Dallas Mavericks

Klay Thompson returned to The Bay for the first time as a Dallas Maverick -- facing the Warriors -- and after knocking down a big 3, the 4x NBA champ mimicked his old teammate Steph Curry's infamous shimmy.

But, the Chef got the last laugh.

The intense game went down Tuesday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Thompson's first matchup against his former team since trading him in July after 11 seasons.

LeBron James' 22nd year in the NBA needs to be his last -- at least that's what Mark Cuban's saying ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports the King is just too damn good!!

We caught up with the Dallas Mavericks minority owner out in NYC this week ... and asked all about the Lakers superstar's future.

Needless to say, Cuban thinks it's time for James to wrap it up.

A Boston Celtics mural in Massachusetts that was defaced by some jerks just got a facelift -- getting a fresh coat of Joe Mazulla's grill to hide all the vandalism!!

The OG art -- displayed in Cambridge -- featured Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Mazzulla ... but at some point during the Celtics' playoff run the last few weeks, it was destroyed by a curmudgeon.

In pics of the defacement, obtained by TMZ Sports ... you can see the individual scribbled, among other things, "F*** Celtics" all over the image of Tatum.

The 2024 Celtics easily handled the Dallas Mavericks. But, how would Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's squad do against the last Boston team to bring a title to Beantown? We asked NBA champ Eddie House!

Not only was the longtime pro a member of the '08 team (he played for BOS from 2007 to 2010), he's also close to this year's Celtics ... he covers the team for NBC in Boston.

So, put Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and the rest of the hoopers on a court against Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and the rest of the '08 team, WHO WINS?!

"We win," Eddie said of his 2007-2008 team ... before explaining his rationale.

"We're not going to allow them to shoot all them threes. We're going to run them off the threes. And I feel like defensively, we were a better team defensively. Now, offensively, because of the threes and the way the game is played now, I'll give them the edge [offensively]," House explained.

"But we're going to knock that down. We're going to make it a drag-out game. And if it's a close game, I'm putting the ball in Paul Pierce's hands and I feel like he's going to deliver every single time. But don't get it twisted. I love this team."

Bottom line ... House isn't throwing shade. He simply believes that out of the two super-talented squads, his would emerge victorious.

There's much more with House ... we asked the NBA champ what the often maligned (during the Finals, at least) Luka Doncic must do if he wants to win a championship. We also discussed whether or not the treatment of Kyrie Irving crossed a line.

Plus, we asked Eddie about his hoops star son, Jaelen House, who's hoping to get drafted this year. What advice is the longtime pro giving his boy?

The NBA champs have taken their celebration to Florida ... with Jayson Tatum and his Boston Celtics teammates arriving at a fancy hotel in Miami on Tuesday -- and, of course, the Larry O'Brien Trophy came along for the fun!!

TMZ Sports has obtained video of the superstar hooper all smiles as he cradled the hardware ... showing him hopping off a team bus and into the building.

It was no secret the victors were heading for the Sunshine State -- they had their travel plans etched on a whiteboard in the locker room as they partied their faces off after beating the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

Doris Burke poked fun at the nationwide Caitlin Clark obsession during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday ... cracking a joke about the narrative surrounding the WNBA superstar's treatment on the court.

The ESPN talent name-dropped the Indiana Fever hooper following a hard foul in the second quarter of the Celtics' series-clinching win over the Mavericks ... when P.J. Washington wrapped his arms around Kristaps Porzingis and dragged him to the hardwood.

Burke was quick to react with a witty comment ... saying, "If that were Caitlin Clark, it might spark a debate for a week."

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks weren't the only ones going head to head in the NBA finals ... a bunch of Celtics fans got into an amateur boxing match at a game 4 watch party.

Friday night's brawl broke out between two men seated near each other in the crowd at TD Garden arena in Beantown ... where Celtics fans were having a viewing party of the on-court action taking place inside American Airlines Stadium in Dallas.

Check out the vid ... the younger dude was standing over the older guy and using his head as a punching bag. Several bystanders and a security guard tried to pull the aggressor off the old man as he cowered on cement stairs.

Brian Windhorst basically dropped a Kendrick Lamar-esque diss track on Luka Doncic following the Dallas Mavericks' Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday ... going in on the NBA superstar for his "unacceptable" performance.

The Slovenian baller dropped 27 points before fouling out with four minutes left in the Finals matchup ... adding another chapter to his ongoing beef with officials as he visibly and audibly expressed his frustration with calls throughout the contest.

The ESPN analyst was clearly fed up with Doncic's on-court antics ... teeing off on the matter after the game.

Patrick Mahomes rocks a Kansas City Chiefs jersey on Sunday, but he's a Texas native at heart ... and that's why the 3x NFL MVP pulled up with his wife Brittany to cheer on the Dallas Mavericks for the pivotal third game vs. the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals!

The 3x Super Bowl champ was spotted courtside (where else?!) with Britt at American Airlines Center ... where the couple was all smiles for the cameras.

It's not the first playoff game the Mahomeses have attended ... they were also in the building for a Western Conference Finals tilt between the Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 2024 NBA Finals are underway ... which means it's time to showcase the lovely ladies supporting the men on the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks!!

Over in Beantown, Al Horford's former Miss Universe wife, Amelia, has been holdin' it down on and off the court ... and has been prominently featured at games with the kids -- all decked out in No. 42 jerseys.

Xavier Tillman's wife, Tamia, will be experiencing her first NBA Finals with her hubby ... and it's been quite the turnaround after he was acquired in a trade with Memphis earlier this year.

Cam'ron just returned fire after Anthony Edwards called out the New York rapper in his latest Adidas commercial ... going OFF on the Timberwolves superstar in a scathing freestyle.

The 22-year-old guard -- who signed with Adidas after turning pro -- released an ad shortly after Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs last week ... where he clapped back at the people who criticized him by sharing, quite literally, receipts.

One of the naysayers mentioned was Cam'ron ... who said on his "It Is What It Is" podcast that Edwards wasn't a superstar yet.

Seems Karl-Anthony Towns is hoping a little retail therapy will help him get over the Timberwolves' Western Conference finals loss ... 'cause the Minnesota star was seen going on a shopping spree Sunday -- one in which he appeared to buy loads of luxury items.

The four-time NBA All-Star hit Topanga Mall in the Los Angeles area to apparently find comfort in his credit card ... just a couple days after the Dallas Mavericks unceremoniously ended his season.

KAT's longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, joined him for the excursion ... and it's clear the two spent some big bucks as they officially kicked off the basketball player's offseason.

If Luka Doncic was hopin' his viral moment with a postgame beer Thursday night would lead to some free suds ... he can stop holding his breath -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the company that makes the beverage says it's got no plans to send a care package his way.

A rep for Fulton Beer tells us while they appreciated that Doncic grabbed one of their Lonely Blonde ales following the Mavericks' big Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, they're not hooking him up -- because, simply, they're fans of the losing team!

The company is actually based out of Minnesota ... so, needless to say, Doncic can stop waiting for an on-the-house goodie bag of the tasty brews now.

Luka Doncic just wanted to enjoy a cold one after leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, but Michael Finley had other plans ... smoothly jacking the superstar's beer in a hilarious moment.

The 25-year-old Slovenian hooper and his teammates celebrated the franchise's first Western Conference title since 2011 on Thursday ... easily handling the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the series, 124-103.

Naturally, the Mavs were in great spirits after clinching a matchup with the Boston Celtics ... but when Luka posted up alongside his pops and sipped a blonde ale during the postgame festivities, the former pro-turned-exec intervened.

Travis Kelce got an unwelcome welcome at Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals ... some pretty thunderous boos!!!

Travis and teammate Patrick Mahomes were sitting courtside when they were shown on the video board and announced. Travis got some cheer, but lots of boos, and he seemed a bit taken aback, but still smiling.

Then his QB was announced, and the reception was way friendlier ... lots of cheers and PM stood up to hype up the crowd. Brittany was sitting by his side, basking in her hubby's glow.