NBA

Dwyane Wade is acknowledging his new statue in Miami doesn't look a whole lot like him ... but if ya thought he'd be pissed about it -- think again!!

The Heat legend on Monday addressed all the backlash his Kesaya Center monument got following its big reveal on Sunday ... and while he admitted it does have a bit of a Laurence Fishburne look to it -- he's super happy about it nonetheless.

Wade explained he doesn't think it has to be a 100 percent accurate rendering of him in order to be perfect ... telling media members just before Miami's tilt vs. Detroit that it was always supposed to be merely an "artistic" depiction of his iconic "This is my house!" celebration.

Shaquille O'Neal didn't mince his words when calling out Joel Embiid ... straight-up labeling the Philadelphia 76ers superstar "soft" for not wanting to play in back-to-back games.

Embiid didn't suit up for the Sixers' season opener against the Bucks on Thursday ... and was ruled out the team's next two games -- this after missing the preseason for what Philly called left knee injury management.

The 2023 NBA MVP told a reporter before the season he'd likely not play in back-to-back games for the rest of his career ... and Shaq -- one of the best centers in NBA history -- was pissed off at the notion.

Ex-NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim is opening up on his brother Amir's tragic death ... saying his loved ones are thankful for everyone who has shared their support following the news.

"On behalf of my family, I want to express our gratitude to all who have reached out regarding Amir's passing," the former Atlanta Hawks forward and current G League president  said in a brief statement on his X account.

"Please remember our family in your prayers. As @sunsetAMIR would say, to God be the Glory."

The Denver Nuggets paid tribute to Dikembe Mutombo during their season opener on Thursday ... honoring the NBA legend with a video tribute and 55-second standing ovation following his death.

It all went down during the first quarter of the Nuggets' matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder ... with the scoreboard sharing the big man's greatest accomplishments -- the day he was drafted, career highlights, Hall of Fame induction and all the humanitarian work he did off the floor.

After the video rolled ... the fans in attendance shared their respect for Mutombo -- giving the 55-second applause, a nod to his jersey number.

Drake soaked up the best of his worlds for his 38th birthday in Houston last night ... a wholesome dinner with his loving parents -- before basking in stripper paradise with the boys!!!

The hip hop megastar eased into more life last night at a restaurant surrounded by family and friends ... and a giant 3-piece cake reminding him of his age -- stuffed with fiery sparklers!!!

He and his camp later trekked to Drake's go-to strip club in the city, Area 29 -- the same place that tossed the imposter leeching off his fame a couple years ago.

The Los Angeles Clippers might not have won their season opener last night ... but, not even a 0-1 record could dampen fans' excitement over their new $2 billion state-of-the-art stomping grounds in Inglewood!

After years of construction, the Intuit Dome made its regular season basketball debut last night as the Clips hosted Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.

The man who owns the team, and footed the massive bill for the project, Steve Ballmer, welcomed the fanbase like only he could! And needless to say, he was pretty excited.

LaMelo Ball was unfiltered after the Charlotte Hornets' season-opening win ... casually dropping an F-bomb during his postgame interview!!

It all went down after the 23-year-old guard had his way against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday ... scoring 34 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the 110-105 victory -- making him the first player in franchise history to record 30 points and 10 assists in the first game of the season.

Kemba Walker -- who played for Charlotte from 2011-2019 before joining the team as a coach this offseason -- dapped up Ball a few seconds right before his Q&A ... which prompted the reporter to ask about the impact the former guard has had on his game.

Kevin Durant wasn't in the giving mood after the Suns' season-opening win over the Clippers ... blocking "New Girl" actor Lamorne Morris' attempt at getting a special souvenir after the game.

K.D. and Phoenix spoiled L.A.'s housewarming party at the Intuit Dome ... handling James Harden and Co. in the 116-113 victory.

As K.D. was making his way to the locker rooms after the dub, Morris shouted at him and asked if he could get the jersey off his back.

LeBron James and his son, Bronny, are being dragged to a different kind of court ... TMZ Sports has learned they've just been sued over their alleged roles in a 2022 car crash.

Court documents we obtained showed the suit was filed by two plaintiffs in Los Angeles County on Tuesday afternoon ... just hours before the father-and-son duo took the floor together for the first time in a regular season game during the Lakers' season-opening win over Minnesota at Crypto.com Arena.

In the suit, April Almanza Lopez and Kiara Rae McGillen allege they were driving on a highway on November 13, 2022 in Littlerock, Calif. ... when the Jameses slammed into them.

LeBron James dressed to impress ahead of his historic moment with Bronny in the Lakers' season opener ... showing up to the game draped in Louis Vuitton -- including a $4,000 jacket!

The NBA superstar put his impeccable fashion taste on display as he walked through the Crypto.com Arena tunnels before facing the Minnesota Timberwolves ... donning a double-breasted Jacquard Wool Jacket -- a special piece with a $4,150 price tag.

The shoes appear to be the LV Trainer Maxi sneakers (inspired by the late Virgil Abloh) ... and if that's the case, they run $1,690.

LeBron and Bronny James are expected to make history as the first father-son duo to play in the NBA together on Tuesday ... that is, if Bronny can even make it to the game on time -- 'cause the King completely filled the rookie's car in cereal!!

The Lakers teammates starred in a new Nike commercial that dropped just hours before their home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves ... in which the G.O.A.T. takes part in a little rookie hazing at his own son's expense.

In the clip, LeBron is shown filling up his son's whip with boxes of Fruity Pebbles before scurrying out of sight once Bronny walks out of the house and toward the driveway.

Lou Williams can't wait to see LeBron and Bronny James taking the court together ... but only if the special moment isn't forced -- telling TMZ Sports he hopes the Lakers rookie earns his playing time.

The NBA season kicks off on Tuesday ... with Los Angeles -- led by new head coach J.J. Redick -- going up against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Bronny is by far the most notable newbie for the Purple and Gold ... and like most NBA fans, Lou Will -- who we spoke with earlier this month -- is anxious to witness history when the 20-year-old guard plays with his pops.

NBA fans, get ready to witness history on Tuesday ... LeBron and Bronny James are expected to play together on the Crypto.com Arena court during the Lakers season opener -- the first time it's ever happened during the regular season for a father-son duo!

Shams Charania revealed the plan hours before the Lakers tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in downtown Los Angeles, the first game of the 2024 season.

The father-and-son combo will "very likely" be on the court together early in the game -- but there's an "IF" -- assuming having both James' out on the floor makes sense.

Arizona cops were so befuddled by Cameron Payne's insistence on giving them a fake name during his arrest earlier this year ... they actually called the NBA player and his decisions "dumb" -- new police video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows.

The arrest went down at Payne's Scottsdale residence at around 2:30 AM on June 14 ... after cops jetted over to speak with the 30-year-old New York Knicks guard following claims that he was in a verbal dispute with his girlfriend.

The Scottsdale Police Department body cam video shows once cops arrived on the scene ... both Payne and his GF were adamant nothing was wrong. Officers then stated all they would need was Payne's real name and date of birth -- and they'd go on their way.

Cops certainly knew who they were arresting when they threw the cuffs on Rajon Rondo earlier this year ... as police body cam footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows officers discussed his NBA career just after pulling him over.

The stop, as we previously reported, happened back on Jan. 28 in Jackson County, Indiana ... after authorities alleged Rondo's black Tesla didn't have a license plate properly secured to its rear.

The video shows that after initially speaking with Rondo and obtaining his information ... cops went back to their squad car -- and chatted for a few moments about the ex-Celtics guard's time on the hardwood.