TMZ Sports - Page 4

Five-time NBA champion and Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson has died at 86, his family announced Sunday.

Nelson’s family announced his death Sunday, saying the Basketball Hall of Famer passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones ... saying "On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family."

They added ... "Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories." A cause of death was not mentioned.

Royce White says he's testing out his new look before next year's WNBA draft ... throwing on a wig and embracing his "feminine era."

The former NBA player who announced he's throwing his hat in the ring for the 2027 WNBA draft shared the pic on X ... rocking the hair piece and a serious expression.

In his caption, Royce wrote he's glad the wig showed up on Saturday ... so he could "test it on the court" Sunday as his "feminine era" truly begins.

Trent Williams has allegedly been hoarding his 49ers gold ... because a car company claims the NFL star hasn't paid his lease in years.

The offensive lineman is being sued by OpenRoad Auto Group -- a car dealer in Washington -- which claims in 2021 it leased a 2018 Porsche 911 to Trent.

According to OpenRoad, Williams agreed to make 48 monthly payments ... with the lease expiring August 31, 2025.

The company claims Williams made the first two lease payments in August and September 2021 ... in the total amount of $10,617.26 ... but hasn't made a single payment since.

Soccer icon Hope Solo is putting some of her most legendary gear on the block!

The former longtime U.S. Women’s National Team star -- widely considered the greatest goalkeeper the game has ever seen -- is auctioning off more than 45 pieces from her personal collection at Lelands.

The big-ticket items include her match-worn, signed, photo-matched jersey and shorts from the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final victory over Japan ... her championship ring from that title run. The auction house says it's the most significant women's soccer memorabilia ever made available to the public.

Also up for grabs -- the Golden Glove award Solo earned as the tournament’s top keeper (she allowed just three goals in seven matches), along with her match-worn jerseys from the quarterfinal win over China and the semifinal triumph against Germany.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is finally weighing in on the league's raging transgender athlete debate ... acknowledging the issue isn't going away -- and neither are the conversations about it.

Engelbert addressed the controversy in a memo sent to teams Friday and obtained by the AP ... saying she expects transgender participation in women's basketball to continue getting "significant attention."

The commish stopped short of taking a side ... but said the league will approach the issue thoughtfully and respectfully, while stressing "preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition" remain among its highest priorities.

Kyle Shanahan revealed a major new detail about the car crash that left him seriously injured ... claiming his Tesla was on autopilot when he took his eyes off the road.

The 49ers head coach told reporters Saturday he'd been traveling about 20 MPH when his phone fell out of reach ... and he trusted the car's autopilot enough to look away and go searching for it.

Shanahan says he still doesn't know exactly what happened next -- whether autopilot malfunctioned or he accidentally disengaged it -- but he's not pointing the finger at Tesla.

Baseball legend Tommy John is saying goodbye to the game and the fans who followed him for decades ... penning an emotional farewell letter as he battles serious health issues.

Tommy wasn't at Yankee Stadium for Saturday's Old-Timers' Day celebration ... but the Yankees shared a message from the 83-year-old thanking the organization and the Steinbrenner family for giving him the chance to "say goodbye to everyone."

Tommy is currently in hospice care at his home in Bradenton, Florida, according to a Reuters report.

NFL legend Roger Craig used the biggest moment of his football life to reveal a heartbreaking diagnosis ... announcing during his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech that he has vascular dementia.

The 66-year-old San Francisco 49ers great made the disclosure during his taped acceptance speech Saturday ... saying doctors believe his condition may be related -- at least in part -- to concussions he suffered over his 11-year NFL career.

Craig said the changes came on slowly and were initially easy to brush off as normal aging ... but his family eventually noticed them too, prompting him to seek answers from a doctor.

Blake Lively may have missed out on Taylor Swift's wedding ... but she's all smiles a month later, soaking up some quality time with Ryan Reynolds, their kids and a whole crew of friends.

Blake shared a carousel of pics Friday from Wrexham AFC's July 29 match against Liverpool FC at Yankee Stadium ... showing her and Ryan grinning together, hanging with their four kids and posing with pals -- Ryan, of course, co-owns Wrexham with 'Always Sunny' star Rob McElhenney.

The actress called the game "one of the most surreal moments" of their journey with the club ... thanking the friends and family who've been along for the ride.

Ex-NBA player Royce White has announced he's transgender and plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft ... making him the second former pro to do so within a day.

Check it out -- the former pro baller explained it loud and clear during a Friday interview with Fox News, saying ... "I’m transgender ... I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball, so I will be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well."

Royce played 3 official NBA games during the 2013-14 season with the Sacramento Kings and is currently a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi's dad, Jorge Messi, has died.

The famous sports club from Rosario, Argentina -- Newell's Old Boys -- announced the sad news on social media Saturday, and celebrated him as a "pillar" who vigorously supported one of the best soccer players of all time with his wife, Celia Cuccittini, who survives him.

The club's translated message continued, "His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel, from his beginnings at Malvinas to the pinnacle of world football glory."

Jorge was not only Lionel's loving father, but also his agent who helped him create a celebrated career from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain and to his current home of Inter Miami.

Lewis Hamilton just dropped a bunch of pics on Instagram ... a handful of which shared never-before-seen pics of him with Kim Kardashian!

Check out the photos from Friday -- Lewis shared several pictures to IG, including one of him on a walk with his girlfriend of several months. He's smiling as she flashes a peace sign and duck lips at the camera.

Another intimate snap from their daily lives shows Kim sitting next to a pup, while a third photo is a selfie the businesswoman and reality star took with Lewis and her "All’s Fair" costar Glenn Close.

Lewis captioned the carousel, "Resting, restoring, recharging 🔋🔋🔋."

The photos come about a month after the professional racecar driver shared vacation memories featuring Kim and her kids, North, 13, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 7 ... showing they're the real deal.

As we previously reported, the power couple was first spotted at Kate Hudson’s New Year’s Eve party in Aspen, Colorado ... and confirmed rumors they were an item when they headed to the Super Bowl together in February.

Lewis is Kim's first public romance since she dated Pete Davidson, who she was with for about 10 months between 2021 and 2022.

Justin Herbert and Madison Beer's training camp love fest won't hurt the Los Angeles Chargers' chances at a Super Bowl ... so says franchise legend Shawne Merriman, who tells TMZ Sports the quarterback's goal better be to get two rings now!!

The recently engaged couple made rounds on social media this week ... when the pop star was spotted running her hands through her man's hair as they sat in the grass.

Merriman isn't worried the romance will take Herbert's eyes off the Lombardi trophy ... and gushed over the two getting together.

Late NFL star Aldon Smith’s estate will be inherited by his only son, according to the kid's guardian.

Court docs obtained by TMZ reveal Aldon left behind personal property … unclear the value of the assets. 

He was not married and did not have any children on the way … but he did have a 13-year-old son named Aulis Smith. 

Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke cause of death has been revealed ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Clarke's cause of death was the combined effects of heroin and cocaine and ruled his death an accident.

According to the Medical Examiner, Clarke was found unresponsive in his bedroom around 5 PM on May 11. Paramedics responded and pronounced him dead at 5:15 PM. He was 29.

His cause and manner of death were officially certified Friday.

Former NBA big man Enes Kanter Freedom just dropped a bombshell ... officially declaring for the 2027 Draft!

The retired, 6'10" center -- rocking a bright orange W hoodie -- says after a careful review of the league’s eligibility guidelines around inclusion, there was one conclusion.

Enes Kanter Freedom meets every single requirement.

“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA,” the 34-year-old hooper posted Friday. "Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in April 2027."