Aubrey McClendon 911 People Raced to Help ... But It Was Too Late
Several good Samaritans ... including someone who appeared to be a doctor or nurse ... stopped to try to help Aubrey McClendon after his car crash -- but the fire proved to be too dangerous.
TMZ Sports obtained the 911 calls from the crash -- one caller says he actually witnessed the impact. The witnesses say McClendon's SUV swerved and crashed into the underpass and caught fire.
Another witness says people were running up to the car to try to help ... but noted the fire was "really escalating."
Eventually, the car burst into flames and another witness told 911 ... "There were people standing up there by the vehicle, which doesn't seem very smart to me."
Emergency vehicles raced to the scene -- but it was too late.
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OKC Thunder Co-Owner Suicide Not Ruled Out ... Say Police
Oklahoma City Police say suicide has NOT been ruled out in the fiery car crash that killed OKC Thunder co-owner Aubrey McClendon ... TMZ Sports has learned.
As we reported ... McClendon died when his car smashed into a bridge at an incredible high rate of speed Wednesday morning ... hours after he was indicted on a federal conspiracy charge that carries up to a 10 year prison sentence.
We spoke with OKC Police Dept Captain Paco Balderrama who told us ... cops are working on several possible theories that led to his death -- ranging from suicide to a medical episode behind the wheel.
"Anything is possible," Capt. Balderrama said ... "At this point we just don't know."
Cops say McClendon was NOT wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash -- and he made no attempt to slow down before impact.
We spoke with a rep for the coroner's office who tells us an autopsy will be completed Thursday.
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OKC Thunder Players React To Co-Owner's Death 'We're Praying For The Family'
OKC Thunder players Anthony Morrow and Andre Roberson say they're praying for the family of co-owner Aubrey McClendon ... who was killed Wednesday morning in a horrific car accident.
The team plays the Clippers tonight ... and when we got them out they told our photog ... GM Sam Presti told them about the tragedy ... and the whole squad is united in prayer for the McClendon family.
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OKC Thunder Co-Owner Killed In Car Crash ... Apparent Suicide
NBA's Russell Westbrook Stopped By the Bouncer ... 'What's Your Name?'
Even megastars like Russell Westbrook have bouncer drama at Hollywood nightclubs -- 'cause the NBA superstar got stopped at one of the hottest bars in L.A. Monday night 'cause the bouncer didn't know who he was.
The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar hit up The Nice Guy -- often frequented by huge stars like Justin Bieber, Gigi Hadid and Leonardo DiCaprio -- when the bouncer pumped the brakes at the door.
Don't worry, he eventually got in ... but we gotta hand it to the bouncer ... who kept his cool even when Westbrook played the "let me talk to the owner" card.
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Russell Westbrook I'm Getting Hitched! Doing it Chill in Bev Hills
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook is getting a ring even before the NBA season begins -- he's marrying his longtime GF this weekend in a pretty baller setting.
TMZ Sports has learned ... Russell and Nina Earl will walk down the aisle in Beverly Hills on Saturday -- just about a year after they started planning. As we reported, they announced their engagement last September ... when Nina posted a pic of her $700k ring!
We're told the couple is having a low-key ceremony, and wants to keep the exact location under wraps, but trust us ... the wedding pics will be spectacular.
Mazel tov!
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Kevin Durant Wanna Suck Like Me? Buy My Used Straw!
You can finally share DNA with Kevin Durant ... if the price is right ... because the NBA superstar's actual USED straw has hit the auction block ... for real.
In fact, the straw is the REAL piece of plastic KD sucked from during a SONIC fast food commercial the NBA star shot back in March, when he was promoting the Kevin Durant Signature Slush.
The straw also comes with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by KD that reads, "This is the actual straw from the Candy Slush that Kevin Durant (KD) had on the set of a SONIC commercial shot on March 26, 2015."
There's more ... Sonic is also auctioning off the ACTUAL candy from KD's slush ... which also come with a C.O.A.
Don't worry, it's not some cheap stunt to make a few extra bucks -- the auction benefits the Limeades for Learning program ... which raises money for educational programs across the country.
So far, bidding on the straw is already up to $40 ... but there's still 5 days left to go!
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Kevin Durant Sneaker Tribute to Stuart Scott
Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant honored ESPN legend Stuart Scott on the court last night ... with a hand-written tribute to the anchor penned on his sneakers.
#Booyah
Kevin Durant MEN'S UNDERWEAR BATTLE ... With Russell Westbrook
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NBA Star Russell Westbrook I'M ENGAGED With $700k Ring! [Update]
10:06 AM PT -- IT'S A $700,000 RING!!!!
We've learned ... it was made by Jason of Beverly Hills ... who's made engagement rings for all sorts of stars including Gabrielle Union and Evelyn Lozada.
As for Russell's ring -- we're told it's a 6-piece elongated cushion cut ring with VVS clarity ... and in total, the whole thing is worth $700k.
We're told Russell knew exactly what he wanted when he hit up Jason's shop. It was very important to him that he got a ring with the highest quality possible.
Dude did a helluva job.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook is the next NBA star in line for a wedding -- 'cause he popped the question last night ... with a massive diamond ring ... and his GF said yes!
Westbrook and longtime GF Nina Earl made the announcement on social media Wednesday night ... showing off the gargantuan rock with a caption that read, "Nothing even matters..@ninamri3_ forever my lady! LOVE YOU!!!!"
Earl is a former UCLA basketball player -- and the two met during their college days ... before Westbrook signed his $80 MILLION contract extension.
Congrats!
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Serge Ibaka 'My Big Black Angel' NBA Star Comes to Rescue After Bike Crash
NBA star Serge Ibaka sprung into HERO MODE last night when he saw some dude on a bike wipe out in a mall parking lot ... and according to the victim, Serge was nothing short of a "big black angel."
The guy who ate pavement is Grant -- who works in the Penn Square Mall in OKC. Grant tells TMZ Sports he was biking home when he lost control, flipped the bike and landed on his face ... chipping his tooth and opening a gash on his chin.
Grant says as soon as he went down, someone rushed over to see if he was OK ... someone who happened to be Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka.
Grant says he was disoriented after the crash ... but Serge helped him up, brought him inside the mall, got him water and helped clean off his wounds.
"He was so nice, really nice," Grant says ... "He really didn't need to take time to do that, but it's awesome that he did."
Kevin Durant & Friends Call 13-Year-Old After Brain Surgery Get Well Soon!!
A 13-year-old boy got one heck of a birthday surprise after emerging from brain surgery last week ... when his phone rang and 3 HUGE STARS were on the line to wish him a speedy recovery.
TMZ Sports has learned ... Kevin Durant, actor Kevin Hart and NFL star Tavon Austin called up 13-year-old Mikka on Thursday after learning about the brave boy's battle with a brain condition.
We spoke to Mikka's dad who tells us, "Before they called, his energy level was low ... but those guys really picked him up. They actually brought a smile to his face."
He adds, "Mikka didn't believe it. When Kevin Durant called I said, 'It's really K.D.'"
"All three guys told him to be strong and they wished him a happy birthday."
Tavon tells TMZ Sports ... "I was happy to call Mikka when I found out he was having major surgery. He's my family (cousins). I watched Mikka as an infant. He's a tough kid."
Mikka's dad says ... Mikka was released from a Maryland hospital on Sunday -- and says, "He can't wait to go to school and tell all of his friends!"
Kevin Durant Sues Accountant You Can't Write Off My Personal Chef!
Kevin Durant says his personal chef is for pleasure ... not for business ... and now KD is suing his accountant claiming the guy tried to screw over the IRS by making it seem the cook was an essential part of his NBA career.
TMZ Sports has learned ... Durant is going after Joel Elliott -- claiming Elliott got him in some deep trouble with Uncle Sam over the years by trying to write off several business expenses that clearly weren't business related.
Case in point -- Durant's personal chef.
In his lawsuit, Durant says, "Fees paid to a personal chef would not be regarded by a reasonably prudent accountant as qualifying for a business expense deduction."
Durant says the personal chef deduction was just one of MANY irresponsible accounting moves by Elliott that landed KD in hot water with the IRS.
In fact, Durant says his tax returns from 2007 to 2011 are so messed up, he had to hire another firm to fix what Elliott screwed up.
KD says the whole ordeal has cost him more than $200k -- and he wants Elliott to pay.
We reached out to Elliott's lawyers -- so far, no word back.
NBA Star Serge Ibaka I'VE NEVER SMOKED WEED ... Ever.
Turns out not every NBA player smokes weed ... so says Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka ... who tells TMZ Sports he's never lit up once.
The 6'10" shot blocker was leaving AV nightclub in Hollywood this weekend ... when we asked him if he thought the NBA would ever ease up on players using marijuana.
Serge's response: "I don't know ... I've never used it so I don't know."
Serge is like a unicorn in the NBA ... because according to multiple solid NBA sources, pot use in the league is "ubiquitous" ... even during the season.
Gabrielle Union I Won't Fight Dwyane Wade's Battles (Especially the One with Kevin Durant)
Gabrielle Union is refusing to confirm if the beef between her BF Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant is real ... but she ain't exactly saying it's BS either.
Things have been heating up between Wade and Durant recently -- after Durant called Wade an overrated player who should no longer be on the NBA's top 10 list. He later said Wade needs to "pass the torch."
Wade responded with an Instagram post saying, "Note to self ... make [Durant] respect your place in history ... again."
Union was at LAX this weekend -- and while she tried to play down the feud as a one-time thing, it seems as if there's more to the story.
Either way, the Heat take on the Thunder on January 29 -- bring your popcorn.
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NBA Star Kendrick Perkins ARRESTED Allegedly Punched Woman In Face
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins was arrested today after allegedly punching a woman in the face outside of a nightclub in July.
Officials say 28-year-old Perkins and his brother-in-law Quincy Alpough were outside Nox nightclub in Harris County, Texas when they got into an altercation with a woman named Mikeeta Cotton.
Cotton claims she was driving her car in front of the club and got into a fender bender with Alpough's female cousin.
Cotton says the woman attacked her ... and Alpough quickly joined in, pushing her and yelling.
Cotton claims Perkins -- who's 6'10" also entered the fracas and punched her brother in the head ... and then smacked her in the face with a closed fist.
A third person says Alpough elbowed her in the throat -- knocking her unconscious.
Cops investigated the situation and decided there was enough evidence to charge Perkins with misdemeanor assault. He was released on $1,000 bond.