Sports

LeBron James didn't chose free agency over the Los Angeles Lakers overnight ... Rich Paul says The King's odds to return to the Lakers were hovering at around 80% until LBJ decided to move on.

Speaking on his "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman, the Klutch Sports boss says LBJ initially leaned toward another season in L.A. But after weeks of conversations, he says the four-time NBA champ ultimately decided he was "100% sure" it was time to move on.

Rich says the turning point here had nothing to do with squeezing out one last max contract. Instead, he says he challenged LeBron to figure out the one thing he wanted most heading into Year 24 ... and the answer was simple: happiness.

9:03 AM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained Ciarre Campbell's mug shot.

Baltimore Ravens star Calais Campbell's brother has been charged with murdering their mother after she was found dead inside her Atlanta home.

Nateal Campbell, 71, was found unresponsive Tuesday in her upscale Buckhead townhome after a concerned family member asked police to perform a welfare check ... according to WSB-TV.

The Atlanta Police Department said responding officers learned a male "appeared to have barricaded himself inside the home" when they arrived ... and he was ultimately arrested.

Calais' brother, Ciarre Campbell, was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and gun possession after midnight, per online jail records.

Mexico fans took over entire streets in Los Angeles Tuesday night, celebrating their soccer team's huge victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup ... and police got involved.

Check out the videos ... celebrations broke out in full force all across L.A. with hundreds of people in green Mexico soccer jerseys lighting fireworks and doing donuts in their cars.

Police eventually came to shut down the party ... but that was easier said than done.

Fireworks continued igniting ... some of the pyrotechnics even went flying towards officers.

Serena Williams' on-court reunion with Venus is at risk ... as the tennis superstar tweaked her right knee during her Wimbledon singles match on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old suffered the injury in the first set of her opening-round loss to Maya Joint at the All England Club, her agent Jill Smoller announced ... adding that's why Williams didn't speak with reporters after the match.

"Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams," Smoller said.

The New York Mets are in need of a new manager ... and former MLB star Jose Reyes has a name in mind -- Carlos Beltran!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the four-time All-Star this week ... and got his thoughts on his old squad days after they parted ways with skipper Carlos Mendoza due to a 34-47 start.

Reyes doesn't think Mendoza deserves all the blame for the lack of success -- he thinks he's a great guy and a good manager -- but agreed that a change had to happen due to the team's massive payroll.

Former NBA star Blake Griffin says his first experience with a sports psychologist was anything but a slam dunk ... claiming the shrink totally betrayed his trust.

Blake was on the "Friends Keep Secrets" podcast Tuesday with Lil Dicky, Kristin Batalucco, and Benny Blanco when recalled a nightmare interaction with a sports psychologist during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He says the shrink came over to his place after practice one day and they chatted ... and then the shrink turned around and called up Blake's coach to spill about their convo.

Serena Williams' big Wimbledon comeback came up short on Tuesday -- as the tennis superstar was defeated in the first round of the singles tournament.

The 44-year-old took center court at the All England Club for the first time in four years ... facing off against Maya Joint in a three-set thriller.

After losing the first set 6-3, Serena fought her way back into it by winning a tiebreaker in the second ... but the 20-year-old Australian pro answered with another 6-3 effort to advance and end Williams' singles campaign.

NBA big man Walker Kessler just touched down in Los Angeles for a free agency meeting with the Lakers ... and he tells TMZ Sports it would've been great to play with LeBron James, but Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ain't too shabby!!

The 7'2" center is expected to be a hot commodity this offseason ... and the Lakers are reportedly super interested in bringing him on board after four seasons with the Utah Jazz.

We caught up with 24-year-old Kessler at LAX minutes after the news broke that James would not return to L.A. for the 2026-27 season ... and it's safe to say he's not canceling any appointments over it.

LeBron James is speaking out after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers ... thanking the organization for adding him to the family eight years ago.

The 41-year-old King went to X a few hours after the news broke ... and shared his heartfelt reaction to the team's statement on his departure.

"No, THANK YOU!" James said on Tuesday. "Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. 🙏🏾🫡👑."

Luka Doncic is bidding farewell to LeBron James ... saying he enjoyed their brief time together on the Lakers.

The Slovenian superstar went to Instagram on Tuesday ... fresh off the news 41-year-old King James was officially on the hunt for a new home after eight seasons in L.A.

In his tribute post, Doncic, 27, shared a pic of the two embracing after a game ... including the caption, "An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames."

LeBron James WILL play next season ... just not for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The four-time NBA champion's agent, Rich Paul, informed the team of his decision on Tuesday ... stating the King isn't hanging up his crown just yet, but he's done with the Purple and Gold.

There are rumblings 41-year-old James will team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the Golden State Warriors ... with Anthony Davis' name being thrown in the mix as well.

The "Hand of OG" ball from Game 4 of the NBA Finals is staying with the New York Knicks -- the piece of hoops history was scrubbed from the auction block minutes before bidding was slated to begin.

The rock is the same one Knicks hero OG Anunoby tapped in with seconds left in the June 10 contest to give New York a 3-1 lead in the series. The highlight also solidified the biggest comeback in Finals history after being down 29 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

It was a monumental moment for the Knicks as they went on to win their first title in 53 years ... and the item was sent to Sotheby's to allow fans to bid on it.

Dianna Russini is in hot water again ... but this time it's not for holding hands with an NFL coach ... but for seemingly not telling the truth about what happened during a traffic stop.

Here's the scoop ... in January, the former NFL reporter for The Athletic got pulled over by a police officer for using her phone while driving in New Jersey. Their subsequent interaction was caught on body cam video that was posted Monday on X by Adam Herbets of Center Square. 

In the clip, the officer walks up to Russini's vehicle and asks for her license and registration.  Russini introduces herself as an NFL journalist who just broke a story about Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott getting fired, saying she was sending a tweet about it before she was stopped.

Lance Stephenson's doing his best Charles Barkley impression ... telling TMZ Sports his message to young hoopers is simple -- do NOT consider him a role model.

We caught up with the NBA vet-turned-BIG3 baller at LAX on Monday ... and had to ask about his recent on-court altercation that resulted in a suspension from Ice Cube's organization.

For those who missed it, Stephenson threw hands in a chippy moment between the LA Riot and Miami 305 ... which forced a forfeit after he was ejected from the contest, as his squad ran out of players.

Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Mekhi Nelson was arrested in Florida after an alleged altercation with his pregnant girlfriend ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The redshirt sophomore was taken into custody around noon at the Blue Flamingo Resort Key West and transported to a nearby jail and booked for misdemeanor battery.

According to the police report, officers responded to a call for a disturbance at 11:39 AM. Once they got to Nelson's room, cops say he answered the door and stated he was in an argument with the mother of his children.

In the docs, Nelson claimed the two were bickering over how another man -- who also fathered a child with his girlfriend -- was speaking to her ... and told cops he had anger problems that "seemed to flare up" when he addressed how the other guy was acting.

This wasn't the sort of release Terrion Arnold was looking forward to on Monday -- hours after he was granted bond in his kidnapping and robbery case, the Detroit Lions announced they're cutting the star cornerback.

The news broke minutes ago ... but the Lions elected not to elaborate on the decision.

Earlier in the day, Arnold celebrated a bit of a victory ... as a judge ruled he does not have to stay behind bars leading up to his trial.