ... a statement that instantly sent sports and entertainment fans a tizzy online.

The moment is already lighting up social media, with users replaying the video and reacting to Chalamet’s enthusiasm for his team and his apparent dogging of Hollywood’s biggest night.

The city that never sleeps didn’t even try to chill Saturday night ... because the moment the Knicks secured a massive Game 5 victory in the NBA Finals, New York City exploded into celebration.

Seconds after the final buzzer, crowds spilled into the streets across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and beyond ... turning sidewalks and intersections into full-blown parties as fans celebrated the series-shifting win.

Car horns blared nonstop, people waved Knicks gear in the air, and impromptu chants echoed through the city as thousands of fans poured outside to mark the historic win.

Cardi B was every Knicks fan Saturday night ... completely losing it as New York locked up a huge Game 5 victory.

The rapper documented the emotional roller coaster on social media, first telling fans not to judge her for where she was watching the game, as she filmed herself from what she said to be her basement -- admitting she was glued to the action from home as the Knicks battled for the win.

Catch the clip ... the second the final buzzer sounded and the Knicks secured the victory, Cardi exploded in celebration -- screaming, yelling and running laps around her house while repeatedly shouting, "Oh my God!" and "We won!"

Still buzzing from the win, Cardi declared, "We outside right now!" before explaining she needed to get glam ASAP because, as she put it, "the streets are calling me" ... in other words, there was no chance she was staying home after that.

James Harden was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with the unlawful carrying of weapons ... TMZ has learned.

The arrest went down in Texas ... and according to authorities, he was caught with a handgun in his vehicle. It was allegedly in plain sight and not being carried in a holster. His charge is a misdemeanor.

A spokesperson for the Houston Police Department tells TMZ ... he was pulled over at 1800 Crawford Street for a traffic violation. He identified himself and was was taken into custody.

Former NBA star Trevor Ariza told the court about his financial situation as part of his legal battle with his ex-wife, Bree Anderson Ariza ... and it's a far cry from what he was making as a player.

TMZ obtained an income and expense declaration filed by Trevor, which states he earns an average of $6,000 per month as a trainer for the disabled … but says he only made around $2,316 last month.

He also claims he earns around $667 per month from investments in Buffalo Wild Wings. He said he has around $50K in cash and bank accounts … and $2.5 million in real property.