Basketball

Jerry Ferrara has a long list of names he wants to have appear on his new "Throwbacks" sports podcast with Matt Leinart ... but there's one person he's got highlighted at the very top of it -- New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson.

TMZ Sports spoke with the former "Entourage" and "Power" actor about his project with the Heisman Trophy winner ... and he's excited to chat weekly with his cohost about all things sports and life in general.

Ferrara explained it's not going to be all Xs and Os -- he's going to give the perspective of a true sports fan ... as he has a lifetime of experience from cheering for his beloved Yankees, Giants and Knicks.

Flau'jae Johnson isn't interested in being called an athlete who raps ... the LSU national champion and artist behind the hit track with Lil' Wayne says her goals are far loftier -- as in Adele collaborations and Grammy Award wins!

TMZ Sports talked to 20-year-old Flau'jae just days after she dropped the music video for "Came Out A Beast" -- which already has over a million views -- and asked #4 if she believed she was the best athlete rapper.

"I don't know. I'm not them. That's not my title because I'm really taking this seriously. Like I'm trying to perform arenas. I'm trying to tour. I'm trying to be a real established artist. I want to win a Grammy."

The USA men's 3x3 squad failed to bring home the hardware, but Jrue Holiday thinks he and his NBA brothers could yield different results if they teamed up for the Olympics ... telling TMZ Sports he likes their chances!!

We caught up with the Celtics champion and Paris gold medalist while he was working an honorary shift at Raising Cane's in Boston this week ... and he talked all about his "whirlwind" 2024.

"It's been fun," Holiday said. "Winning's not too bad."

If you wanna watch Caitlin Clark take on Angel Reese in-person later Friday ... ya better have some deep pockets -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned tickets prices for the big contest are SOARING.

A rep for Gametime -- an app that helps fans find last-minute tix -- tells us that as of Thursday afternoon, the average price to get into Wintrust Arena for the Indiana vs. Chicago tilt was $1,045!!!

To get a premium seat, the official says it could run you all the way up $2,013!!

NBA player Jeremy Sochan crashed his pricey Porsche on a highway in Texas last weekend, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to a San Antonio Police Department accident report we obtained ... officers stated the incident happened on August 24 at the I-10 and Loop 1604 intersection.

The SAPD wrote in the docs 21-year-old Sochan was driving his lime green 2019 sportscar when he lost control and slid into the left side of a guard rail.

WNBA star DiJonai Carrington just ripped into a social media user who trolled her with an insensitive George Floyd meme following her game Wednesday night -- calling the person's behavior "so sick."

Carrington was sent the edit on X just after her Sun team fell to the Fever in Indiana ... and it featured an image from when Floyd was being killed by former police officer Derek Chauvin.

In the post, you can see Caitlin Clark's face was edited over Chauvin's -- while Floyd's was replaced by Carrington's ... and the 26-year-old guard made it clear she was outraged by the visual.

Caitlin Clark had a pretty good night Wednesday -- she broke yet another WNBA record, logged a big victory ... and got to meet Simone Biles!!

It all happened at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana ... as Clark and the Fever were taking on the Connecticut Sun in a huge matchup.

Biles pulled up to watch the contest with Gabby Thomas -- and the two Olympic superstars were treated to quite the show from Clark.

One of the biggest questions leading up to the next NBA season has been answered -- will Bronny James call LeBron "dad" when they share the court?? And from the King himself, the answer is HELL NO.

Now that his oldest son is his teammate on the Lakers, the four-time champion ended the speculation on how the work relationship will play out ... especially when it comes to how the rookie will address him.

"No, he can't [call me dad]," 39-year-old LeBron said on the upcoming episode of "The Shop" on Uninterrupted. "Cannot call me 'dad' in the workplace. Once we leave out the private facility and the gates close, I can be 'dad' again."

Phoenix Mercury hooper Sophie Cunningham channeled her inner "Love Island" contestant prior to Monday night's game ... rocking a tiny dress and showing off her tan lines!!

The team's social media accounts highlighted the 28-year-old's wardrobe choice ... leaning into the fact she would fit right in on set of the popular dating show.

"this week a hot new bombshell enters the villa," the Mercury said on X alongside a slo-mo video of Cunningham's entrance.

Caitlin Clark fans had a collective panic attack last night ... after the Indiana Fever star went down with a scary ankle injury.

Thankfully, CC insists she's okay!

The scary moment happened during the first quarter of the Fever-Dream game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Monday ... when the No. 1 draft pick rolled her left ankle playing defense.

The 6-foot rookie guard immediately crumbled to the ground, holding her ankle, clearly in serious pain.

The music video for Lil Wayne and Flau'jae Johnson's new single dropped on Monday ... and the visuals are giving some serious LSU vibes -- from coach Kim Mulkey to the NCAA championship trophy!

The LSU hoops star premiered the project on her X page ... and thousands tuned in to see what she came up with for her "Came Out A Beast" track with Weezy.

In the intro, the point guard shows a glimpse of her day job -- playing basketball with her Tiger teammates and getting a pep talk from Coach Mulkey.

NBA star Aaron Gordon will honor his late brother every time he steps on the court ... making the move to change his jersey number as a special tribute to Drew.

The Denver Nuggets forward -- who previously wore No. 50 -- will sport No. 32 this upcoming season ... the same digits Drew had during his own career.

Drew played professionally overseas (where he won the Italian Cup) and in the G-League ... and made nine appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014.

Bronny James couldn't help but show love under Parker Whitfield's new social media post on Sunday ... dropping a flirty comment in the replies for all to see.

James and Whitfield first sparked dating rumors when they were spotted at the Paris Olympics together earlier this month ... with the two catching LeBron and Co. during their epic gold-medal run.

If making an international trip to France wasn't telling enough, Bronny's latest Instagram activity pretty much confirms they're an item.

To those hating on Bronny James, John Salley's got a message for y'all -- pipe down!!!

The former Lakers center defended LeBron James' son and L.A.'s decision to pick him up in June's NBA draft this week ... saying straight up, all of the teenager's detractors are simply "mad they didn't think of it or do it" themselves.

"Listen," the four-time NBA champion told TMZ Sports out at LAX. "If my dad had the power, if my dad was the leading scorer, if my dad was able to take a pay cut so I could get a check -- it's like no other business."

Caitlin Clark was on the receiving end of a sick alley-oop from Erica Wheeler ... 'cause the WNBA star rookie just got an iced-out diamond chain from her teammate's jeweler -- and it's dope!!

A while ago, Wheeler -- who signed a multiyear deal with the Fever in 2023 -- shared a video on social media showing off a diamond-filled chain and pendant featuring her jersey number.

Clark -- who was right beside her -- said she wanted one, too. So, Wheeler made a call to her jeweler, the GLD Shop, to hook her friend up ... and they delivered!!

Justin Bieber, Lil' Wayne, and Snoop Dogg have done it ... and when boxing legend Floyd Mayweather finally returns to the ring for his scrap with John Gotti III on Saturday, there will be no lack of star power -- Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis will accompany TBE to the squared circle!

TMZ Sports has learned Edwards and Davis, NBA superstars who just won gold medals as a part of Team USA in Paris, will be in Mexico City (Money got a heroes welcome!) on August 24 for the event.

Of course, Mayweather, 50-0, and Gotti III, an MMA fighter turned boxer, previously fought in June 2023 ... but the bout was called in the 6th round after all hell broke loose in and outside the ring.