Basketball

Clipper Darrell was welcomed back to Crypto.com Arena with open arms on Tuesday ... as the L.A. Clippers and AEG showered their iconic superfan with gifts, champagne and some awesome tickets!

CD -- real name Darrell Bailey -- got the red carpet treatment in his second game back since he was knocked out by an arena security guard during an L.A. game on Dec. 12 ... and you can see in pics and videos, obtained by TMZ Sports, he had a blast in his return.

Darrell got to hang out with ex-NFL star Terrell Owens and actor Joe Torry -- after being hooked up with a bunch of goodies in the bowels of the arena.

Darrell, who also attended Sunday's Clippers game against the Atlanta Hawks, had a big smile on his face, appearing to have some courtside seats for the contest too!

And, as icing on the cake, the Clippers even treated Clipper Darrel to a big win ... as they rolled over the Dallas Mavericks, 113-101.

Of course, the scene was very different at the Clippers vs. Celtics game last month ... when a Crypto.com Arena staffer knocked out the superfan with a big punch following a dispute.

Nerlens Noel's legal battle with Rich Paul is over -- the two sides have settled their dispute ... with the former first-round draft pick agreeing to pay his former agent and Klutch Sports their cut of his $5 million contract with the New York Knicks.

In 2021, Nerlens -- who has earned around $45 million over the course of his career -- filed a lawsuit against Paul and Klutch Sports Group, claiming he lost $58 million in potential earnings when Paul represented him from 2017-2020.

Noel accused Paul -- whose client list includes several other high-profile NBA superstars, including LeBron James -- of advising him to reject a $70 million offer and take a one-year deal instead.

Noel's lawsuit came after Paul filed a grievance with the National Basketball Players Association ... claiming the former center owed him $200,000 in commission for the Knicks deal, per ESPN.

According to Shams Charania, Noel, Paul, and Klutch Sports Group "amicably settled their ongoing dispute" ... with the hooper agreeing to cough over the dough and withdraw all legal proceedings.

In September 2022, District Judge Jane J. Boyle, dismissed Noel's lawsuit ... recommending that the case be addressed within the NBPA's arbitration system.

FTX Arena is no more -- the Miami Heat's home will be scrubbed of the failed cryptocurrency exchange's branding immediately, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Sam Bankman-Fried's company bought the naming rights to the facility -- formerly known as American Airlines Arena -- in 2021 for $135 million ... but as the exchange faces serious allegations of fraud and mishandling customer funds, the Heat and Miami-Dade County made it clear a change was necessary.

Of course, FTX -- which was one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world -- filed for bankruptcy in November ... and SBF has since been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and more.

According to the Miami Herald, a federal bankruptcy judge terminated the agreement between the county and FTX as the investigation continues ... bringing the deal to a screeching halt ASAP.

In fact, the order states any signage displaying the FTX name will be removed immediately.

The move was mutual, according to the report, as FTX's new leadership also wanted to cancel the naming-rights deal.

Kim Kardashian, Khloe and Kris Jenner want one thing to be very clear to Tristan Thompson -- they're gonna support him in one of the hardest times of his life, as they all plan to be with him when his mom is laid to rest.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the trio is planning to fly to Toronto later this week to be in attendance for Andrea's funeral. We're told Tristan paid for and planned the whole service, which will be an intimate and beautiful celebration of her life.

Much like Khloe did last week, when Andrea died unexpectedly, we're told Kim, Kris and Khloe want to be there to comfort and support Tristan. Sources tell us it's important to the Kardashian clan to be there for loved ones, especially during tough times like this.

TMZ broke the story, Andrea suffered a heart attack at home last week -- she was rushed to a local hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate her, but she didn't make it.

Here it is -- Odell Beckham Jr.'s repaired knee back in action during a recent pickup basketball game ... and the NFL superstar looks GOOD!!

The 30-year-old free agent hasn't played a down of football since going down with a torn ACL in the Super Bowl last February ... and despite visiting with several potential teams, he remains without a home.

While fans almost certainly won't see him on the field this season, he's improved to the point where he was able to hit the hardwood in Miami on Jan. 6 ... showing off his impressive skills in the process.

OBJ -- wearing an "I Love Oral Sex" shirt for some reason -- backs down his defender and squeezes past him for a finger roll ... and follows up with some solid defense, stealing the ball and hitting his teammate with an alley-oop off the glass on a fast break.

He also displayed some serious range in the sesh ... draining a long three-pointer.

Jared Jeffries' made over $40 million in the NBA, but proving everyone loves something for free ... the retired NBA vet won a brand new compact car on "The Price Is Right," and his reaction was priceless!!

The former #11 overall pick and Washington Wizards forward appeared on the famous game show (it aired Monday morning) where he was a contestant in the "One Away" game -- the goal being to correctly identify the cost of a car.

You can clearly see Jeffries was anxious before the last two numbers were revealed ... but when he realized he won, he went nuts!

"What a good win!" comedian and host Drew Carey said, "What a good win to start the show! Way to go!"

JJ hilariously gallops over to his car -- which looks to be a new 2023 Toyota -- and he's ecstatic.

"Yes!' Jeffries cheered with the crowd.

Of course, Jeffries certainly has a car or two ... since the 41-year-old made a fortune during his 11 seasons in the NBA. In addition to his time in D.C., JJ also played for the Knicks, Rockets and Blazers. Jared scored over 3,000 points and grabbed over 2,500 rebounds.

No, Clipper Darrell ain't on his way to becoming Celtic Darrell after being punched at a game earlier this month ... the L.A. superfan tells TMZ Sports he's still in love with the Clippers -- even if he's still ailing from the knockout blow.

We broke the story ... the iconic NBA fan -- real name Darrell Bailey -- was left unconscious after a Crypto.com Arena security guard socked him in the face following a dispute at the Clippers' game against Boston back on Dec. 12.

Darrell told us at the time he was left in a load of pain -- and he actually had to be taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Many wondered if the situation would sour his feelings on Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the rest of the guys on the hardwood -- but the 55-year-old told us this week he ain't going anywhere ... even if the experience he had with the arena staffer was traumatic.

"I look forward to returning to Crypto.com Arena to root for my 2023 NBA Championship Clippers!" he said. "Let's Go Clippers Let's Go!!!"

Darrell did add he's still hurting from the punch -- saying he's continuing to receive medical care for his ailments. But, he did appear to be in better spirits.

"What happened that night came as a complete shock, and it left me heartbroken," he said. "I'm still dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath of being assaulted and knocked unconscious by the AEG security guard. I'd like to thank the fans, athletes, the Clippers organization, and AEG for their love and support and for reaching out to me to check on my health and well-being."

"I'd ask that my privacy be respected while I continue treatment for my injuries."

News of Aaron Rodgers and Mallory Edens' new romance was just confirmed this week, but the clues were there as early as last month ... with the two sharing candy as they watched the Milwaukee Bucks from their courtside seats.

As we reported on Friday -- the Green Bay Packers quarterback and Bucks owner's daughter are, in fact, dating ... with the news coming off as a surprise to many.

But upon further review of Rodgers and Edens' recent public outing ... folks shouldn't be so shocked.

In the short clip from the Dec. 2 matchup against the Lakers, Aaron grabs a handful of what appears to be Mike and Ikes and downs 'em before passing it to Edens, who takes the box from him.

We get it -- it's not much, but it's certainly something a couple would do ... and just goes to show that they were enjoying their time together.

As we previously reported, the rumors had been swirling all week ... with many pointing out Edens recently hit up a Green Bay Packers game decked out in the home team's gear. Turns out all the rumors were right!!

Kyrie Irving showed appreciation for fans eager to meet him in Chicago this week ... by signing autographs and taking pics with a big crowd of supporters.

TMZ Sports is told ... Irving embraced the impromptu meet-and-greet and spent a moment with everyone in the crowd right outside the Nets' team hotel in the Windy City.

In the video, you can see Irving swarmed as he was presumably on his way to the team bus ... with the mob of fans handing the star point guard various items to sign.

As it turns out, we're told there was a group of Irving fans waiting outside the same hotel on Wednesday, and Kyrie promised that if they returned Thursday, he would stay and interact with as many people as time permitted.

Of course, the Nets were in Chi-Town to take on the Bulls at the United Center ... but Brooklyn fell to Chicago, 121-112, snapping a 12-game winning streak.

The Nets have been clicking on all cylinders since Kyrie returned from his suspension on Nov. 20 against Memphis ... reasserting themselves as a powerhouse in the East.

Former "Bachelorette" Hannah Brown says her time on the "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" was a total nightmare ... but it wasn't due to the crazy physical challenges she had to go through -- it's 'cause Dwight Howard wouldn't stop ripping ass!!

The former Miss Alabama USA is one of 16 celebrity contestants who bravely went through rigorous training exercises -- led by a group of ex-Special Forces operatives -- for the sake of television entertainment ... and she says the experience was incredibly tasking.

"It was probably tougher than it can ever be captured on camera," Brown told TMZ at LAX this week. "It was incredible, but like, incredibly challenging in every way because there's no break."

But Brown says it just wasn't about pushing her body to the limit -- their downtime in the barracks was "probably the worst part" ... thanks to one NBA champion's gas.

"Well, Dwight Howard was across from me farting the whole time," Brown added. "The bathroom situation, it was like 108 degrees inside, it was a lot."

Pulling out all the stops for a Pulitzer, we asked what it was like to handle "business" ... and Brown's description of the setup is pretty rough.

"It was like a bucket, basically, with flies."

Tristan Thompson's mom has died suddenly ... and Khloe Kardashian is right by his side, offering comfort and support as he navigates a challenging time in his life.

Khloe and Tristan were spotted Thursday touching down in Toronto together in a private jet. TMZ broke the story ... just hours before they landed, Tristan's mom, Andrea, was rushed to a local hospital after suffering a heart attack at home.

Our sources say Khloe joined Tristan on the flight from L.A. to Toronto to comfort him in his loss. We're told Khloe was very close to Andrea, and like Khloe and the Kardashian family always do -- they'll support a loved one in their most difficult time of need.

As you know, Khloe and Tristan have two children together -- their 4-year-old daughter True and a baby boy born in August via surrogate.

Tristan Thompson's mom has died suddenly in Toronto ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, Tristan's mom, Andrea, suffered a heart attack at home Thursday ... she was rushed to a local hospital where medical experts tried to resuscitate her, but she didn't make it.

Our sources say Tristan left Los Angeles as soon as he could to be with his family in Toronto.

Tristan posted a ton of photos with his mom over the years, it's clear they were very close. He also shared photos of Andrea with his kids -- including his daughter True, who he shares with Khloe Kardashian.

As you know, Khloe and Tristan have two children together, including a baby boy born in August via surrogate.

Aaron Rodgers appears to have a new woman in his life -- the Green Bay Packers superstar is reportedly dating Mallory Edens, the daughter of the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The rumors of the 4-time MVP's new romance started to pick up this week ... after the two were spotted sitting courtside together at the Bucks vs. Lakers game on December 2.

Of course, 39-year-old Rodgers is a minority owner of Milwaukee's NBA team ... and he's hit up Bucks games with Edens, 26, in the past as well. Things appeared to be platonic at the time, as the quarterback was dating actress Shailene Woodley.

Things have seemingly left the friend zone now ... as reports say they are now an item. Edens was also present at one of Rodgers' Packers games this season ... decked out in Green Bay merch.

Mallory is the daughter of Wes Edens, the billionaire businessman who is also co-owner of the Premier League club, Aston Villa. She is a model and social media influencer.

Rodgers previously dated Olivia Munn and Danica Patrick ... and was most recently linked to influencer Blu of Earth.

Fun fact -- Edens joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show back in 2019 ... where she talked all things Bucks and modeling.

She also made headlines back in 2019 ... when she shaded Drake by wearing a Pusha T T-shirt during the Bucks vs. Raptors Eastern Conference Finals.

The couple has yet to go "Instagram official" ... but now that the cat's outta the bag, it might speed up their process.

The Damar Hamlin incident has inspired the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to make sure its community is prepared for all medical emergencies -- the teams just announced it is donating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to local facilities throughout Louisiana.

The AEDs would be given to 40 New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) facilities and 27 Jefferson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD) facilities, including 35 parks, three baseball fields and two football facilities ... this according to a statement released on Thursday.

"In light of the horrible events involving Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, we felt it was
urgent that we reach out to our local recreational facilities to determine their needs,"
Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and Pelicans, said.

"NFL games have the most advanced medical staff and equipment on hand, and we believe this needs to be replicated as best as possible on the youth sports level."

As we previously reported, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins during MNF ... and had to be rushed to a local hospital in an ambulance.

Hamlin remains hospitalized in the ICU at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but two of the team of doctors assisting him, Dr. William Knight and Dr. Timothy Pritts, said Thursday the 24-year-old is "neurologically intact" and has been communicating with them through writing.

"The Saints reached out today wanting to discuss with us what our urgent medical
needs included relative to our youth facilities," said Larry Barabino Jr., Chief Executive
Officer of NORD. "We shared our plan with them and explained where we needed the
help."

"We are very grateful to Mrs. Benson and the entire organization. Putting 40 AEDs
around NORD facilities will give our families and our children comfort, knowing we can
be ready in case of an emergency."

Mario Brazile, Director of JPRD, said having the AEDs in its facilities will save lives ... adding that tragic events such as Hamlin's medical scare can serve as teachable moments for everyone.

Benson, principal owner of the Saints and Pelicans since 2018, said, "Hearing the news of Damar’s improvement from his doctors today was very heartening."

Chris Beard is no longer the head coach of the Texas Longhorns basketball team -- the university just announced he has been fired from his position after his felony domestic violence arrest last month.

The team made the move official just minutes ago ... with athletic director Chris Del Conte saying, "This has been a difficult situation that we've been diligently working through. Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately."

Del Conte acknowledged Rodney Terry for filling in as interim coach during Beard's suspension ... promoting him to acting head coach for the rest of the 2022-23 season.

"We are proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, who throughout this difficult time have continued to make us proud to be Longhorns," Del Conte added.

As we previously reported, Beard was arrested on December 12 ... after he was accused of strangling, throwing and biting his fiancée in their home. He was immediately suspended without pay.

The woman, Randi Trew, later apologized for her accusations ... saying Beard did not strangle her. She also did not refute Beard's claims that his actions were in self-defense.

"I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted," Trew said last month.

Beard -- a UT alum, who joined the program in 2021 -- went 34-14 in 48 games at Texas ... and is 176-74 overall.

Beard is still facing the criminal charge ... and has a court date later this month.

Despite all the controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets star is still a fan favorite ... 'cause he's currently leading all Eastern Conference guards in NBA All-Star votes.

The league released the first return of fan votes on Thursday -- with LeBron James and Kevin Durant both leading their conference with over 3 million votes each.

What stood out, though, was the voting numbers for the guards ... with Irving currently sitting in the number one spot ahead of Donovan Mitchell -- who recently scored 71 points in a game -- and James Harden.

This comes after the 30-year-old received endless criticism for a tweet last October ... when Kyrie shared the link to a 2018 film that contained antisemitic content.

Initially, Irving -- who signed with the Nets in 2019 -- refused to apologize for the post. He was suspended by the organization. Nike even ended their longtime relationship with the hooper.

Irving eventually said sorry to the Jewish community in a lengthy post on social media ... saying, "I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate."

But, given the voting tabulations, it seems that's all water under the bridge (or a vote against cancel culture). It doesn't hurt that the Nets are ballin'!

Since Ky's return from the suspension on Nov. 20, the Nets have won 18 out of their last 22 games and are currently tied for 2nd in the Eastern Conference.