NBA

Ex-NBA player Mitchell Wiggins -- the father of Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins -- has died, his family announced. He was 64 years old.

Details surrounding his passing were not released.

Mitchell was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 23rd overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. He played in the Windy City for one season before being traded to the Houston Rockets -- where he remained until 1987.

Jenn Tran isn't done putting the full-court press on Cleveland Cavs player Max Strus ... 'cause one day after professing her crush on the hooper, she was caught double-tapping on his recent thirst trap.

As we previously reported, the "Bachelorette" beauty gushed over the sharp-shooter on "The Viall Files" podcast released Thursday ... saying after finding out Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum was off the market, she wouldn't mind if Strus slid into her DMs.

The shout-out could very well work in her favor ... 'cause as it turns out, the two follow each other on social media. It's unclear if it's a recent development, or if Tran had been on Strus' radar all along.

"Bachelorette" star Jenn Tran is looking to move on from Devin Strader with a hunky NBA player ... revealing her celebrity crush is Cleveland Cavaliers hooper Max Strus -- and she wants him to hit her up ASAP!!

The gorgeous reality TV star spilled the beans on her dating life on the most recent episode of "The Viall Files" ... where she said she's not looking to get back on the market after her disastrous split from her ex-fiancé.

Tran said she'd make an exception if Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum was interested ... that is, until she was informed he's currently boo'd up with singer Ella Mai.

Dwight Howard hasn't fully committed to retirement from the NBA, but there is one sport we'll never see him in again -- as he tells TMZ Sports his wrestling dreams are over ... and it's all thanks to Ric Flair!!

We caught up with the former Lakers center out in L.A. this week ... and as he gets ready to enter into the world of tangos and waltzes on this season of "Dancing With The Stars" -- we just had to ask how his WWE aspirations were going.

You'll recall, back in 2022, he actually tried out for the org. ... and one of the promos he cut went so viral -- many expected him to enter the biz when his hooping career officially finishes.

Rudy Gobert was forced to use his award-winning defense on Shaquille O'Neal on Thursday ... firing back after the Hall of Famer called him the worst player in the NBA.

The Big Aristotle didn't mince his words during a sit-down with his son, Myles, this week ... when he claimed the Minnesota Timberwolves big man "can't f***ing play" and didn't deserve his five-year, $205 million contract.

Shaq insisted he wasn't being a hater ... just stating facts, as there are so many people in the world with "real" jobs who don't get paid nearly as much.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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."

Matt Barnes says his son's had a pretty difficult week ... 'cause not only did a car run him down -- but, he also needed emergency surgery for a different issue!

The former Los Angeles Laker shared the news Sunday morning ... posting a pic of his boy Zay laid up in a hospital gurney -- middle finger flipped up toward his pop.

MB runs through the timeline of the week ... explaining Zay was first hit by a car on Wednesday while jogging -- a scary enough moment many might assume actually put him in the hospital.

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.

Nikola Jokic's brother has been ordered to stay away from the man he allegedly socked during a heated dispute at a Nuggets playoff game earlier this year.

A judge made the ruling in Denver County Court on Wednesday -- just a couple weeks after Strahinja Jokic was formally hit with a misdemeanor assault charge for his apparent role in a fight at Ball Arena back on April 22.

Strahinja, according to the Denver Post, appeared before the judge as the order was handed down. The outlet reports Strahinja was also ordered to return to court in October.

The gold medal party for LeBron James doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon ... 'cause just days after he was seen clubbin' with Draymond Green -- he was spotted getting cozy with Savannah on a yacht.

The King has been livin' it up ever since winning gold alongside Steph Curry and Kevin Durant on Aug. 10 in Paris ... hitting all kinds of hotspots throughout Europe for a sweet victory tour.

First, he braved the rain in Munich to watch Adele. Next, he got down to a myriad of tunes with Green at a beach club in Cannes.