Basketball

Seems LeBron James does indeed think he's passed Michael Jordan as the NBA's best ever ... 'cause during a backyard hoops session with his son on Thursday night, he bragged repeatedly that he's the "G.O.A.T.!!!"

LBJ and his 16-year-old boy, Bryce, were getting some late-night shots up at their ritzy mansion in Los Angeles ... when for some reason, the young James started chirpin' at Dad.

The teen called the Lakers superstar "trash" ... and said over and over again he would miss his next shot.

We're coming to the end of another jam-packed week full of stories for Swifties, sports fans and more. Here are some of our best from the Thursday that was!

On "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles address the purported Taylor Swift album leak ... including the lyrics aimed at one of her famous exes!

Caitlin Clark has clearly had enough of Antonio Brown's social media antics ... she just blocked the ex-NFL player after he posted inappropriate things about her on his X page.

AB took to the app not once but thrice on Wednesday to say crass things about the WNBA's newest star following her Indiana Fever introductory press conference ... in an apparent attempt to be funny.

But, most rolled their eyes at the posts -- including Clark ... who straight up blocked the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout for the behavior.

Don't stick a fork in Larcus after all ... Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan look like a couple once more -- as they were seen getting close Wednesday on a beach day date in Miami.

The on-again, off-again pair were spotted enjoying each other's company under the South Florida sun ... holding hands, snuggling on lounge chairs, and sharing beverages out of a coconut.

Marcus was also seen chattin' it up with a few other hotties in the area before Larsa arrived -- looking somewhat flirty -- but, take a peek at how he interacted with Pippen once she got to the sand ... it sure seems the spark between the duo has been ignited yet again.

Angel Reese is no longer the "Bayou Barbie!"

Nope ... the new WNBA rookie says she wants to be called the "Chi Barbie" now instead.

The former LSU hoops star made the announcement Thursday ... just a couple days after the Chicago Sky selected her with the 7th overall pick in the draft.

Larsa Pippen y Marcus Jordan están juntos una vez más, y fueron vistos el miércoles en una cita de playa en Miami.

La pareja fue vista disfrutando de la compañía del otro bajo el sol del sur de Florida, tomados de la mano, acurrucados y compartiendo bebidas de un coco.

Caitlin Clark ya ha tenido suficiente de las payasadas de Antonio Brown en redes sociales, pues acaba de bloquear al ex jugador de la NFL después de que publicara cosas inapropiadas sobre ella en su cuenta de X.

Antonio Brown usó la plataforma no una, sino tres veces el miércoles para decir cosas groseras sobre la nueva estrella de la WNBA después de su conferencia de prensa de presentación en Indiana Fever, en un aparente intento por ser gracioso.

Pero la mayoría de las personas puso sus ojos en blanco, incluyendo Clark, quien directamente bloqueó al ex jugador del Tampa Bay Buccaneers por su comportamiento.

The Indiana Fever reporter who was dragged for a bizarre conversation with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday is now apologizing for his actions ... admitting he crossed a line with his behavior.

Gregg Doyel, a journalist for the Indianapolis Star, issued the mea culpa just a few hours after he went viral for shooting a heart-hand gesture at Clark and following it up with some cringeworthy commentary during her introductory press conference.

Doyel first said in a post on his X page he was "sincerely" sorry for the "oafish" encounter. He then posted a column on the Star's website where he tried to explain his conduct.

An Indiana Fever reporter is being dragged for how he interacted with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday ... with many fans blasting the journalist for the way he shot a cringeworthy comment at the WNBA's newest star.

The encounter happened just minutes after Clark was introduced to Indiana media members for the first time since she was drafted by the Fever ... when Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel stepped up to the microphone to ask her a question about her new hometown.

At first, things seemed innocuous -- he politely introduced himself -- but then he paused, and sent a heart-hand gesture to the 22-year-old.

Beyoncé has now joined the long list of people giving Dawn Staley her flowers for her latest NCAA championship win -- sending a literal bouquet to the South Carolina head coach this week!

Staley showed off the gift from Queen B in an adorable Instagram video Wednesday ... beaming from ear-to-ear as she revealed in addition to the roses -- the "Irreplaceable" crooner also sent an "Always Been Country" tee too!

"This deserves a video thank you!" she said as she blared Bey's "Texas Hold 'Em" tune in the background. "Look at the flowers. Look at the merchandise! If you know, you know!"

The injury Zion Williamson suffered late in the Pelicans vs. Lakers Play-In game was very real, despite some fans suggesting the NBA star was fakin' it, 'cause the former #1 pick will now miss Friday's elimination game!

ICYMI ... the 23-year-old went off in Tuesday's game against LeBron James and the Lakers ... putting up 40 points and 11 rebounds. Hands down one of the finest games of his pro career.

Unfortunately, with the game tied at 95 all with 3 minutes left, Williamson hurt his left leg ... allowing the Lake Show to pull away late, sending the Pelicans to a one-game elimination with the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

Jontay Porter has just been banned from the NBA for LIFE ... after league officials say the Toronto Raptors player not only bet on his own team to lose, but also manipulated his play to tip the scales in his favor!

Adam Silver just announced the historic punishment on Wednesday ... explaining league investigators discovered that in March, Porter took part in a gambling scheme that ultimately called into question the integrity of the NBA's competition.

They claim the 24-year-old gave confidential information about his health to at least one known bettor. They say another bettor Porter knew then placed an $80K wager that Porter "would underperform" in the Raptors' March 20 tilt with the Sacramento Kings.

Caitlin Clark doesn't mind packed arenas, zone defenses or contested shots ... but she admitted Wednesday there is one thing that terrifies her -- "Saturday Night Live" cameras!!

The 22-year-old met with reporters in Indiana for the first time since the Fever picked her in Monday night's WNBA Draft ... and amid questions about her game and her future, someone just had to ask about her hilarious appearance on 'SNL' over the weekend.

Clark revealed that while she looked calm and cool on the outside -- she was anything but that on the inside ... saying, "I was terrified."

"I was so nervous," she said. "My heart was about to explode out of my chest."

Of course, Clark -- as she does so often on the hardwood -- came through in the clutch despite the nerves ... and delivered funny line after funny line in her four-minute cameo with Michael Che and Colin Jost on Weekend Update.

She roasted Che for making fun of women's sports ... and then made him read some jokes about himself that she said on the show that she "wrote."

Clark revealed Wednesday she didn't actually pen them herself -- "I'm not that funny," she quipped  -- but she was pleased nonetheless with how it all turned out.

"It was good," she said. "It was a good platform for women's sports. Everybody loved it."

The winner of the Number 10 Chicago Sky jersey sweepstakes has been confirmed ... Kamilla Cardoso will keep the number she wore in South Carolina while Angel Reese will switch to 5, calling it "new beginnings."

Remember, former Gamecocks center Cardoso and Reese -- who played forward at LSU -- both wore number 10 during their standout college basketball careers.

In fact, Reese even wore the number before stepping foot in Louisiana... rocking 5 at the Univ. of Maryland (2020-2022) and Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. Cardoso, on the other hand, has worn different jersey numbers since high school.

So, when the Chicago Sky selected Cardoso and Reese at the WNBA Draft Monday night, we questioned who'd get 10.

The Chicago Sky posted the new rookie jerseys on their site on Tuesday ... and you can obviously see Cardoso's black and blue number 10 jersey.

Reese addressed the change to 5 ... and the 7th overall pick claims she's fine with the new number.

"New era, new beginnings," the 21-year-old said. "Go cop now!"

Despite the change, you can expect Reese's gear to sell like crazy. Remember, Fanatics told us Caitlin Clark's rookie jersey was the hottest seller for a rookie athlete ever, with a record number of fans copping Caitlin's merch.

Reese is also incredibly popular ... and her jersey is sure to be one of the most rocked in the country.

Speaking of the two superstar hoopers ... their teams, the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, will match up in a highly anticipated game on June 1.

Eyeballs all across the nation continue to flock toward Caitlin Clark ... Monday night's WNBA Draft -- which the former Iowa superstar headlined -- was just revealed to be the most-viewed in the history of the event!

ESPN announced Tuesday that 2.45 million people tuned in to watch the Indiana Fever take Clark with the No. 1 overall pick ... smashing the previous high of 601,000 watchers in 2004. The outlet added that at its peak, the draft's broadcast drew in a total of 3.09 million people.

According to the network, the selection ceremony -- which also featured stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso -- was the most popular program on Monday night amongst people under the age of 35 years old.