TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is opening up on his relationship -- or lack, thereof -- with LeBron James ... admitting he didn't make much of an effort to be a mentor for the Lakers superstar due to their age difference.

75-year-old KAJ released a Substack essay to explain where he stands with the guy who dethroned him at the top of the all-time scoring list ... and aside from a "couple minor jabs" over his COVID-19 vaccine stance, the Captain says he has had high praise for the King over the course of his career.

But when it comes to being buddies with 38-year-old Bron, Abdul-Jabbar says James was right in saying they had "no relationship" back in October ... and he's taking responsibility.

"LeBron said we don’t have a relationship," KAJ said. "He’s right -- and for that I blame myself. Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him."

"I think the main reason that I never formed a bond with LeBron (again, entirely my fault) is simply our age difference," he continued. "I established my scoring record in 1984 -- the year LeBron was born. When he started to make a name for himself, I was already pretty removed from the NBA world. Except for certain gala events, I was just like any other fan, watching games on my TV in my sweatpants while munching on too many unhealthy snacks."

Kareem admits he could have reached out to guide LeBron with all the pressure he faces as the star of the NBA, but took solace in knowing he had a guy like Kobe Bryant he could talk to.

"I couldn’t imagine why he’d want to hang with someone twice his age. How many do?"

LeBron James' childhood basketball coach says he's "honored" to be a part of the superstar's journey to becoming the top scorer in NBA history ... telling TMZ Sports he couldn't be happier for the King.

Dru Joyce -- who first noticed LeBron's potential at just 10 years old -- played a huge part in shaping the 4-time NBA champ's career ... coaching James and the "Fab Five" to a state championship at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in 2003.

We spoke with Coach Dru about LeBron passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list ... and he couldn't help but reminisce about their earliest memories together.

"It was an honor to know the little kid who used to be at my house, days on end, and young man I watched him grow into in high school, to now reach this historic moment in professional basketball ... I don't have the words to describe it."

"It's a special feeling, and to know we've been a part of the journey, it makes it even more special."

Joyce even recalls advice he gave LeBron at an early age ... and praised how James was already mature enough to make the right adjustments and get better -- parts of his game Coach notices he still uses to this day.

Joyce also sends a special message directly to LeBron ... saying, "You're the greatest of all time. It's a special time, and the way you've gone about it makes it even more special."

"Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this journey. I've enjoyed it -- much love. I'm kind of taken for words, but 28 years ago, I just remember knocking on your door ... and little did I know where this journey was going to take us. So proud and happy to be part of that journey."

As for LeBron, he also spoke about his journey to the top of the scoring list ... referencing the famous Cedar Point amusement park to get his point across.

Damar Hamlin just received an incredible honor from the NFL Players Association ... and in his speech accepting the award, he told a throng of reporters that he was thankful to God "for being here."

The NFLPA presented Hamlin with the Alan Page Community Award at a ceremony at a Super Bowl event Wednesday afternoon ... recognizing him as a player who went above and beyond to perform community service in his team city and/or hometown.

Hamlin hopped on the mic after taking the trophy -- and spoke publicly for one of the first times since he went into cardiac arrest during a game last month.

"First, I just want to say, 'Thank you,'" Hamlin said. "Just thank God for being here and thank the other guys who were nominated for the award as well who did the work in their communities alongside me as well."

Hamlin beat out four others -- Patriots DB Jonathan Jones, Commanders OL Charles Leno Jr., Raiders TE Darren Waller, and Buccaneers linebacker Devin White -- for the prestigious honor.

In his acceptance speech, Hamlin said giving back to his community "has always been a big part of who I am." He thanked his father for instilling that value in him when he was young.

Even before his medical emergency, Hamlin had found ways to inspire others in his community ... hosting toy drives constantly, and distributing gifts to children in need in Pennsylvania through his Chasing M's Foundation.

Damar actually created a GoFundMe page for his non-profit org. -- and following his health scare, it raised over $9 million.

Ex-NFL star Vontae Davis seemed to be sound asleep on the side of a highway near two wrecked vehicles after he was accused of drunkenly crashing his Tesla during an accident on Saturday morning ... new photos, obtained by TMZ Sports, show.

In the pictures -- snapped just minutes after Davis allegedly rammed his ride into the back of a Toyota truck in Broward County, Fla. -- you can see Davis appeared to be unconscious on the pavement.

Wearing a mint-green corduroy set with his shoes still on, the 34-year-old former Indianapolis Colts defensive back was balled up with his head laying in his hands and his eyes closed.

A witness tells us that even as people moved around him -- including first responders, a clean-up crew and police -- Davis remained fast asleep ... until cops woke him up and put him in a squad car.

In Florida Highway Patrol dash cam footage we obtained, you can see Davis appeared to be having trouble staying awake there too.

During questioning, the two-time Pro Bowler seemed to fade in and out of consciousness ... and when one officer eventually began telling him why he was being arrested for DUI -- the cop said, "Your eyes are bloodshot. Your speech is slurred. You can barely stay awake. All right? You almost killed somebody."

Other photos from the scene we obtained show just how fortunate everyone is to have come away from the wreck alive -- you can see in the pics, Davis' Tesla was mangled ... as was the back of the Toyota.

Davis did admit to cops he had drank two "mixed drinks" before getting behind the wheel, but he said he had no recollection of the car accident.

The former football player, who spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2009 to 2018, was ultimately arrested and booked on a charge of DUI.

Super Bowl commercials can no longer be contained for just the big game, and several high-profile rappers -- Diddy, Snoop Dogg and Jack Harlow to name a few -- have all been getting the bag with multi-million dollar TV spots!!!

Diddy's mogul status is the basis for his Uber Eats ad and he incorporates his Love Records, CÎROC and DeLeon Tequila imprints all in one swoop.

In the spot, the Bad Boy Records CEO looks for the perfect jingle from remixed hits ... and well-placed randomness from Montell Jordan, Donna Lewis, Kelis, Ylvis and Haddaway!!!

Not to be outdone, Snoop assumes yet another brand ambassador role with Skechers Slip-Ins alongside Martha Stewart, Howie Long and Tony Romo.

The colorful commercial loops Snoop's classic hit "Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)" as Tha Doggfather walks through his various elements ... walking red carpets, rocking concerts and cruising through L.A. on a beach cruiser!!!

Jack and Missy Elliott have been teasing a Doritos commercial (and collaboration) for weeks now and dropped new content Wednesday. It's a hypothetical look into Jack's career if he adopted the chip into his stage act ... to hilarious results.

The newest clip costars Sway Calloway and Heather B. from "Sway In The Morning" ... as well as a mic-dropping cameo from Sir Elton John.

This year, 30-second SB commercials will reportedly cost companies $7 mil a pop ... and that's before they pay the rappers' salaries!!!

If ya can't wait till Sunday, we've got more of those high priced spots.

Jerry "The King" Lawler is recovering after suffering a "massive stroke" on Monday ... and although his speech is limited, he's expected to make a full recovery with rehabilitation.

A rep for Lawler provided a health update on Wednesday ... after fans spent the last two days concerned for the 73-year-old WWE legend following his recent health scare.

Lawler, who has a history of heart issues, gave a thumbs up from a Fort Myers, FL hospital where he's recovering ... a welcome sight for WWE fans.

Jerry also got a visit from WWE icon Jimmy Hart, best known for his work as a pro wrestling manager, musician, and composer ... and the guys took a picture together.

As we reported earlier on Wednesday, Lawler's longtime friend and broadcast partner, Jim Ross, also gave an update, saying Jerry was trending in the right direction, but encouraged people to still pray for him.

JR said he spoke briefly with Lawler, and could tell his speech was affected by the stroke, but he was confident his friend would bounce back.

"Jerry’s prognosis is positive but he needs all our thoughts and prayers," Ross tweeted.

Unfortunately, this isn't Jerry's first health scare ... in 2012, he went into cardiac arrest on an episode of Monday Night Raw. He also suffered a stroke in 2018.

Jake Paul is fed up with Tommy Fury -- calling out his opponent for missing another pre-fight event this week ... saying TNT is being straight-up disrespectful to the fight game at this point.

Fury was not slated to attend Wednesday's press conference in Saudi Arabia ... claiming the event could wait until he made it to town on Feb. 16.

Paul was asked about Tommy's absence minutes ago ... and he unleashed on the guy.

"I'm used to his behavior at this point," the Problem Child said. "He's unprofessional, he's a flake, he's not a serious businessman, and he's not a serious fighter."

"He's gonna have to pay for all the times he pulled out," he continued. "All the business people he screwed over. It's disrespectful. There are some of the biggest names in boxing, some of the biggest promoters in the world, some of the most influential people in the world, one of the greatest countries in the world, and he doesn't want to show up 'cause a 'private matter' -- cool. We all have private matters."

Paul also goes on to call Fury's excuses BS -- because he initially said he didn't have to prepare for the fight, but then walked back the claim and said he needed more time to train.

"It's typical Fury stuff," Paul said.

Jake also claims Tyron Woodley hit him up recently ... and admitted this is an easier fight for Paul than himself and Anderson Silva.

Michael Irvin will no longer be one of the faces of NFL Network's Super Bowl coverage this week -- the former Dallas Cowboys star who's turned into a huge TV personality has been pulled from shows following an incident he had with a woman in Arizona on Sunday night.

Irvin told the Dallas Morning News the encounter happened at a hotel in Glendale -- the site of this weekend's SB LVII -- after he had returned to the property following a night out on the town.

Irvin says he spoke with the woman for roughly 45 seconds in the lobby -- and described it all as an almost entirely non-physical interaction.

The woman, though, according to the DMN, launched a complaint about Irvin's actions -- leading to the NFLN pulling him from their coverage on Tuesday.

Irvin says he's been left "perplexed" by it all -- explaining to the outlet it was such an innocuous conversation, he hardly even remembered it.

"When I got back after going out … I came into the lobby, and I talked to somebody," Irvin said. "I talked to this girl. I don't know her, and I talked to her for about 45 seconds."

"We shook hands. Then, I left. … That’s all I know."

He added, "I don’t really recall that conversation, to tell you the truth. We were out drinking. It was just a friendly conversation. ‘What’s up?’ I don’t even know. … I am totally perplexed."

An NFL Network exec confirmed to TMZ Sports Irvin will not be a part of the station's SB coverage this week. But, it remains unclear what the woman alleges Irvin said or did during their meetup -- as Irvin adamantly denied any wrongdoing.

"What law did I break?" Irvin said according to the Dallas Morning News. "There was definitely nothing physical. … That’s honestly all that happened. Nobody was in my room. It was a 45-second conversation in the lobby, a handshake and we left. … I don’t know. I don’t know what this is, and it’s running me crazy."

Star athletes weren't the only ones going crazy for LeBron James after becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader ... so were A-list celebrities like Drake, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and one of his biggest fans, Rihanna!

In fact, Ri-Ri, Drake, and Kendrick's toast to King James was shared in a video montage after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record on Tuesday.

"I am so grateful to witness this moment in history," Rihanna said in the clip.

"My favorite thing about being a LeBron James fan is just watching you prove yourself over and over again, against all odds and all doubt."

"Thank you for reppin' for all of us. Keep striving for greatness always and congratulations King James!"

Drake -- who was holding a basketball in the video (of course) -- called it a "legendary night in NBA history" while Kendrick applauded him for silencing the haters.

"From the time you went to the league when you had the doubters and the naysayers and people that think you wouldn't take it this far, you've proved 'em wrong dog," Lamar said.

Wayne saluted Bron on Twitter ... the "Hustler Musik" rapper wrote, "Kongrats King!! Glad to say I’ve shaken your hand brudda. God bless you and the fam and the homies."

Outside the musicians, NBA stars Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Trae Young also gave the 4x champ his flowers, as well as Lakers legend and former exec, Magic Johnson.

"I want to personally thank you LeBron for trusting & believing in me & the Lakers in 2018 when I was president of basketball operations," Johnson said in a tweet.

"Everything you said you would do, you’ve done; led the Lakers to a championship, elevated the Lakers brand, & gave back to the city of LA!"

NFL players also chimed in, including Odell Beckham Jr. who shared a photo of the exact moment James took the shot that made history.

Of course, LeBron partied the night away after becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader -- hitting up The Fleur Room in West Hollywood with his wife, Savannah, and friends.

The jersey LeBron James wore to break the NBA's all-time scoring record is worth a fortune, according to an auction expert ... who tells TMZ Sports it could rake in over $3 MILLION if it ever hit the block.

The L.A. Lakers superstar rocked the uniform against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night ... getting the 36 points he needed in it to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387.

Chris Ivy, the director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions, tells us the James-used threads could easily fetch seven figures on the block ... especially after his Game 7 jersey from the 2013 NBA finals sold for $3.7 mil in a Sotheby's Auction a few weeks ago.

"I believe this jersey is just as historic and desirable, if not more so," Ivy tells us. "So I would estimate it at more than $3 million."

Of course, it's unclear what will ever come of the jersey -- James wasn't asked about what he'll do with it following the game.

The 38-year-old, though, did speak on the historic night following the game, calling it all "so surreal."

"This was not a goal for me," James said. "That's why it's probably so surreal and just so weird to me because I never talked about being an all-time scorer in NBA history."

The celebration of LeBron James' new scoring record Tuesday night didn't end at Crypto.com Arena .... several of the Lakers star's teammates -- as well as a host of other celebs -- were seen hitting an L.A. hotspot after the game to keep the party for the King rollin'.

Patrick Beverley, Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant were all spotted following L.A.'s loss to the Thunder, piling into The Fleur Room in West Hollywood to honor LBJ and his new all-time NBA points mark.

Bron's agent, Rich Paul, as well as Karrueche Tran, Kelly Rowland, Jimmy Iovine and Corey Gamble were also seen making their way into the venue.

James and his wife, Savannah, eventually got there as well -- and the two gave emotional speeches to the crowd in attendance.

Savannah spoke first, congratulating her hubby on all his hard work. James then took the mic, and dedicated the accomplishment to his family and friends.

The fiesta seemed like a blast ... there was a custom cake with LeBron's face all over it -- and even a stuffed goat!!!

Of course, LBJ and the guys had plenty of reason to celebrate despite the 133-130 defeat ... 'Bron broke a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record that had stood since 1984.

James needed 36 points heading into the night to get the new all-time mark of 38,388 -- and he got them before the 3rd quarter ended with a fadeaway jump shot.

A-listers were all over the arena to watch the historic moment -- everyone from Jay-Z to Bad Bunny to Usher, Floyd Mayweather and Dwyane Wade had courtside seats.

All of the celebs appeared to be in awe after James scored the bucket -- Usher and Floyd, who were sitting next to each other, were all smiles. Jay-Z was, too.

'Bron addressed the crowd in the seconds after breaking the record -- thanking everyone for helping him in his career. He ended his speech in fitting fashion, exhaling, "F***, man."

Aaron Rodgers has a message for those criticizing his plans to submerge himself in darkness before deciding his NFL future -- "Be curious, not judgmental."

Some folks have been scratching their heads after the Green Bay quarterback said on "The Pat McAfee Show" he will go on a 4-day isolation retreat to self-reflect before figuring out whether or not he will retire ... with former offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz sarcastically calling it odd the Packers aren't more involved in the situation.

"Weird the Packers aren’t consulting more with the guy who needs to go on a 4 day darkness retreat to figure out whether he wants to play football…," Schwartz said on Twitter.

AR12 got wind of the Super Bowl champ's bewilderment ... and instead of clapping back with negativity, he took the higher road.

"We are all on our own path, and doing things like this helps me find a greater sense of peace and love for life," Rodgers said. "Love and respect to you ❤️"

Rodgers explained his reasoning behind the retreat with McAfee on Tuesday ... saying the ultimate unplugging from the real world can help produce incredible results.

"It’s just sitting in isolation, meditation, dealing with your thoughts," Rodgers said. "It stimulates DMT, so there can be some hallucinations in there, but it’s just kind of sitting in silence, which most of us never do."

"We rarely even turn our phone off or put the blinds down to sleep in darkness. I’m really looking forward to it."

Jim Ross says he spoke with Jerry "The King" Lawler after he suffered a stroke on Monday  ... and the WWE legend is doing okay, but still needs support as he recovers.

Ross shared the update on Lawler's health status late Tuesday night, reassuring fans the 73-year-old, who has a history of heart issues, is trending in the right direction.

"I spoke very briefly with @JerryLawler tonight," Ross tweeted. "He’s obviously weak but I could understand his affected speech. Jerry’s prognosis is positive but he needs all our thoughts and prayers. #LoveYaKing"

As we previously reported, Lawler suffered a medical emergency, believed to be a stroke, at his Florida home and was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery.

Ross and Lawler go way back ... the two formed one of the most iconic commentator teams in pro wrestling history, calling some of WWE's biggest matches and moments.

Jerry and Jim were a staple on WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw, and their on-air chemistry was unmatched.

Lawler's health scare reverberated throughout the wrestling world ... especially considering the pro wrestling icon went into cardiac arrest in 2012 and suffered a stroke in 2018.

LeBron James is officially the NBA's all-time leading scorer ... the Lakers superstar passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points logged in league history on Tuesday night.

James accomplished the feat against the Oklahoma City Thunder ... in front of a Crypto.com Arena crowd that featured a slew of celebs and former athletes -- including Abdul-Jabbar himself.

Jay-Z, Floyd Mayweather, Dwyane Wade, Shannon Sharpe, Usher and Bad Bunny were all there too.

LBJ needed 36 points to pass Kareem heading into the game ... and after scoring 20 in the first half, he got the rest in the third quarter.

A fadeaway jumper earned him the record -- and the game was stopped so James could be honored. During the break, James was swarmed by his family members and friends -- as a hype video for James played on the arena's jumbotron.

Commissioner Adam Silver also spoke at center court following the record-breaking basket ... telling LeBron, "You are the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Congratulations." Abdul-Jabbar then passed a basketball to the future Hall of Famer, and gave him a hug.

James wiped away tears, before he took the mic and thanked the crowd in attendance. He finished his thank you speech by saying, "F***, man!"

The record is a monumental one -- after Kareem set it in 1984 ... many believed it would never be touched again. But James got the 38,388 that he needed in the 1,410th game of his career -- accomplishing the feat in 150 games less than KAJ did.

James was as consistent as one could possibly be in his chase for the record -- never averaging less than 20.9 points per game in a season. In fact, in his 20th NBA season this year, the 38-year-old is averaging 30 points per game.

Andy Reid does NOT need a second Super Bowl title this weekend to cement his eventual place in Canton ... so says ex-NFL head coach Brad Childress, who tells TMZ Sports the Chiefs honcho is already a Hall of Fame lock.

Reid's resume is ultra-impressive -- he's been a head coach for 24 seasons and has piled up a staggering 247 wins to just 138 losses ... but, some have wondered if dropping his Super Bowl record to 1-3 Sunday could somehow hold him back from eventual enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Childress, though, told us this week there's no chance that happens ... even if the 64-year-old loses to the Philadelphia Eagles in Arizona.

"He's already a Hall of Fame guy," Childress said. "All [a win] does is put some sprinkles on top of the sundae."

In fact, Childress -- who coached for years as an assistant on several of Reid's staffs -- said he believes the K.C. head man already has a case to be on the Mt. Rushmore of all-time NFL coaches.

"His professional career is second to none," Childress said.

As for if this could possibly be the finale of Reid's career -- there's been speculation he could choose to ride off into the sunset with a win -- Childress said there's certainly a chance ... though unlikely.

Floyd Mayweather just outdid himself (and everyone else, too), dropping $1 MILLION on a BIG ass iced-out, white gold chain that weighs nearly 6 pounds!!

45-year-old Mayweather linked up with Johnny Dang -- celeb jeweler and grill king -- and while the boxing legend has a birthday coming up, we're told he was just in the mood to treat himself,

And, did he ever ... with the biggest necklace in the world (as far as JD knows).

The chain, which weighs 2.6 kilos (or 5.7 lbs.), is made of white gold and has 8,500 diamonds -- a whopping 300 ct.'s -- and costs 7 figures!

On the clasp of the Cuban link chain, in diamonds, are the letters "TMT" ... for "The Money Team".

It's not the first time Mayweather has bought ridiculously expensive pieces from Dang ... but it's absolutely the biggest chain he's ever bought.

Of course, Floyd retired from fighting professionally years ago ... but TBE's still putting on exhibition fights across the globe. In fact, Mayweather's boxing Aaron Chalmers at the O2 in London on February 25 ... and you can bet he'll go home with another big check.