Basketball

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic reached his boiling point after his team lost to the Lakers on Tuesday ... teeing off on referees for giving L.A. 23 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Rajakovic -- who's in his first season with the Dinos -- didn't hold back in his rant to media members after the 132-131 loss ... calling it "outrageous" the Purple and Gold continued to get calls in their favor ... and suggesting officials were helping LeBron James and Co. win the contest.

"What happened tonight, this is completely B.S.," Rajakovic told reporters. "This is shame. Shame for the referees, shame for the league to allow this. Twenty-three free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter. Like, how to play the game? I understand -- respect for All-Stars and all that, but we have star players on our team as well."

Rajakovic points out his star player Scottie Barnes was worthy of getting calls as he drove to the rim throughout the game ... but finished with just two attempts from the charity stripe.

"How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me?"

Lakers star Anthony Davis had 41 points in the matchup ... with 11 coming from free throws in the final period. Toronto only had 13 free-throw attempts throughout the game.

"They had to win tonight?" Rajakovic added. "If that's the case, just let us know, so we don't show up for the game. Just give them a win. But, that was not fair tonight. And this is not happening first time for us. Scottie Barnes is going to be All-Star. He's going to be the face of this league, and what's happening over here during whole season, I've been holding it back, it's complete crap."

LeBron got wind of Rajakovic's comments ... and his response was simple -- "I feel like they fouled and we didn't."

Ex-NBAer Evan Turner also weighed in on the Serbian coach's gripe ... with many calling him out for what is being considered a xenophobic take on the matter.

"You gotta let your assistant coaches do the rant when 'you have accent,'" Turner said on Instagram.

German hooper Dennis Schroder was quick to check him ... replying, "Bro chill."

The Los Angeles Lakers weren't the only ones who won in Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night ... a fan did too -- after he took home $100K by sinking a half-court shot!!

It all happened during a break in the action of L.A.'s game against the Toronto Raptors ... when Fidel Olmos stepped onto the hardwood to compete in a shooting contest.

The game was simple ... if Olmos hit the bucket from 47 feet out, he'd take home some serious coin. If he didn't, well, at least he got to grace the same floor as LeBron James for a moment.

But, Olmos was able to drain the basket ... and when he hit it -- the crowd went wild. Even Lakers star D'Angelo Russell -- who was right near the basket when the ball went through -- had to give it up for the guy.

The 34-year-old California native told ESPN's Dave McMenamin after he made the shot that it was super improbable ... considering he's only made two in his whole life previously.

Olmos said he's going to use the money to pay off his debt, help a couple of folks out, and treat himself.

"I would've been OK with 20 bucks," he said, "but this feels good!"

Dennis Schroder is finally explaining one of the most puzzling contract moves in NBA history ... revealing exactly why he REJECTED an $80+ million offer from the Lakers, only to sign a deal worth less than $6 mil!

His (old) agent told him to pass on the incredibly lucrative offer!!!

Remember, the star PG said no to a 4-year deal worth $84M from the Purple and Gold back in 2021 ... thinking he could get more elsewhere.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen ... and instead, Dennis ended up signing a $5.9 million deal with the Celtics.

The NBA vet is finally explaining what happened, telling Yahoo Sports, "I would've signed it."

"I would never just leave money on the table. My mom didn’t raise me that way."

Of course, fans incessantly trolled the German athlete for what's considered to be one of the biggest fumblings of the bag in NBA history.

Schroder admitted going from $84 to $6 mil was a tough pill to swallow, but he understands he still got paid a crapload of money, and life with his wife Ellen and their family is awesome.

"I had two healthy kids, my mom, my siblings. I can buy anything I want," Schroder said.

"I had a $70 million contract before. A guy from Germany? From Braunschweig? I’m more than blessed. I’m with the people who love me and was there through the darkest days."

Schroder -- who's averaging nearly 15 points and 7 assists per game this season for the Raptors (he's playing on a 2-year, $25.4M deal) -- also said he plans to play into his 40s, believing he's got a lot left in the tank.

Teyana Taylor says Iman Shumpert ignores the safety of their children when they're in his care ... accusing him of smoking weed and being under the influence when he's with them.

The singer takes some shots at the former NBA player's parenting skills in new legal docs from their nasty divorce ... and Teyana's not pulling any punches.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Teyana claims Iman consistently fails to properly care for their two kiddos ... accusing him of failing to feed them despite being in the family home.

What's more, Teyana says Iman smokes marijuana around the kids and is sometimes under the influence when caring for them.

In one instance, Teyana claims Iman put the kids in a rideshare in Chicago and had them dropped off at the United Center alone while he had a private driver take him to the arena.

Add it all up and Teyana claims Iman "consistently demonstrates a clear disregard for the safety of the minor children."

Teyana Taylor dice que Iman Shumpert ignora la seguridad de sus hijos cuando están a su cuidado, acusándolo de fumar hierba cuando está con ellos.

La cantante pone en duda las habilidades de crianza del ex jugador de la NBA en los nuevos documentos legales de su problemático divorcio.

De acuerdo con los documentos obtenidos por TMZ, Teyana afirma que Iman no cuida adecuadamente a sus dos pequeños, acusándolo de no darles de comer a pesar de estar en la casa de la familia.

Es más, Teyana dice que Iman fuma marihuana cerca de los niños y a veces está bajo la influencia cuando cuida de ellos.

En una ocasión, Teyana afirma que Iman puso a los niños en un viaje compartido a Chicago y los dejó solos en el United Center, mientras que su conductor privado lo llevaba a la arena.

Teyana afirma que Iman "demuestra constantemente un claro desprecio por la seguridad de los menores de edad".

Tristan Thompson has a new job outside of the NBA -- the Cleveland Cavaliers player has been named the newest Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics!!!

The 2016 NBA champion and Special Olympics International announced the news on Tuesday ... with Thompson saying he's "excited and honored" to partner with the sports organization that provides competitions for five million athletes (kids and adults) with disabilities.

"This is a great opportunity to support an amazing organization, but also use my platform and voice to help support athletes with intellectual disabilities," Thompson said.

"As a Global Ambassador, I will help inspire others to be more inclusive and take action to help change the stereotypes that exist for people with disabilities."

Thompson -- who is in his second stint with Cleveland -- will help promote the organization ... as well as work with local and global entities through activations by the Special Olympics.

In fact, the Cavs are hosting 40 athletes from Special Olympics France for a basketball clinic while they're in Paris for their game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Thompson will join a list of several NBA/WNBA players who are also Global Ambassadors for the Special Olympics ... including Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker and Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics.

"Special Olympics is honored to name Tristan Thompson as our newest Global Ambassador," CEO Mary Davis said. "Tristan demonstrates passion and dedication to creating a more inclusive world where exclusion has no place, and everybody belongs and is respected."

"We join Tristan in his commitment to elevating inclusion in communities around the world and look forward to working with him to positively change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities."

Of course, Thompson working with the Special Olympics hits close to home ... his younger brother, Amari, was born with disabilities.

Tristan Thompson tiene un nuevo trabajo fuera de la NBA, ¡¡¡el jugador de los Cleveland Cavaliers ha sido nombrado como nuevo Embajador Global de las Olimpiadas Especiales!!!

El campeón de la NBA en 2016 y Special Olympics International anunciaron la noticia el martes. Thompson dijo que estaba "emocionado y honrado" de asociarse con la institución, que organiza competencias para 5 millones de atletas (niños y adultos) con discapacidades.

"Esta es una gran oportunidad para apoyar a una organización increíble, pero también para utilizar mi plataforma y mi voz para apoyar a los atletas con discapacidad intelectual", dijo Thompson.

"Como Embajador Mundial, ayudaré a inspirar a otros a ser más inclusivos y a tomar medidas para ayudar a cambiar los estereotipos que existen sobre las personas con discapacidad".

Thompson, que está en su segunda etapa con los Cleveland, ayudará a promover la organización y trabajará con entidades locales y globales a través de activaciones de las Olimpiadas Especiales.

De hecho, los Cavs están recibiendo 40 atletas de Special Olympics Francia para una clínica de baloncesto mientras están en París para su partido contra los Brooklyn Nets el jueves.

Thompson se unirá a una lista de varios jugadores de la NBA/ WNBA que también son Embajadores Globales de las Olimpiadas Especiales, incluyendo estrellas de los Phoenix Suns como Devin Booker y Elena Delle Donne de los Washington Mystics.

"Para Special Olympics es un honor nombrar a Tristan Thompson como nuestro nuevo Embajador Mundial", declaró Mary Davis, directora ejecutiva de la organización. "Tristan demuestra pasión y dedicación para crear un mundo más inclusivo, donde la exclusión no tenga cabida y todo el mundo pertenezca y sea respetado".

"Nos unimos a Tristan en su compromiso por elevar la inclusión en las comunidades de todo el mundo y esperamos trabajar con él para cambiar positivamente la vida de las personas con discapacidad intelectual".

Por supuesto, que Thompson trabaje en los Juegos Olímpicos Especiales le afecta de cerca, pues su hermano menor Amari nació con discapacidad.

It's Kuh-nay-guh.

High school sports star Noah Knigga has become quite the internet sensation for much more than his athletic accomplishments recently ... but he wants everyone to know his name is safe for everyone to say -- as long as it's pronounced correctly.

The athlete and his family did an interview with Robert Griffin III this week ... and they answered the burning question surrounding their surname.

Of course, social media has been having a field day with the whole phenomenon ... firing off jokes left and right as it comes SUPER close to a word that could get a lot of folks canceled real quick.

Even RGIII had fun with it during the Q&A ... asking the Kniggas if they've ever been to Paris -- a reference to the famous Jay-Z and Kanye West song.

FWIW -- the Kniggas have never visited the City of Lights.

But friendly jabs aside, Noah -- a junior at Lawrenceburg High in Indiana -- is being recruited by multiple Division I schools to play football ... and recently won MVP honors in a basketball tournament over the weekend, so his game is no joke.

Ja Morant was a man of few words after learning his 2023-24 season was over ... going to social media to express his frustrations by simply saying, "Damn dawg."

The Memphis Grizzlies broke the news Monday night ... saying their superstar guard suffered a partial dislocation of his right shoulder during Saturday's training session.

The team said Morant continued to experience soreness and instability in the following days ... so he underwent an MRI, which revealed an underlying labral tear.

The ailment brings Morant's revenge tour to a screeching halt ... as he was out to make up for time lost after missing the first chunk of the season due to his gun-related suspension.

As we previously reported, Morant was quick to make sure his haters knew he heard all the talk in his first game back ... yelling he "kept receipts" after nailing the game-winning bucket against the New Orleans Pelicans last month.

Ja -- who missed Sunday's matchup against the Phoenix Suns -- was understandably bummed about his season being over ... also sending out a blue heart and posting "just waiting for the sun to come out..." later Monday night.

Lamar Odom says LeBron James and the Lakers can make it out of their current slump, they just gotta get into shape -- well, one in particular to be exact -- telling TMZ Sports L.A. needs to bring back the triangle offense!!

The Purple and Gold have struggled to keep it together after being crowned the In-Season Tournament champions last month -- they're currently sitting in the bottom half of the Western Conference with a record below .500.

We spoke with the two-time Lakers champ about his former team's woes ... and he said head coach Darvin Ham should take a page out of Phil Jackson's book and implement the offense that helped his squad rack up championships back in the day, as well as the legendary Chicago Bulls teams led by Michael Jordan.

In fact, he even suggests his own lineup that could flourish under that strategy -- Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and, of course, LeBron.

How's this for a sports lover's dream ... the vacation home custom-built by the late Lakers owner Jerry Buss, and visited by some of the greatest hoopers to ever grace a basketball court, is now on the market, and could be yours if you've got $12 million!

TMZ Sports has learned the 9,792-square-foot property, located on a 3.18-acre lot in Rancho Santa Fe (about 100 miles outside L.A.), recently hit the open market for $11.85 million. The land was purchased by Dr. Buss in 1994 for less than $300k, and the house, known as the "Dream Ranch," was built to his exact specifications to resemble the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort in Montecito.

We're told Jerry wanted a place outside of Los Angeles that felt far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city ... all while being close enough to the arena where his team played.

Buss often had company ... and they were some of the most famous athletes in the world like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O'Neal.

In fact, Jerry installed an extra-long driveway (it fits 25 cars!) to accommodate the stars' stretch limos.

The mansion features eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms (8 full, 2 half) -- five in the main house and three in the guest house -- with the master suite, clad in marble, overlooking a rose garden.

There's also a 3-stall barn, two putting greens, a swimming pool with a pool house, a basketball court (of course), and a tennis court where none other than Andre Agassi once played.

Buss passed away in 2013 ... and the home was ultimately sold years later in 2022. The new buyers renovated the home, transforming it into a modern mansion.

Britney Spears decided she'd give Sin City another shot ... celebrating the holidays there 5 months after enduring a slap from Victor Wembanyama's security in a bizarre exchange.

Sources tell TMZ, the singer returned to Vegas over the holidays ... staying for a few days, though it's unclear if she spent Christmas Day among all the lights and excitement.

We're told Britney had a room at Resorts World and another at Aria. Video emerged on social media of Britney walking around the casino floor at The Wynn holding a beer and flanked by a few security guards.

The source tells us she was at The Wynn to watch the show "Awakening" and dined at their swanky seafood restaurant, Lakeside.

Her Vegas schedule was jam-packed -- she also took a tour of the brand-new Fontainebleau property, briefly checked out LIV, and spent time inside their members-only club, Poodle Room.

Basically, we're told her time in Vegas was super chill and inconspicuous -- nothing like last time when she was slapped by basketball player Victor's security when she beelined behind him after running into him in a hallway.

Video of the moment went viral ... and upon watching it, Britney said her reaction to the slap was "priceless."

Britney Spears decidió darle otra oportunidad a la ciudad del pecado y celebrar las fiestas allí a solo 5 meses de soportar una bofetada del equipo de seguridad de Victor Wembanyama en un extraño intercambio.

Fuentes dicen a TMZ que la cantante regresó a Las Vegas durante las vacaciones para quedarse por unos días, aunque no está claro si pasó el día de Navidad entre todas las luces y la emoción.

Nos dicen que Britney tenía una habitación en Resorts World y otra en Aria. En las redes sociales apareció un video de ella paseando por el casino Wynn con una cerveza en la mano y flanqueada por varios guardias de seguridad.

La fuente nos dice que estaba en el Wynn para ver el espectáculo "Awakening" y cenar en su restaurante de mariscos, Lakeside.

Su agenda en Las Vegas estaba repleta. También hizo un recorrido por la nueva propiedad Fontainebleau, visitó brevemente LIV y pasó tiempo dentro de su club solo para miembros, Poodle Room.

Básicamente, nos dicen que su tiempo en Las Vegas fue súper tranquilo y discreto, nada que ver con la última vez, cuando fue abofeteada por la seguridad del jugador de baloncesto Victor cuando estaba detrás de él después de encontrárselo en un pasillo.

El video se hizo viral, y al verlo, Britney dijo que su reacción a la cachetada fue "impagable".

Mark Cuban is making sure his Mavericks employees are being taken care of following his sale of the majority stake in the NBA franchise ... promising to dole out $35 million-plus in bonuses in the near future.

The former Dallas owner made the announcement in an email to Mavs staffers on Friday, according to ESPN ... explaining new owners Miriam Adelson and Sivan and Patrick Dumont will be helping to contribute to the large bonus pool as well.

Cuban said the payouts will be based on "a framework that took into consideration how long you have worked for the Mavs." He added the cash will be hitting bank accounts "in the very near future."

"I'm excited to continue our work making the Mavs the best franchise in all of sports!" Cuban said in the letter.

Of course, Cuban officially gave way to Adelson and the Dumonts late last month ... selling the families his controlling interest in the team for $3.5 billion.

The 65-year-old, however, still maintains a 27% stake in the org. ... and he told reporters after it all became official that he'll still have control of basketball operations.

As for why he made the surprising move ... he said it's simple -- he thinks the new owners can grow the business exponentially.

"When you get a world-class partner who can come in and grow your revenue base and you're not dependent on things that you were in the past," Cuban said, "that's a huge win."

Shaquille O'Neal hung up his Dunkman's more than a decade ago, but the NBA legend is still making history ... the Orlando Magic just announced they're retiring the Big Fella's 32 jersey, the first time they've ever raised a number to the rafters!

51-year-old O'Neal received word of the honor while he was on the air with buds Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson ... when the Hall of Famer got a "phone call" from Magic CEO Alex Martins.

"On behalf of the DeVos family and myself and all of us here at the Orlando Magic, we want to congratulate you as we make you the first jersey number retired in the history of the Orlando Magic. You had a great career here at the beginning of your career and we had some great times!" Martins said to Shaq.

Of course, the Magic picked O'Neal with their first pick in the 1992 NBA Draft ... and Shaquille didn't disappoint in his short stint with the team, making them relevant, and even leading them to the NBA Finals in 1995, where they lost to the Houston Rockets.

He averaged over 27 points, and nearly 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game in Orlando.

Shaq ultimately decided to leave Florida for a big payday in Los Angeles ... where he won 3 NBA championships alongside Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Team Chairman Dave DeVos also spoke about Shaq's influence on the organization, on and off the hardwood, as well as the local community.

“Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town. Our family and the entire franchise couldn’t be more pleased for Shaquille to receive this well-deserved honor, further cementing his enduring legacy here in Orlando as we collectively look back on his tremendous accomplishments in a Magic uniform.”

Perhaps the most meaningful congratulations came from O'Neal's "number one fan," his mom, Dr. Lucille O'Neal, who sent her son a heartfelt message.

The jersey retirement goes down on February 13.

Victor Wembanyama entered his twenties on Thursday ... and his teammates celebrated his special day by singing "Happy Birthday" during practice!!

The San Antonio Spurs players surprised the 7'4" rookie right on the court ... surrounding him and breaking out the classic tune.

Wemby clearly wasn't expecting it ... but jumped right into singing and clapping with his teammates.

"Hip hip hooray!" the players yelled after the song. "Hip hip hooray!"

Wembanyama also got another nice present on his birthday -- it was announced he's received over 221k votes to participate in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game so far.

To compare, that's more entries than Karl-Anthony Towns, Chet Holmgren and Kristaps Porzingis.

The first-overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft has been getting a lot of love since he started his career ... in fact, his dunk on December 31 is on the verge of becoming the most-watched video ever on the league's Instagram page with 88.8 million views.

Wemby -- who's averaging 18.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game -- also set several NBA records before his 20th birthday, including surpassing Dwight Howard for the most consecutive games with a double-double (8).