Basketball

La NBA está en la mira del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos por las acusaciones de que la Asociación trabajó para torpedear la liga de baloncesto Big3 de Ice Cube, acusaciones que la NBA niega.

TMZ Sports ha descubierto que se inició la investigación hace meses, el examen de la presunta conducta anticompetitiva por parte de la NBA con el objetivo de aplastar el crecimiento de la Big3.

Supuestamente la NBA está emitiendo estas acusaciones para evitar que los patrocinadores y otros socios potenciales hagan negocios con la liga de la leyenda del rap y así convencer a las cadenas de televisión de no  mostrar los juegos de la Big3.

Cube y su socio Jeff Kwatinetz lanzaron la liga de 3 contra 3, compuesta casi en su totalidad por jugadores retirados de la NBA, en 2017.

Algunos jugadores actuales han expresado su deseo de jugar en la liga de Cube en la temporada baja, pero nos informan que la NBA ha impedido que los chicos lo hagan, poniendo reglas arbitrarias para evitar que los jugadores entren a la liga de Ice.

Para tu información, las temporadas de la NBA y de la Big3 no coinciden. Por supuesto, es habitual que los jugadores de la NBA —incluidas algunas de las mayores estrellas del mundo como LeBron James— participen en partidos que no son de la NBA una vez finalizada la temporada, como la famosa Drew League de Los Ángeles.

Según fuentes familiarizadas con la investigación, los directivos de Big3 creen que han sido injustamente atacados por la NBA.

También nos informan que se ha disuadido a los propietarios de la NBA de invertir en la Big3 al tiempo que poseen una franquicia.

Los árbitros tampoco han sido inmunes, según una fuente, se les ha dicho que no pueden oficiar para la Big3, a pesar de que algunos trabajan para otras organizaciones fuera de la NBA.

Una fuente familiarizada con la investigación del Departamento de Justicia nos dice que Cube y Kwatinetz se reunieron con abogados del DOJ durante la primera mitad del año. También nos han dicho que los investigadores han empezado a ponerse en contacto con los propietarios de la NBA como parte de su investigación.

Si finalmente el gobierno determina que la liga cometió infracciones antimonopolio, la NBA podría enfrentarse a una multa significativa.

Nos pusimos en contacto con la liga para hacer comentarios y el portavoz de la NBA, Mike Bass, se refirió a las acusaciones de interferencia de patrocinadores y cadenas de televisión y nos dijo: "Esas afirmaciones no son ciertas".

Bass también añadió: "Hemos apoyado a la Big3 desde su creación, pero declinamos invertir".

LeBron James might not be retiring for a LONG time -- the Lakers superstar's wife just revealed he's hoping to stay in the NBA until he plays with both Bronny AND Bryce!!

Savannah shared the surprising remark in the King's latest ad campaign for Beats By Dre ... in which she gives him a pump-up speech about his haters ahead of his 21st season in the Association.

"Tell them you're not done until you play with your son," LeBron's longtime partner said as Bronny's face popped up. "Then do that again," she added as Bryce stared into the camera.

38-year-old LeBron has always made it clear he wanted to suit up alongside 19-year-old Bronny, who is entering his first year at USC ... but now, it certainly sounds like he's planning to stick around long enough to do the same with 16-year-old Bryce.

Bryce is currently a shooting guard at Notre Dame HS in California ... and is slated to graduate in 2025, meaning he would not be able to enter the league until 2026 under the current rules -- and LeBron would be well into his 40s.

Bron admitted back in 2022 he had thought about the possibility of playing with Bryce ... saying, "I feel like I could play for quite a while," according to Sports Illustrated.

"So it’s all up to the body, but more importantly, my mind. If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky’s not even the limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see."

Georgetown women's basketball head coach Tasha Butts has tragically died following a battle with breast cancer, the school announced Monday.

She was just 41 years old.

In revealing the heartbreaking news, school president John J. DeGioia called her death "a devastating loss."

"She was extraordinary," DeGioia said. "Tasha was a person of character, determination, vision, and kindness. She will be deeply missed by our community and by so many people around the country who have been inspired by her life."

Butts starred on the court at Tennessee from 2000 to 2004 -- playing forward for Pat Summit ... before she was picked by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2004 WNBA Draft.

She eventually got into coaching following her one season in the league, beginning as an assistant with Duquesne in 2007. She later coached for LSU and UCLA, before landing a promotion to the associate head coach role at Georgia Tech in 2021.

She found a ton of success as the leader of the Yellow Jackets, this despite being diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2021 season ... and in April, she was named Georgetown's head coach.

She stepped away from the team last month, however, to continue her fight with cancer.

"When I met Tasha, I knew she was a winner on the court, and an incredible person whose drive, passion and determination was second to none," Georgetown AD Lee Reed said. "She exhibited these qualities both as a leader and in her fight against breast cancer. This is a difficult time for the entire Georgetown community, and we will come together to honor her memory."

The school announced Darnell Haney will be the interim head coach for this upcoming season. It also said Monday it and the Big East will continue to raise funds and breast cancer awareness through her "Tasha Tough" initiative.

Brandon Miller -- the ex-Crimson Tide star who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft -- has been sued for wrongful death by the family of the woman who was killed in a shooting earlier this year near the University of Alabama.

The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, was filed in a federal court on Friday by Jamea Harris' mother, DeCarla Heard ... nearly 10 months after Harris was allegedly murdered by Miller's friend.

In the suit, Heard claims Miller played a significant role in her daughter's Jan. 14 death ... alleging Miller was the one who came to the location of the shooting with the firearm that Michael Davis then used to kill Harris.

Heard claims Miller, Davis and former Tide basketball player Darius Miles had all been together earlier in the night at a row of clubs in Tuscaloosa, when Miller left because a line to get into one of the bars was too long. She says Miles left his gun in Miller's ride before the basketball phenom took off.

A short time later, though, Heard says Davis and Miles left the bar ... and got into a dispute with Harris, her boyfriend and her cousin. She claims in the suit Miles then texted Miller, now a Charlotte Hornet, asking for his "joint" because "someone was 'fakin',' meaning using words in an aggressive manner with no intention or ability to back them up."

Heard says when Miller showed up minutes later, Miles then retrieved the gun from the hooper's ride, before he handed it off to Davis. She alleges Davis then approached Harris, her BF and her cousin in a car and fired off rounds -- striking Harris with at least one in the face, killing her.

Heard is seeking damages ... claiming Davis, Miles and Miller "should have known that bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in harm to those around them."

For his part, Miller's attorney said in February that Miller "never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur." He was never charged with a crime.

As for Miles and Davis, both are facing capital murder charges over their alleged roles in Harris' death.

Draymond Green reportedly avoided Jordan Poole like the plague after their infamous practice altercation last year -- the Golden State Warriors star allegedly refused to make amends with his teammate, despite head coach Steve Kerr's attempts.

The details of the fallout between the two sides were laid out in an article on the Ringer ... claiming Green never spoke with Poole following the October 2022 incident, but was willing to sing like a bird about it with the media.

In fact, the feature states Kerr tried to step in and get the two to go to dinner to bury the hatchet ... but Green wasn't down.

As we previously reported, both Green and Poole have spoken about their status in the past ... with the former calling it a "work in progress."

Ultimately, those close to Poole believe the Dubs suffered on the court as a result of their severed relationship ... leading to an early exit from the playoffs.

Justin Bieber earned the J in his first name on Thursday ... showing off his solid jumper as he drained buckets in a basketball game.

The pop superstar showed up at The Surgeon's studio in Los Angeles to ball out in the famous shoe customizer's organized hoops league ... suiting up for Team Nahmias in their matchup against SRGN.

JB had a couple highlights in the contest ... showing off his range and passing abilities as he played alongside his longtime buddy Ryan Good and fashion designer Doni Nahmias.

It wasn't enough to help his team get the win, though ... as Nahmias fell to SRGN, 109-71.

Of course, the "Stay" singer is no stranger to showing off his athleticism -- whether it's on the hardwood, soccer field or hockey rink ... the guy can hold his own.

It looks like Bieber has stayed busy in the gym ... as his technique has never looked better.

Bronny James was teachin' fans how to Dougie at a USC hoops event Thursday night ... dancing his tail off during player introductions -- but he sat out all of the night's competitions, an indication he's still not quite 100 percent after suffering cardiac arrest.

LeBron's oldest son received a super warm welcome at the annual Trojan HoopLA shindig at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles ... and he sure seemed to love it all, gyrating to Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How To Dougie" as people in the stands roared.

However, that was about all the physical activity he did during the evening ... electing not to participate in the skills competition, dunk contest and the 3-point contest.

Of course, it's not unexpected at all ... Bronny required surgery just a few weeks ago after he had the issue with his heart back in July -- and everyone involved has been making sure he's been brought along slowly ever since.

It's unclear when he'll be able to officially start putting basketballs in hoops for the Trojans this year ... a timetable has not been given -- but LeBron said just days ago the goal is for his son to make an impact at USC soon.

Meanwhile, there were plenty more highlights from the Trojans event Thursday ... including when freshman forward Brandon Gardner threw down a massive slam over star USC quarterback Caleb Williams during the dunk contest.

Rap stars YG & Saweetie also performed!!

LeBron James certainly doesn't have writer's block -- the Los Angeles Lakers superstar just announced he's got another children's book on the way ... titled "I Am More Than."

The 4-time NBA champ teamed up with HarperCollins Publishers on the project ... to inspire young readers to understand they are more than just "one label, trait, or interest."

"'I Am More Than' is about believing in yourself and all the amazing things you're capable of, which no one else can define you," James said in a statement.

"I hope everyone that reads it feels inspired to be 'more than' in everything they do."

James is no stranger to the literature game -- his first kids book, "I Promise," became a New York Times best seller.

"It's been incredible to see students, teachers, and families respond to I Promise and its message of encouragement," the 38-year-old said.

"With the next book, we want to continue inspiring kids everywhere to keep dreaming big and not let anything hold them back."

The book -- slated to hit shelves on April 2 -- will feature illustrations from Nina Mata.

The future Hall of Famer also made a middle-grade level book called "We Are Family" this year with journalist and writer Andrea Williams.

Mark Davis threw on his dancin' shoes at the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night ... hitting some wild moves after his Las Vegas Aces won their second consecutive championship -- and the team loved it!

The Raiders owner -- who bought the Aces in 2021 -- couldn't have been more thrilled to see his team beat the New York Liberty in Game 4 for the title ... storming the court and moving his body in a way we've never seen from the 68-year-old.

Rockin' his trademark white getup, Davis rolled his hands, gyrated his hips and fist pumped ... all while his players cheered him on.

"Go Mark!" the ladies yelled while Davis grinned from ear to ear. "Go Mark!"

He, of course, wasn't the only one who got down in order to celebrate the Aces' second straight title ... a twerkin' sesh also happened when Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell got after it before the team popped champagne.

The night also featured a special moment between Aces guard Kelsey Plum and her NFL star husband, Darren Waller. Because the game was in New York, the Giants tight end was able to watch his wife -- and when she won it all, he gave her a big smooch.

Candace Parker, meanwhile, was another person who was filled with joy over the Finals win ... she became the first player to win three WNBA titles on three different teams (Sparks in 2016, Sky in 2021, and now the Aces).

The party ain't over either ... the championship parade is scheduled for Monday in Sin City.

Terrell Owens is clearly unbothered by being struck by a vehicle following an argument at a basketball game earlier this week ... joking Tuesday that he hopes the man's car "is OK!!!"

Around 24 hours after cops say Owens was hit in the knee by a man's ride after the two had beef during a hoops sesh ... T.O. took to Instagram to let his fans know he's doing just fine.

Owens posted what appeared to be highlights of him playing in the Monday night game that led to the incident ... and then he wrote in the caption, "*hope the car is ok!!!"

He added, "ABOUT LAST NIGHT…BUT I DO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT MYSELF."

In a separate statement to TMZ Sports, Owens said everything's fine with his body following the altercation.

We broke the story ... cops arrived to check on the situation with Owens and the man at around 10 p.m. on Monday night in Calabasas. They took a report for assault with a deadly weapon ... though no arrests have been made yet.

The Utah Jazz have stopped selling a shirt that prominently features Michael Jordan's "Jumpman" logo ... this after fans complained the imagery brought up some painful memories for them.

The tee showed Jordan's famed silhouette jumping over Jazz lettering ... something Utah backers seriously frowned upon, given everything MJ did to them during his time with the Bulls.

You'll recall, while starring for Chicago in the 1990s, he beat the Jazz regularly ... including twice in NBA Finals matchups.

So, when some supporters saw the grey shirt being sold in the team's store -- they complained relentlessly -- and, according to Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen, the Jazz ended up pulling the item quickly over the backlash.

As for how the shirt came about in the first place, following the NBA's partnership with Jordan Brand years ago ... teams all over the league -- not just the Jazz -- began rolling out the generic design with the "Jumpman" logo on them.

Terrell Owens fue atropellado por un coche la noche del lunes y todo porque se metió en una pelea con alguien durante un juego de baloncesto, de acuerdo a la policía.

La ley le dice a TMZ Sports que Owens estaba en el área de Calabasas cuando al parecer se metió en una discusión con otra persona en la cancha.

Nos informan que después del partido, el hombre que había estado discutiendo con la leyenda de la NFL se metió en un carro y condujo el vehículo para golpear la rodilla del ex receptor.

Afortunadamente, la policía dice Owens no requirió atención médica.

La policía dice que los oficiales tomaron un informe de asalto con un arma mortal, aunque no se han hecho arrestos. Una investigación sigue en curso.

Owens ha estado involucrado en varios incidentes extraños similares desde su retiro. En 2022 se metió en una discusión salvaje con una vecina que finalmente dio lugar a cargos criminales para la mujer.

Luego, más tarde ese año, estuvo involucrado en una pelea a puñetazos fuera de un CVS.

Terrell Owens was hit by a car on Monday night ... and it's all because he got into a tiff with someone during a pickup basketball game earlier in the evening ... this according to cops.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... Owens had been hooping in the Calabasas area when he apparently got into an argument with someone else on the court.

We're told following the game, the man who had been beefing with the NFL legend got into a car ... and drove the vehicle right into the former wide receiver's knee.

Thankfully, cops say Owens did not require medical attention.

Law enforcement says officers took a report for assault with a deadly weapon ... though no arrests have been made. An investigation remains ongoing.

Owens, of course, has been involved in several, similar bizarre incidents since his retirement ... back in 2022, he got into a wild argument with a female neighbor that actually led to criminal charges for the woman.

Then, later that year, he was involved in a fistfight with a heckler outside of a CVS.

Michael Jordan got the red carpet rolled out for him at Usher's show over the weekend ... getting prime seats, a shoutout during the concert -- and even a sexy dance from Tiffany Haddish!!!

His Airness pulled up to the "Let It Burn" crooner's performance at Park MGM in Las Vegas on Saturday ... and almost immediately, king treatment commenced.

Jordan, his wife and a couple other friends were walked to some chairs in a VIP area that seemed to feature bottle service.

Then, as Usher was singing, Haddish cruised over to Jordan's group to give the NBA legend a show of her own ... gyrating in front of the former Chicago Bulls star -- while he clapped and laughed.

Usher himself then made sure Jordan felt special in the audience ... pausing his whole act to acknowledge that the hooper was in attendance.

"We love you, Mike," he screamed as everyone went crazy.

Of course, the conduct toward MJ shouldn't surprise anyone ... after all, he's the NBA's G.O.A.T. -- and he and Usher are longtime pals.

In fact, they famously collaborated to make an ultra-rare version of one of Jordan's signature shoes back in 2014 -- kicks that Usher actually broke out during Saturday's show.

"I'm putting them on because I want to be like Mike!" Usher said.

Unlike Joe Budden, Cam’ron’s not completely retired from rapping after adopting a career in podcasting, and he’s taking a baton passed by J. Cole and running with it for his own track.

On Monday, Cam expanded on Cole’s shoutout from Lil Yachty’s track “The Secret Recipe”
where Cole saluted the Diplomats rapper with the line, "I prolly put more n****s on pause than Cam and Mason Beth.”

Later on his verse, the Harlem rapper-turned-sportscaster plugged his show while taking aim at future HOF Chris Paul jumping to the Golden State Warriors ... "Say what I want, 'It Is What It Is'/Don't care who take offense/Like Chris Paul, y'all, on Golden State, it don't make no sense/Unless he 2nd unit, when the game start, he play the bench."

Steven A. Smith recently cast doubts on CP3's ability with the Dubs, but Cam and his cohost Ma$e are disrupting the world of sports commentary from a different angle -- they can professionally rap their hot takes!!!

The track eventually bleeds into a preview of Cam's upcoming Halloween-themed video, "Get Mine Regardless" where he dons a Freddy Krueger getup to slash home his point.

At 38 years old, even Chris wouldn't argue he's past his prime, but his immeasurable experience could surely prove valuable to GS' 2024 championship hopes.

If it wasn't for music, Rick Ross could've been a damn good basketball player ... at least, that's according to famed NBA shooting coach Lethal Shooter, who tells TMZ Sports the rapper's got the goods on the court!

Lethal -- real name Chris Matthews -- came to the conclusion after working with the "Hustlin'" artist earlier this month before he had to take a private jet to Las Vegas.

Matthews spent about an hour with the celeb ... and he was so impressed with Ross' work ethic, he said the dude could've been "elite" on the hardwood if he had chosen ball over hip hop.

"As soon he got out of the car, he didn't waste any time," Matthews said of Ross. "He was looking to train. He only took two breaks. He wanted to learn."

Matthews, of course, didn't say an NBA career would've been in Ross' future if he had picked basketball at a young age ... but he explained to us the 47-year-old could've potentially made it as a college hooper if he wanted.

"I feel like people don't realize Rick Ross is pretty tall and anything that somebody put their mind to, they're capable of," Matthews said.

"What I saw from somebody, the age that he's at, that he was learning so fast I think he could've been capable at a young age to play at an elite level as far as high school and college."

Matthews knows a thing or two about A-listers with hoops skills ... he's trained a bunch of celebs over the years -- and told us guys like Future and Mark Cuban have some underrated games.

"When I was training Mark Cuban a few months back," Matthews said, "I felt like you can tell at a young age he was one of those guys that was always gonna bring it on defense, always gonna bring the intensity."

When the 38-year-old is not helping celebrities with their jump shots ... he's going nonstop at giving back to his hometown Washington D.C. -- telling us he recently donated $18K to three different schools in the DMV area.