NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been fined $40K for making a homophobic comment, the NBA announced Tuesday morning.

"Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $40,000 for using offensive and derogatory language on social media. Edwards has acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate," Byron Spruell, President of League Operations for the NBA, wrote in a statement.

Edwards got himself into hot water when he posted video of several shirtless men embracing each other, saying ... "Look at these queer ass n****s, man. Look at the world I came to."

AE also captioned the video ... "Dese n****s different." In the background of the video, a woman was heard laughing while Edwards spoke.

There was almost immediate backlash and, as the league noted, the 21-year-old former first overall pick (2020 NBA Draft) seemed to offer a heartfelt apology for his actions, saying sorry on social media.

"What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry. It’s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!" the NBA star said.

But, the NBA clearly felt a fine was still in order.

LeBron James and Chris Paul aren't the only ones pissed off over Robert Sarver's suspension and fine -- you can add Draymond Green to the list, 'cause the NBA star called the punishment straight up "bulls**t!"

The Golden State Warrior forward went off on his podcast on Tuesday -- a week after the Phoenix Suns/Mercury owner was suspended for a year and fined $10 million for sexual harassment, use of the N-word, and inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees, among other alleged troubling behavior.

"This report that came out last week is the total opposite of everything the NBA stands for," Green said.

"To think that someone like Robert Sarver, acting in that manner, can continue to represent us, that's bulls**t!"

Green also ripped the notion Sarver's use of the N-word wasn't so bad because he didn't use it with racist or malicious intent.

"Stop it. That's ridiculous," Green emphatically said.

"The level of comfort you have to have to even use the word again does not validate or make it okay for Robert Sarver to use the N-word."

Green added, "This guy gets to just come back in the fold as if he's still representing us as if he's a part of us. That can't be so."

The 32-year-old says he's "very uncomfortable" knowing an owner like Sarver won't have to sell the team ... saying if the shoe were on the other foot, players would be "left out on our own to figure it out."

So, the four-time NBA champ came up with an idea ... vote Sarver out.

"What I would say is 'why don't we pose a vote?' Because that is definitely an offense that is probably grounds for being forced to sell."

Kyrie Irving is speaking out against the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine enforcement ... calling it "one of the biggest violations of human rights in history."

The Nets superstar -- one of the most well-known celebs who personally opposed getting the jab -- took to Twitter to air out his grievances, and he didn't mince his words.

Irving made the point ... if he's allowed to play for the Nets while unvaccinated (that wasn't always the case -- but is now), then he says everyone should receive the same treatment.

"If I can work and be unvaccinated, then all of my brothers and sisters who are also unvaccinated should be able to do the same, without being discriminated against, vilified, or fired," the 30-year-old NBA superstar wrote.

Of course, Kyrie only played in 29 games last season ... primarily because NYC implemented a rule which prevented Irving from working in the city without the jab.

Irving stuck to his principles and refused the shot ... and the City eventually did away with the controversial measure.

Eagles star Darius Slay made sure James Harden left "Monday Night Football" a happy man -- because after intercepting Kirk Cousins, he gifted the 76ers point guard the INT football ... and then he signed it for him after the game!

Darius lived up to his "Big Play Slay" nickname on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings -- picking off two passes --- and Harden had a front-row seat to witness the defensive masterpiece.

And, on Slay's first pick, the Vikings -- who had been trailing Philly 24-7 in the 3rd quarter -- were driving down the field ... but the DB stepped in front Justin Jefferson to nab Cousins' throw, and then he bolted over to James.

Slay handed him the ball and slapped his hand -- all while Harden had a big smile on his face.

After the game, Slay found Harden in the bowels of Lincoln Financial Field and autographed the pigskin for him.

"First Eagles game was lit!" Harden said of it all on Twitter afterward. "keep ballin bro @bigplay24slay."

Kyrie Irving seems to be at peace with the Brooklyn Nets' early exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics ... saying, "It was meant to happen like that."

Irving made the comments while gaming on Twitch -- as he was recalling the Celtics' 4-0 sweep of the Nets in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season.

"We got 4-0'd, my G," Irving said. "We got 4-0'd, bro. We needed that humbling experience, especially going against the Celtics. It was already built to be that matchup."

Irving -- who faced scrutiny all season for his COVID-19 vaccine stance -- averaged 21.3 points per game alongside Kevin Durant, who led the team in scoring.

The Nets, led by their two stars, were slight favorites heading into the series ... but the budding duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown proved too much.

"Those youngins over there in Boston, I got to see them grow up," said Irving, who spent two seasons in Boston with the Celtics. "To see them doing what they did last year on the final stage, making it that far, I'm glad they had to go through us."

Kyrie said he is using the sweep as motivation moving forward and is eager to play Boston in the playoffs again.

Emoni Bates -- the No. 5-ranked high school basketball player in the country in 2021 -- has been charged with two felonies after he was arrested on Sunday, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to court records, the 18-year-old -- who now plays for Eastern Michigan University -- was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and altering ID marks on a firearm.

The charges stem from an arrest Sunday in Superior Township, Michigan. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office told WXYZ Detroit officers initially pulled over Bates for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign -- and cops say they found a gun on him during the ensuing investigation.

Jail records show he was booked at 11:19 PM and is currently still in custody as of Monday morning.

Bates' attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN on Monday, "Reserve judgment on this ... There's way more to the story. He borrowed someone's car, was pulled over and a gun was located in the car."

Bates was a star basketball player at Ypsi Prep Academy in Michigan -- and finished his 2020-2021 season just below Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero on national H.S. rankings lists.

He ultimately signed with Memphis -- but transferred to Eastern Michigan after starting just 13 games in his freshman season.

He's expected to be a key player on this year's Eagles team.

A pair of tickets that were once used by fans to go see Michael Jordan's NBA debut game have just hit the auction block ... and they're so rare, experts say they could sell for six figures!!

The tickets were redeemed way back on Oct. 26, 1984 -- when Jordan made his first appearance for the Chicago Bulls -- and somehow, they were kept intact for decades.

Which, of course, turned out to be a smart move by the owners, because they're now worth a small fortune!!

Officials at Bonhams, which is hosting the auction, anticipate they'll go for between $200K and $300K.

On one of the tickets, the words "Michael Jordan's first game" are inscribed on the front. On the other ticket, "Michael Jordan's first game" is written on the back.

One of the tickets also features a signature of former NBA player Dallas Comegys, who signed the fan's ticket while attending the game that night.

Jordan memorabilia has exploded in price since ESPN aired its "The Last Dance" documentary in 2020 -- and a similar ticket to this pair actually sold for a staggering $468,000 earlier this year.

Rajon Rondo has settled a lawsuit in Los Angeles, according to court filings ... stemming from a 2020 incident where the NBA star was accused of assaulting a woman in a parking lot.

In docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the attorney for the plaintiff, Toktam Jorshari -- who sued Rondo for assault and battery -- filed a notice in an L.A. court, indicating the parties had reached a settlement.

Now, a judge must dismiss the case ... which should be a formality.

We broke the story ... Jorshari sued Rondo after claiming she was injured during an altercation with the hooper and his GF outside an apartment complex in July 2020.

In the suit, Jorshari alleged the former Clippers PG was upset about how close her car was parked to his pricey, $300k Rolls-Royce ... which she says led to Rondo's GF attacking her.

TMZ Sports obtained video of the incident (which didn't have audio) ... and Rondo appears to nudge the woman with his elbow, causing Jorshari to confront his GF.

Jorshari claimed she suffered injuries from the confrontation ... after being punched in the face and head multiple times by Rondo's GF

At the time, Jorshari's attorneys said of the incident ... "no man should ever put their hands on a woman."

"Especially an NBA basketball player with superior height and strength. The video speaks for itself," they continued.

Dennis Schroder is back with the Lakers ... he's just not getting paid anything close to $84 million!

The NBA guard signed a one-year deal with L.A. on Friday, according to Shams Charania ... and the deal is reportedly worth $2.64 million (obviously, nothing to scoff at).

Unless you previously turned down $84 million ... which, in 2021, Schroder did in arguably the biggest fumbling of the bag in modern history.

DS rejected the 4-year, $84 mil. contract ($21 mil. average annual salary) ... and ended up signing a 1-year, $5.9 million deal with the Celtics when all other offers dried up.

His stay in Beantown didn't last long. Dennis -- along with Enes Kanter Freedom and Bruno Fernando -- were traded to the Rockets. He suffered a shoulder injury which ultimately kept him off the court for much of his time in Houston.

Now, the 29-year-old is getting a second chance with LeBron James and the Lakers.

FYI, Schroder averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.5 per game with the Lakers in 2020.

"This past year didn’t feel right," Schroder said on Friday via Instagram, "I felt misunderstood & nobody really knew the story! I'm coming back to the biggest organization to make s**t right!"

Mark Cuban isn't waiting for the NBA season to start to hit the court -- 'cause the 64-year-old Dallas Mavericks owner had a shooting session with a famed trainer, and his jump shot is sick!!

Cuban had a 1-on-1 sesh for almost 3 hours with Chris Matthews -- referred to as "Lethal Shooter" by his millions of followers online -- where the two worked on everything from form, mechanics, and footwork.

In the video, you see Matthews working with the billionaire on a series of mid-range jumpers and three-pointers, and the "Shark Tank" star did his best Steph Curry impersonation.

"His dedication to the game was unreal, didn’t want to leave the court," Chris said of Cuban's performance. "Now that’s locked in! Keep doing your thing, brother," he added.

Matthews has worked with NBA superstars Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis most recently, and his prowess as a shooter has garnered the respect of LeBron James.

Matthews, 37, is one of the most sought-after shooting coaches in the world ... and that's why NBA and WNBA stars regularly go to him when they want to work on their J.

Cuban looked damn good on the court ... and seemed to grasp the techniques and tips Chris was employing during their workout, knocking down shot after shot.

PayPal has an ultimatum for the Phoenix Suns and Robert Sarver ... either their disgraced owner resigns, or one of the biggest companies in the world pulls the plug on a lucrative sponsorship deal.

CEO/President of PayPal, Dan Schulman, released a strongly worded statement Friday morning ... and he didn't mince words.

"PayPal is a values-driven company and has a strong record of combatting racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination. We have reviewed the report of the NBA league's independent investigation into Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and have found his conduct unacceptable and in conflict with our values."

The statement continued ... "PayPal's sponsorship with the Suns is set to expire at the end of the current season. In light of the findings of the NBA's investigation, we will not renew our sponsorship should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization, after serving his suspension."

Of course, a lengthy investigation revealed the 60-year-old Suns owner allegedly used the n-word on at least five occasions. He's also been accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to women and treating women in the workplace differently, among other troubling allegations.

For his behavior, the NBA suspended Sarver for one-year and fined him $10 million ... the maximum amount allowed under NBA bylaws.

Still, many people, including some of the biggest NBA stars in the world, have publicly said the NBA screwed up the punishment ... 'cause they went far too easy on Sarver.

LeBron James went to social media and tweeted ... "I gotta be honest…Our league definitely got this wrong."

Chris Paul, a Phoenix Suns star, cosigned Bron's sentiment, saying "the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior."

Despite Sarver's ugly and offensive behavior, PayPal did note the Suns have many talented people within the front office.

"While we strongly reject the conduct of Robert Sarver, we remain supportive of the team, its players and the experienced and diverse talent now leading the organization, including Head Coach, Monty Williams, General Manager, James Jones, Assistant General Manager, Morgan Cato, and Senior Vice President of People and Culture, Kim Corbitt."

Phoenix Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi followed in the steps of his team's star player, Chris Paul, this week by calling for harsher penalties for Robert Sarver -- saying the owner should give up his position.

Najafi -- the Suns' second-largest stakeholder -- sent a letter to Phoenix employees Thursday ... saying that Sarver should resign ASAP after the NBA found he's used racist language and bullied employees during his tenure.

"Similar conduct by any CEO, executive director, president, teacher, coach, or any other position of leadership would warrant immediate termination," Najafi said in his letter.

"The fact that Robert Sarver 'owns' the team does not give him a license to treat others differently than any other leader. The fact that anyone would find him fit to lead because of this 'ownership' position is forgetting that NBA teams belong to the communities they serve."

He continued, "I cannot in good judgment sit back and allow our children and future generations of fans to think that this behavior is tolerated because of wealth and privilege. Therefore, in accordance with my commitment to helping eradicate any form of racism, sexism and bias, as Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, I am calling for the resignation of Robert Sarver."

Following a months-long investigation into claims Sarver was inappropriate in the Suns' workplace -- the NBA announced this week it did find he used the n-word on multiple occasions.

Investigators also said he made unprofessional comments about female employees, and did not treat them equally. The probe also found Sarver engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees.

Sarver was banned one season and fined $10 million as punishment. Paul said following the announcement he believed the penalties should have been more severe.

"This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated," Paul said. "I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior. My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected."

Former 76ers owner Michael Rubin has found a new place to call home -- TMZ Sports has confirmed he just dropped $70 million on an L.A. mansion that sits on land previously owned by Ronald Reagan!

The pad is located in Hollywood Hills -- and it's insane. It features seven bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and a laundry list of amenities.

It's also three stories tall -- and it's located so perfectly on a knoll that it overlooks the famous Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

Reagan used to own the property many years ago, as did legendary music producer Richard Perry, though it's undergone significant remodels over the years since.

Our sources say Rubin -- who wanted a new pad in Los Angeles because a lot of his Fanatics business is run out of the city -- got a pretty good deal on the place ... it was originally listed for over $80 million.

Like Rubin, the seller has some ties to the sports world -- according to the L.A. Times, Francesco Aquilini, the chairman of the Vancouver Canucks, was the one who put it on the market.

Westside Estate Agency's Kurt Rappaport repped Rubin in the purchase.

Some rich person just coughed up an unprecedented amount of money to cop a rare Michael Jordan jersey -- unloading over $10 MILLION to acquire some of His Airness' former threads!!

The MJ jersey -- one that the Chicago Bulls legend wore during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals -- went up for auction on Sept. 6 ... and TMZ Sports has learned the gavel officially came down on the sale on Wednesday for a staggering $10,091,000.

The number is shocking -- considering experts at Sotheby's, which hosted the auction, initially predicted it would sell for around $3 million.

The eight-figure price tag, according to Sotheby's, set multiple records -- including most ever for a basketball jersey at auction, most ever for any game-worn sports memorabilia, and most ever paid for an MJ item.

The jersey -- while expensive -- is pretty incredible ... Jordan wore it when he scored 33 points against the Utah Jazz. And, while MJ lost the contest in the uni, he and the Bulls went on to win the series, giving Jordan his sixth NBA championship.

No word yet on who the buyer is -- but something tells us they've got some deep pockets to put their new jersey in.

Ex-NBA hooper Stephen Jackson is speaking out in the aftermath of Philly rap star PnB Rock's murder in South Los Angeles ... saying he "checks in" whenever traveling to another city or state.

By checking in, Stak means if you're visiting a city that you're not from or familiar with, it's best to call someone who is and make sure you're good while there, alert you to any possible danger ... and it's a sign of respect.

"I check in everywhere I go," Jackson said in a social media post on Wednesday.

"Everywhere I go I call somebody from the place I'm going that I know and check in. I wanna come home to my family and I love my life. I'm checking in with my people out of respect."

Stak's message comes on the heels of PnB Rock's murder, whom many believe was the target of a robbery while eating at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles with his girlfriend, in an area of L.A. that's seen an increase in robberies.

Jackson hopes PnB Rock's tragic murder serves as a cautionary tale for people visiting unfamiliar places.

"It's nothing wrong with showing respect when you in somebody's city or state," Jackson said.

"I always check in 'cause I know real ones everywhere. I care about my life and I'm coming home to my kids and my family. Bet that."

Former NBA player Marquis Daniels agreed with Stak -- saying in the comments, "When you outta town you gotta play by the rules or at least know what's going on."

LeBron James just unloaded on the NBA ... saying the league bungled Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver's suspension -- calling it straight up "wrong."

"Read through the Sarver stories a few times now," the L.A. Lakers superstar tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "I gotta be honest…Our league definitely got this wrong."

"I don’t need to explain why," he continued. "Y’all read the stories and decide for yourself. I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior."

As we reported, following an NBA investigation, league officials said Sarver did, in fact, use the n-word on multiple occasions in the workplace. They also said they found he made inappropriate comments about female employees, and did not treat them equally. Investigators added that Sarver was inappropriate physically toward male employees as well.

They did note in their findings that Sarver's use of the n-word was not motivated by racial hate or prejudice.

As punishment for it all, the league announced on Tuesday it was hitting Sarver with a one-season ban ... and fining him $10 million -- things LeBron clearly believes were nowhere near harsh enough.

"I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership," LeBron said. "But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it."

For his part, commissioner Adam Silver did apologize to those affected by the owner's actions ... and did vow to do better going forward.