Basketball

Bronny James is opening up about his near-death experience at USC ... with the 19-year-old Lakers rookie admitting he's still not fully recovered.

"My days aren't normal anymore," James told Men's Health magazine in a brand new cover feature that dropped on Tuesday.

"I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was" ... LeBron's oldest son added.

Georgetown University's women's basketball team is catching flak for honoring a former player who was fatally shot by a police officer who she slashed with a knife.

The Hoyas' official X account posted a tribute to ex-player Sydney Wilson, mourning her "tragic loss" last month ... but now the post is drawing criticism because newly released police body cam footage shows her attacking the cop -- cutting his face -- before he shoots and kills her.

The tribute post has been on the Georgetown women's basketball team's X page since September 20. Sydney, who played for GU from 2009 to 2013, died Sept. 16 in the police shooting -- and the video of the fatal altercation was just released Monday.

The wife of WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart has gone to the police for help ... after receiving a homophobic email wishing death on the couple.

Marta Xargay Casademont -- a former pro shooting guard who retired in 2021 -- reportedly went to the NYPD last week after receiving the terrifying message from an anonymous sender.

"I hope someone shoots your wife dead" ... is just one of the awful things in the email.

Kanye West's getting hit with a new allegation involving Diddy, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are going on dates in the Big Apple, and Donte DiVincenzo is sending a message to his former NBA team ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Charles and Babcock break down the new claim against Kanye ... and the connection with Diddy.

LeBron James is establishing some boundaries when it comes to Bronny ... making it crystal clear he's not going to speak for his son -- telling reporters if they want to know anything about the Lakers rookie's experience, they can ask him directly.

The four-time NBA champion explained his stance during media availability on Monday ... saying Bronny's fully capable of taking his own questions.

"He's a grown man, ask him how he's handling it," LeBron said of the Bronny-related question.

Caitlin Clark's competitiveness doesn't end on the basketball court -- she's pretty serious on the golf course, too ... 'cause she had a complete meltdown after just barely missing out on a hole-in-one!!

The Indiana Fever superstar came close to the milestone during an outing with teammate Lexie Hull ... after taking a swing on a Par 3.

As they watched her shot, everyone took a deep breath as it approached the cup.

The WNBA Finals are underway ... so it's time to give a special shout-out to the S.O.'s of the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty!!

The Liberty made it to the Finals after putting an end to the Las Vegas Aces' three-peat dreams ... and their star guard Sabrina Ionescu is lookin' to get her and the franchise's first WNBA title.

Her husband, former NFL center Hroniss Grasu, certainly won't miss it if history is made ... nor will Breanna Stewart's wife, retired Spanish pro basketball star Marta Casademont, and their two kids, Ruby Mae and Theo.

La La Anthony says family friend Bronny James is nothing short of an "inspiration" ... but when it comes to her son Kiyan's basketball journey, she tells TMZ Sports he's "doing his own thing" when making his college decision.

17-year-old Kiyan -- a top-ranked high school hooper in New York -- and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie, 20, have long been compared to each other for years ... especially because of their famous dads.

Bronny, of course, is two years older than Kiyan ... so he got to experience the one-and-done at USC before making it to the Association -- all while Anthony was doing his thing in high school.

Aubrey Plaza's reading sesh was interrupted by a major WNBA Finals game on Thursday ... 'cause the actress was spotted pretending to be deep into a novel from her courtside seat!!

The "Agatha All Along" star was one of many celebs at Game 1 of the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty matchup ... and fans went wild when she appeared on the jumbotron.

However, Plaza acted like she wasn't prepared to be on the big screen ... playing it off like she was oblivious to being recorded as she absorbed some words.

"Wild 'n Out" had no shortage of star power at Wednesday's taping -- Rick Ross, Waka Flocka, and G Herbo were all on the show -- but the MVP of the night was Angel Reese ... who got everyone's blood pumping with her stunning fit!

Nick Cannon's "Wild 'n Out" tour pulled up in Chicago this week ... where the rap stars and the Chi-town hooper joined the cast for a taping.

Fans cheered when the Chicago Sky forward -- aka "Chi Barbie" -- walked on stage ... especially after the packed crowd got a glimpse of her itty-bitty outfit!

LeBron and Bronny James made history Sunday night -- the two officially became the first-ever father and son duo to share an NBA court together ... and afterward, The King called the game "SURREAL!!"

It all went down in Palm Desert, Calif. ... where the Lakers were taking on the Suns in a preseason matchup.

LeBron checked into the game first -- he actually started the tilt for L.A. -- and at the beginning of the second quarter, Bronny joined him on the floor.

Bronny James' NBA gear is rakin' in bank before ever playing a regular season game ... 'cause the young hooper's first Summer League jersey sold for over $38K!!

The purple and gold uniform top from the July 12 tilt between the Lakers and Houston Rockets at the Las Vegas SL was recently sold by Sotheby's (in mid-September) ... and is now part of "Lakers Shrine," one of if not the most impressive private collection of Lakers memorabilia in the world.

Bronny played 27 minutes, scoring 8 points in the contest.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are experiencing newfound fame behind bars thanks to the popular Netflix series about the gruesome murders of their parents ... and there's a weird request that keeps coming up in the fan mail that's been pouring in, TMZ has learned.

A source with knowledge at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego tells TMZ ... the infamous Menendez brothers have seen a "huge" increase in mail from fans (and, of course, some haters) thanks to wild interest in Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

Perhaps the most interesting item the brothers are being sent ... 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson NBA cards -- the brothers are on the card, snapped sitting in the Knicks crowd, after the murders, before their arrests -- and people want 'em autographed.

Caitlin Clark's popularity is being used to catapult the WNBA's racism conversation to the forefront ... so says retired legend Sue Bird, who claims the negative treatment from fans has been an issue long before the Indiana Fever superstar was drafted.

Clark's fellow WNBA ballers have spoken out on their mistreatment numerous times this season ... which has led many to believe it's the new spectators she brought to the league that are majorly at fault for the hate.

Bird weighed in on the subject on her "A Touch More" podcast with her ex-USWNT superstar wife, Megan Rapinoe ... and she said given her 21 years in the league, she knows damn well Clark wasn't indirectly responsible -- she's just being used as a "pawn" in the situation.

Julius Randle's wife is opening up on the blockbuster trade that sent her husband to Minnesota in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns ... saying she's actually excited for the change of pace in a much smaller city.

Kendra Randle took to her TikTok to talk all about the chaos the family has gone through over the past 72+ hours ... revealing they flew out to Minneapolis immediately to try and find a house and school for their kids, seven-year-old Kyden and two-year-old Jaycey.

"It is pretty hectic," she said. "I'm really grateful that it's actually not in the middle of the season, like, before the tradeline, or whatever. But, it has been pretty crazy for our first time and unexpected."

Michael Jordan's racing team is suing NASCAR and its CEO, Jim France ... alleging the guy and his organization are "monopolistic bullies."

His Airness' 23XI Racing -- along with Front Row Motorsports -- filed the lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina on Wednesday ... after the two teams say they refused to sign updated pacts with NASCAR over "unfair terms."

In the suit, the teams said they wanted more when it came time to extend their charter agreements beyond 2024 -- namely, a bigger piece of the revenue pie -- but France and NASCAR wouldn't budge.