San Antonio Spurs

Mallory Edens -- the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens -- tells TMZ Sports ... when Becky Hammon is hired as a head coach, pro sports in America will never be the same.

And she says that moment could be sooner than you think.

Edens, who's been around the NBA and writes about women in sports, says ladies are destined to have more voices at the top levels in major sports leagues ... and the hiring of Hammon will speed the process.

"I'd love to see a female commissioner one day. There are so many roles in the NBA that are yet to fill. I think even if we start to fill a few of them we'll start to see a positive change."

Edens also told us Hammon's reach could transcend basketball, and maybe make women in power positions more of a thing in sports in general.

In a step in the right direction, Hammon was promoted to lead assistant coach on the San Antonio Spurs.

And BTW ... Mallory won't just be on the sidelines, she told us multiple times she wants to follow in her dad's footsteps and own a team one day ... CONTROLLING ALL ASPECTS OF THE FRANCHISE.

"I think that I'd be all up in it, everyday."

LaVar Ball has heard the trade rumors involving Lonzo Ball going to the Spurs ... and has a message for the Lakers:

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. It'll be the worst move they ever made."

LaVar went off at his JBA season opener on Thursday afternoon -- when we asked about the rumblings that Magic Johnson could ship Lonzo to San Antonio to get Kawhi Leonard.

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. If they don't wanna trade him, keep him. He's gonna do his thing. I'm not worried about no trades.

LaVar says he's still 100% confident all 3 of his boys will eventually play on the same NBA team, despite the fact LiAngelo wasn't drafted on Thursday.

"He'll come in the back door as a free agent," LaVar explained.

Mark Jackson says if the Lakers can get Kawhi Leonard ANYONE has to be on the trading block ... and that means any of their young stars ... including Lonzo Ball.

Talk in NBA circles is that Leonard wants OUT of San Antonio ... and IN to the Purple and Gold. But for that to happen, the Lakers would have to trade someone of value.

We got Mark out in Calabasas ... and he said it doesn't matter who that someone of value is, because Kawhi is too much of a beast to pass up on.

"I'm getting a top five player in the world so I definitely would be very aggressive in trying to get a home run hitter in my lineup."

Translating ex-NBA coach speak ... EVERYONE MUST GO!!!

San Antonio Spurs player Dejounte Murray got stopped at the door at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills this weekend ... because his girlfriend's racy outfit violated the restaurant's dress code.

For real.

Mastro's is one of the hottest restaurants in town ... and they're pretty serious about rejecting guests that don't respect the "classy" rules when it comes to attire.

Remember, they turned away Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster because he was wearing sweatpants.

This time, we're told the door staff felt Jilly Anais' super-tight, super-short skirt was a little too revealing ... and our cameras were rolling as they refused to let her inside.

Don't worry ... this story has a happy ending.

21-year-old Murray -- a former 1st round NBA draft pick -- spoke with a manager who ultimately made an exception and let Jilly inside.

Seems there were no hard feelings ... the couple was in a good mood after dinner and raved about the restaurant on the way out.

WNBA legend Tamika Catchings says Becky Hammon should get the Milwaukee Bucks head coaching job ... and it's not so the NBA can make history, it's because Hammon DESERVES the gig.

Hammon -- a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach -- reportedly interviewed for the Bucks job, making her the first woman to ever be seriously considered for an NBA head coaching spot.

We got Catchings -- a 10-time WNBA All-Star -- out in NYC and asked if it was time the NBA hired it's first-ever female HC ... and Catchings agreed Hammon should get the hire, but gender ain't the reason.

"She's a great coach, I wish people would stop looking at female vs. male and just look at who's the best fit for the job."

When we asked if that person was Hammon, Catchings was very clear ...

If Kawhi Leonard is really unhappy on the Spurs and wants out, Clippers star Patrick Beverley says they'd LOVE him in L.A., telling TMZ Sports getting Kawhi would be like "Hitting the lottery."

We got Beverley in Beverly Hills -- it was his first ever TMZ shot (precious moments) -- and asked him about the rumors that Leonard is done in San Antonio and L.A. could be a landing spot.

"We'd hit the lottery with that, but those decisions aren't up to me!"

PB made it clear, he likes his current team if healthy, but still wasn't shy about gushing at the prospect of adding a 2-time All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP to the squad.

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.

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.

NBA star Manu Ginobili says there are lots of reasons he's still ballin' in his 40s ... but the BIG one is something he shares with Tom Brady -- the ol' ball and chain!

We got Manu out in D.C. ... and asked if his wifey, Marianela, has his back like Gisele does Brady. FYI, Gisele recently revealed she's A-OK with Tom playing football for as long as he wants ... as long as it makes him happy.

Turns out, Mrs. Ginobili doesn't just sign off on her man logging more game-time -- she's what's kept him sharp through his 16 YEARS on the Spurs.

"She's always very helpful and extended my career," Ginobili told TMZ Sports in D.C.

Sorry, Gisele -- Marianela's overtaken you in our WAGs rankings (yeah, we do that).

Spurs legend Sean Elliott is shutting down the reports on Kawhi Leonard wanting out of San Antonio -- saying Gregg Popovich and his franchise player being at odds is straight nonsense.

FYI, Kawhi's been out for months with a mysterious injury ... and there's allegedly been serious locker-room drama over whether or not Leonard should be suiting up.

But, when we got Elliott in D.C., he told us why that's all just noise.

"The organization's been great to him. He has a great relationship with Pop," Sean told TMZ Sports.

"I think he's really happy in San Antonio."

Gregg Popovich doesn't exactly like Donald Trump's White House, but he ain't down on all of D.C. ... 'cause Pop took the gang to another Washington landmark -- the Supreme Court!!

Unclear if Pop and co. were there on any official business or just to see the sights ... but they sounded pretty stoked talking to us on their way out.

Pop called the trip "great." Pau Gasol said it was "very nice." Manu Ginobili went the diplomatic route and told us their outing was "equal" to a White House trip.

FYI, Pop WRECKED Trump for leaving D.C. before March for Our Lives this past weekend -- calling it "cowardice" to avoid the protests and hang at his resort in Mar-a-Lago.

Coach is clearly in better spirits, now -- have you ever seen him smile like that?!

Karma is a bitch -- just ask Draymond Green, who got hit with a groin shot 2 years in the making last night!!

You remember the play ... in Game 3 of 2016's Western Conference Finals, Draymond's leg punted OKC Thunder big Steven Adams square in the nuts.

Dray's always maintained it was accidental ... but it looked pretty bad.

Fast forward to Warriors vs. Spurs Monday night -- when Draymond met Danny Green at the rim and took a knee right around the ball bag!

He immediately keeled over and went to the locker room ... and was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion -- a fancy way of saying a deep, painful bruise.

Green now joins Steph, KD and Klay on the injured list ... and ya gotta think Adams (and all of OKC) is smiling right now.

2:00 PM PT -- The Cavs have announced an investigation into identifying the fan behind the comment. As for the phrase, there are discrepancies with what has been reported and whether the fan said "Jamaica called."

“Hey, Jamaican dog -- they want their bobsledder back! Jamaica just called, they want their bobsledder back!”

That was the racist heckling directed at Spurs baller Patty Mills Sunday at The Q ... while he was at the free-throw line at the end of a blowout win over the Cleveland Cavs.

Patty -- who's not Jamaican, but Aboriginal Australian -- didn't hear the taunts during the game ... but when a fan brought it to his attention aftewards, he reacted like a true pro.

"I am a proud Islander. Like my Jamaican Brothers, me & my family in the islands of the Torres Strait have experienced racial slurs for decades. Hope your efforts will enlighten this confused, hateful fan. #BlackHistoryMonth," Mills said.

FYI, this is the second instance of racist heckling in a major U.S. sports league this month. A group of Chicago Blackhawks fans chanted "basketball" at black NHL player Devante Smith-Pelly last weekend ... and were later slapped with a lifetime ban.

Spurs baller Dejounte Murray was the real winner of All-Star weekend -- ditching his NBA bros for his INSANELY HOT IG model GF ... and bae-cationing in Maui.

Yeah ... good call.

For those unacquainted, that's 21-year-old Jilly Anais -- the apple of Dejounte's eye for the past year and change.

Murray and Anais were all over each other at the Four Seasons' Wailea beach -- makin' out and ass cuppin,' splashin' around in the water ... basically doing the kinda stuff you'd expect from a man with the baddest chick on the island.

Seems like things are getting serious, too. Jilly captioned one of the pics, "Falling head over heels for you is easy" (shout-out to Chris Brown).

Lock it down, young man. Lock it down.

How great is it to be NBA player Dejounte Murray?? Let this clip of the Spurs baller and his insanely gorgeous GF hittin' up an L.A. hot spot do the talking.

The 21-year-old and Insta model Jilly Anais went on a hot date Wednesday night at Mastro's in Bev. Hills for a romantic night ... and while Dejounte's outfit stands out, all eyes were on Jilly.

The couple have been together for about a year now, and they seem to be inseparable ... posting pics together on social media all the time.

Gregg Popovich is absolutely fed up with President Trump ... calling POTUS a "pathological liar" and "soulless coward" for comments he made while talking about the deadly ambush in Niger.

Here's the deal ... Trump has been criticized for not publicly addressing the 4 U.S. soldiers who were killed in an ambush in Niger on October 4.

Today, POTUS defended himself while calling out former presidents ... claiming he is more caring with families of fallen soldiers.

Popovich -- whose never held back when it comes to Trump -- RIPPED into 45 in a conversation with The Nation about his swipe at Barack Obama and George W. Bush ... and everything else.

"This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others," Pop said.

"This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner -- and to lie about how previous Presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers -- is as low as it gets."