InkBlog

Victor Wembanyama

Play video content BIRTHDAY BOY

Victor Wembanyama entered his twenties on Thursday ... and his teammates celebrated his special day by singing "Happy Birthday" during practice!!

The San Antonio Spurs players surprised the 7'4" rookie right on the court ... surrounding him and breaking out the classic tune.

Wemby clearly wasn't expecting it ... but jumped right into singing and clapping with his teammates.

"Hip hip hooray!" the players yelled after the song. "Hip hip hooray!"

victor wembanyama Getty

Wembanyama also got another nice present on his birthday -- it was announced he's received over 221k votes to participate in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game so far.

To compare, that's more entries than Karl-Anthony Towns, Chet Holmgren and Kristaps Porzingis.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

NBA's Ricky Rubio Retires Amid Mental Health Struggle

ricky rubio Getty

NBA star Ricky Rubio is ending his professional basketball career ... revealing he made the decision after going into "a dark place" last offseason.

33-year-old Rubio -- the fifth-overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft -- spent 12 seasons in the Association ... most notably for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played from 2011-17.

The Spanish guard joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 ... but it was announced back in August he would take time away to focus on his mental health.

On Thursday, Rubio shared a statement on his official retirement ... sharing July 30 was "one of the toughest nights of my life," but did not go into detail.

Ricky Rubio On The Court Gallery Launch Gallery Ricky Rubio On The Court Launch Gallery Gallery Getty

"I kind of knew I was going on that direction, but I've never thought I wasn't under control of the situation," he said.

"The next day, I decided to stop my professional career."

Rubio said he will talk more on what happened at a later date so he can help others going through similar situations ... and will continue to work on his mental well-being moving forward.

ricky rubio Getty

"But I am proud to say I'm doing much better and getting better everyday," he added.

Rubio -- who averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists in his career -- said it was a dream to play in the NBA ... thanking the Wolves, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Cavs for "good memories and great relationships."

He also sent a special message to Cleveland ... thanking the organization for being "extremely respectful and understanding" of his situation.

Draymond Green Opened Up About On-Court Rage In 2022 Session With Deepak ChopraEx-NFL Star Willis McGahee Says He Had Suicidal Thoughts After Retirement

Giannis Antetokounmpo I Think About Pacers Before Sex

Play video content ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT IT

Some guys go with baseball, but Giannis Antetokounmpo's got the Pacers on the mind before knockin' boots ... 'cause the NBA superstar admitted he's constantly thinking about the Bucks' recent struggles against Indiana -- even in the bedroom!!

The Greek Freak made the hilarious soundbite after Milwaukee's 142-130 loss to the Pacers Wednesday night ... which marked the fourth time the Bucks fell to their division opponent in five matchups this season.

When asked about their challenges against Tyrese Haliburton and Co. ... Giannis insisted it's "not the end of the world," but said it's certainly something that's living rent-free in his head at all times.

giannis antetokounmpo Getty

"I think we realize as a team that there are teams out there that can beat us four times in a season," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game.

"Now you have that, you think about it -- when you go back home, when you sleep, when you wake up, you think about it. Now, when you go back and work out, you think about it."

"On the All-Star Break, when you gonna be at exciting beach with your family, I hope you think about it. When you're about to get freaky at night, you think about it."

Giannis' comments were met with giggles from the media ... but he quickly got serious again -- saying his crew can now take the losses on the chin and regroup for the rest of the season.

Play video content FEBRUARY 2018 GREEKY AND FREAKY

The quote should come as no surprise -- especially considering this is the guy who put his sex bell on full display on Valentine's Day back in 2018.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Throws Fit After Pacers Take Game Ball Following 64-Pt NightGiannis Antetokounmpo Knocks Suns' Torrey Craig's Tooth Out During Game

Bronny James Throws Down Massive Alley-Oop ... Like Father, Like Son!

bronny james dunks

Dunking is definitely in Bronny James's DNA ... the star USC freshman looked just like his pops LeBron as he threw down a rim-rocking alley-oop during Wednesday's game!

The 4-star recruit added a highlight to his college basketball reel during the first half of USC's home game against California at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Trojans star and future top lottery pick Isaiah Collier stole the ball and pushed down the court, throwing a sweet lob to Bronny for the two-handed jam.

pic.twitter.com/Yvo0Yo6frY

— Bronny (@BronnyJamesJr) January 4, 2024 @BronnyJamesJr

The crowd went crazy!

James ended up dropping 10 points in the 82-74 win, their 7th of the season.

Bronny, since debuting for USC in mid-December, is averaging 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

It wasn't just college hoops fans who went wild over the dunk ... so did dad. LeBron posted video on his Instagram like a proud papa.

bronny james and lebron james

Watching the clip, you surely see similarities -- especially in the number 6 jersey -- with how the James' move ... despite Bronny being a few inches shorter than his father.

bronny james and lebron james dunk Getty Composite

Not to play favorites with his kids, the NBA legend also shared a highlight from his younger son, Sierra Canyon star Bryce James, who also dunked in his game last night ... which the Trailblazers won 91-52.

Unfortunately, LeBron couldn't lead the James gang to a sweep on the day ... the Lakers were beaten by the Heat.

Bronny James Makes USC Debut, LeBron Watches From CourtsideLeBron James Promises To Miss Lakers Game If Bronny's USC Debut Overlaps

Los Utah Jazz le pidieron a los rabinos que retiraran los carteles pro judíos

kyrie irving and jewish men courtside Getty/Avremi Zippel

Un grupo de rabinos se vieron obligados a retirar sus carteles pro-judíos en el partido de los Jazz de Utah contra los Mavericks de Dallas el lunes, después de que Kyrie Irving se quejara a la seguridad y pidiera que los carteles fueran retirados.

El rabino Avremi Zippel, un acérrimo seguidor de los Jazz, dice que él y sus tres compañeros se sentaron en primera fila a propósito para el partido, con la intención de enviar un mensaje a la superestrella de la NBA tras su polémica antisemita en octubre de 2022.

Durante el primer cuarto, los cuatro rabinos mostraron carteles que decían "Soy judío y estoy orgulloso" e Irving los reconoció.

Zippel afirma que Irving inicialmente dijo: "Niza, yo también soy un Judio", antes de añadir: "No tienes que traer algo así al juego".

Avremi Zippel

Poco después de la interacción, el rabino dice que la seguridad se acercó y les dijo que tenían que dejar de sostener los carteles citando una política contra tener carteles en la primera fila. Según Zippel, un segundo miembro del personal les dijo más tarde que era porque Irving se había quejado.

Zippel le dijo al Salt Lake Tribune que los carteles no eran una declaración política, ya que no mencionaban la guerra de Israel. También dijo al medio que revisó la política del equipo varias veces para asegurarse de que no estaban violando ninguna regla.

A pesar de su investigación, los Jazz emitieron un comunicado, diciendo que los carteles simplemente rompieron un Código de Conducta.

kyrie irving playing against the jazz on jan 1 Getty

"No importa dónde alguien esté en la arena, si un cartel se convierte en una distracción o provoca una interacción con un jugador, le pediremos que lo retire", declaró el equipo.

"Durante una jugada fuera de límites en el primer cuarto del partido de ayer de los Jazz contra los Dallas Mavericks, había un grupo sentado junto a la pista cuyos carteles provocaron una interacción con un jugador que creó una distracción e interfirió en el juego".

"Como siguiente paso en el protocolo de seguridad estándar, se pidió a los aficionados que retiraran sus carteles".

El equipo también aclaró que la retirada no se debió a lo que decían las pancartas, afirmando que "el empleado a tiempo parcial que dijo a los aficionados que el problema era el contenido de la pancarta se equivocó".

"El problema era la interacción disruptiva causada por el uso de los carteles, no el contenido de los carteles".

Zippel no está comprando la explicación de los Jazz ... ya que piensa que el equipo citó la política con la esperanza de que todo el asunto pasaría.

kyrie irving AP

Esta no es la primera vez que Kyrie se enfrenta a fans críticos - la temporada pasada, un grupo de aficionados llevaban camisetas "Lucha contra el antisemitismo" durante el partido de los Brooklyn Nets contra los Indiana Pacers para protestar por sus comentarios.

Kyrie y los Mavs aún no han abordado la situación.

Utah Jazz Rabbis Forced To Remove Pro-Jewish Signs ... After Interaction With Kyrie

kyrie irving and jewish men courtside Getty/Avremi Zippel

A group of rabbis were forced to put away their pro-Jewish signs at the Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks game on Monday ... after they claim Kyrie Irving complained to security, and asked the signs be removed.

However, a rep for the NBA superstar tells us that never happened.

Rabbi Avremi Zippel -- a diehard Jazz fan -- says he and his three peers copped courtside seats to the matchup on purpose ... with the intent to send a message to the NBA superstar after his antisemitism controversy from back in October 2022.

During the first quarter, the four rabbis held up signs that said "I'm a Jew and I'm Proud" ... and Irving acknowledged them.

Zippel claims Irving initially said, "Nice, I'm a Jew, too," ... before adding, "Don't gotta bring something like that to the game."

Avremi Zippel

Shortly after the interaction, the rabbi says security came over and told them they had to quit holding up the signs ... citing a policy against having posters in the front row. A second staffer, Zippel claims, later told them it was because Irving complained.

Worth noting -- Zippel told the Salt Lake Tribune the signs were not meant as a political statement ... as they did not mention the war in Israel. He also told the outlet he went over the team's policy several times to make sure they weren't violating any rules.

Despite his research, the Jazz released a statement on the matter ... saying their signs broke the Code of Conduct.

kyrie irving playing against the jazz on jan 1 Getty

"No matter where someone is in the arena, if a sign becomes distracting or sparks an interaction with a player, we will ask them to remove it," the team stated.

"During an out-of-bounds play in the first quarter of yesterday’s Jazz game against the Dallas Mavericks, there was a group sitting courtside whose signs sparked an interaction with a player that created a distraction and interfered with play of game."

"As the next step in standard security protocol, the fans were asked to take down their signs."

The team also clarified the removal was not due to what the signs said -- claiming, "The part-time employee who told the fans it was the content of the sign that was the problem was incorrect."

"The issue was the disruptive interaction caused by usage of the signs, not the content of the signs."

Zippel isn't buying the Jazz's explanation ... as he thinks the team cited policy in hopes the whole thing would blow over.

kyrie irving AP

This isn't the first time Kyrie has faced critical fans -- last season, a group of fans wore "Fight Antisemitism" shirts during the Brooklyn Nets vs. Indiana Pacers game to protest his comments.

Kyrie and the Mavs have yet to address the situation.

Kyrie Irving Teases New Shoe Deal After Nike FalloutKyrie Irving Didn't Intend To Snub Dillon Brooks During Jersey Swap

LeBron James Happy Birthday to Me ... NOT!!! Pissed After Refs Seemingly Miss 3-Point Call

Lebron James controversial call IMAGN Composite

It was a not-so-happy birthday for LeBron James after the NBA legend was seemingly robbed of a three-pointer in a close game on his 39th Bday.

Lebron James controversial call

LeBron and company were in Minnesota Saturday night with the clock winding down, LeBron hoisted up and made what he thought was a three-pointer to tie the game at 107 with only 2 seconds and change remaining.

Lebron James controversial call

However, the referees said LeBron's foot was on the three-point line, making the score 107-106 in favor of the Timberwolves.

The play was then reviewed, and it appeared to show LeBron's foot was, in fact, behind the three-point line ... but the officials remained unchanged, which understandably set James off. The Timberwolves went on to win the game 108-106.

It seems Lebron James is about to experience the EXACT pain Kevin Durant felt with that size 200 shoe pic.twitter.com/ndVHDoY59A

— 🤍’ (@Heavenlybuckets) December 31, 2023 @Heavenlybuckets

After the game, LeBron didn't hold back, talking with reporters, he said, "It’s obviously a 3. My foot is behind the line. I mean, you can see the space between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. You can clearly see a white, the wood on the floor, there’s a space in between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. So, you know, Stevie Wonder can see that, champ."

He continued, "It’s super frustrating in the sense of what the hell we got a replay for? What do we have replay for if even the replay gets it wrong? It’s like, who’s the part of the replay center? Like, do we got robots in there that's making the Teslas? What’s going on? If you don’t see that, that is clear, that is clear."

Lebron James controversial call

LeBron also made his frustrations known on social media after the game, with a screenshot of his foot seemingly behind the line with the caption, "Sooooooooooooooo!!!!! WTF. Helluva Happy Bday gift to me."

Lakers Raise In-Season Tournament Championship Banner To Mixed ReviewsAdele Joins LeBron & Anthony Davis for Rich Paul's 42nd Birthday Party

John Salley Slams NBA For Draymond Ban ... 'They Overreacted'

Play video content THE WAY I SEE IT

John Salley vehemently disagrees with the NBA's decision to hit Draymond Green with an indefinite ban this month ... telling TMZ Sports the suspension was a complete overreaction.

The four-time NBA champion said this week he's in favor of sidelining Green for smacking Jusuf Nurkic during the Warriors vs. Suns game on Dec. 12 ... but he thinks the indefinite part of the punishment is simply taking things too far.

"You can have a conversation, give him a certain amount of games for him to simmer down and have intelligent conversations with him," Salley said of Green. "But to get rid of him indefinitely, I think that is a bigger thing."

Draymond Green IMAGN

Salley told us he loves Draymond's playing style -- which makes sense ... considering the 6-foot-11 former center was a part of the '80s/'90s "Bad Boys" Pistons squads -- and he clearly believes Green hasn't done much wrong to warrant the latest suspension.

"I would take Draymond Green every day and twice on Sunday," he said.

In fact, Salley told us the guy would've been a perfect fit on his old Detroit teams.

John Salley detroit pistons Getty

"I hope Draymond comes back and I love his play," Salley said. "And I know he wears a Bad Boy T-shirt under his uniform."

For his part, Green has reportedly begun counseling ... and could return to the Warriors sometime in January.

John Salley Defends Ja Morant's Gun Celebration, 'Leave Him Alone'Steve Kerr Says Draymond Green's Ban 'Makes Sense,' Hoping It Changes Star

Illinois Star Terrence Shannon Jr. Charged With Rape ... Suspended From Team

Terrence Shannon Jr. facing rape charges Getty

Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr. has been suspended from the Illini men's basketball team after he was charged with rape, the university announced Thursday.

According to the school, Shannon Jr. turned himself in to police in Douglas County, Kansas, on a warrant for his arrest this week ... after he was accused of sexual misconduct while he was in Lawrence back in September for Illinois' football game against the Jayhawks.

The school said Shannon Jr. was "not in Lawrence on official University business, nor was he a member of the University's travel party" when the alleged incident happened.

Jail records show Shannon Jr. posted $50,000 bail shortly after cops placed him in custody on Thursday.

Terrence Shannon Jr. playing in court Getty

The basketball player's attorney, Mark P. Sutter, said in a statement his client is innocent ... writing, "Since September, when these allegations surfaced, Terrence has cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation, declaring his innocence from the beginning."

"Now, several months later, my office learned that formal charges were filed against him yesterday in Lawrence, KS," Sutter added. "In less than 24 hours, my client responded, and he voluntarily surrendered to local authorities for processing and release. Terrence is innocent of these charges, and he intends to take his case to trial."

Shannon Jr. just transferred to Illinois last season after three years at Texas Tech -- and he's become the Illini's best player.

Through 11 games, he's scored 239 points -- and has been projected by pundits to be a potential pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Packers' Jaire Alexander Suspended Over Coin Toss Debacle At Panthers GameJa Morant Hits Game-Winning Basket In Return From 25-Game Suspension

NBA's Mikal Bridges Reveals Chipotle Obsession I've Eaten It Every Day For Last 10 Years!!!

mikal bridges Getty

NBA star Mikal Bridges' body has apparently been sculpted by Chipotle -- 'cause the Brooklyn Nets forward just revealed he's been eating at the fast food joint every day for the past 10 years!!

The 27-year-old -- who's currently averaging 21.1 points per game -- made the shocking revelation during an interview with GQ Sports earlier this month ... explaining he's been plowing through burrito bowls daily since he was a teenager.

Waiting for your permission to load TikTok Post.

Bridges said the meals are simply "too fire to not have it every single time" ... adding, "It don't disappoint."

The former first-round pick, however, said his meals are on the healthier side -- telling GQ he gets his bowls with white rice, double chicken, salsa, corn, lettuce ... and nothing more.

Bridges, who's 6-foot-6, 209 pounds, did say he used to get it spicy -- though his taste buds just can't stand it anymore.

mikal bridges Getty

"Rest in peace to the hot sauce," he said with a smile.

Unclear if Chipotle's gotten word of Bridges' obsession with their product -- but if it hasn't, we're sure it will soon -- and we're smelling a partnership coming shortly thereafter!!

McDonald's & Chipotle Raising Menu Prices In California After Minimum Wage IncreaseAngry Chipotle Customer Throws Burrito Bowl at Employee in Heated Video

NBA's Charlie Villanueva Grateful To Be Alive After Bad Car Crash

charlie villanueva

Former NBA star Charlie Villanueva is counting his blessings today ... revealing he's ultra thankful to be alive after he was involved in a bad car crash earlier this week.

The former Milwaukee Bucks forward said on his Instagram page Wednesday night that he and his wife, Lala, were riding in a Mercedes G Wagon when someone hit them from behind.

Thankfully, the 39-year-old ex-hooper revealed no one was seriously injured in the wreck -- though in pictures he shared from the crash scene, you can see his car was almost completely destroyed.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

View this post on Instagram

"If you wondering what happened, my wife and I got hit bad by another car, and the crazy part is that whomever hit me, decided to run," Villanueva said.

"Sore neck, sore back, messed up car, we are thankful to see another day. Our lives can’t be replaced, but the vehicle can."

Villanueva -- who played 11 seasons in the NBA -- praised God for keeping them safe.

He then went on to leave a message for those who've dealt with similar scary situations this year.

charlie villanueva Getty

"2023 is just preparing us for 2024," Villanueva said. "So to those whom 2023 has been a difficult year, a year of struggle be thankful, and don’t give up, because once you come out of the storm, you’ll see your true power."

Founding Dixie Chicks Member Laura Lynch Dead at 65 After Car CrashPresident Biden's Motorcade Rammed By Driver, Secret Service Swoops In

John Salley Defends Ja Morant's Gun Celebration ... 'Leave Him Alone'

Play video content MY FAVORITE PLAYER

John Salley says the Ja Morant critics need to pipe down ... telling TMZ Sports he truly believes the NBA superstar didn't have bad intentions when he appeared to do a gun celebration on Tuesday night.

Salley told us the firearm-themed gestures -- which Morant seemed to hit following a thunderous alley-oop dunk in the Grizzlies' overtime win over the Pelicans -- were merely "a part of hip hop culture" ... and nothing more than that.

AYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/hwVXbU5UY7

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 27, 2023 @memgrizz

"He's not saying, 'Forget ya'll -- I got my gun!'" the four-time NBA champion said on Wednesday. "He probably didn't even realize it."

"It's nothing meaning anything," he added.

No way @JaMorant did a gun celebration this man is funny pic.twitter.com/izLcH2ZnUE

— Case Harrison (@CaseHarrison) December 27, 2023 @CaseHarrison

Of course, basketball fans all over social media have disagreed with that stance -- with many on X calling it a "tone-deaf" situation ... considering the 24-year-old had just served a 25-game suspension for a string of incidents involving gun-related social media videos.

Salley, however, was just sure there was no ill will involved in the post-dunk celly.

"I don't think he's trying to mock anybody," Salley said. "I don't think he's trying to be mean about it."

"Leave Ja Morant alone ... Leave him alone."

Play video content NUMBER 1 OR NOTHING

Salley also shared with us his opinion on his former Detroit Pistons squad -- which just lost its 27th game in a row on Tuesday night.

He said he doesn't think the team has quit or anything like that -- though he certainly didn't seem optimistic that things were going to get any better in the Motor City anytime soon.

Ja Morant Hits Game-Winning Basket In Return From 25-Game SuspensionJa Morant Says In Court He Punched Teen In Self-Defense, Demonstrates Check Ball

Aaron Gordon Bitten By Dog On Christmas ... Suffers Cuts To Face, Hand

aaron gordon Getty

UPDATE

2:48 PM PT -- Aaron Gordon reportedly needed 21 stitches to fix the wounds he suffered in the dog attack on Monday.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, meanwhile, said on Wednesday there's currently no timetable for a return for his star -- saying he wants Gordon to "heal inside and out" first.

Coach Malone today on Aaron Gordon’s injuries. He said this is something AG needs to heal from - both physically and mentally with what he just went through pic.twitter.com/FR7oF4dTrP

— Katy Winge (@katywinge) December 27, 2023 @katywinge

Aaron Gordon will be away from the Denver Nuggets for the foreseeable future ... after he was attacked by a dog on Christmas.

The NBA org. revealed on Wednesday the 28-year-old was bitten by a pooch following the team's victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The Nuggets said in a statement the power forward suffered cuts to his face and hand during the incident, but, thankfully, he's "in good condition."

"[He] will remain away from the team while he recovers," the team added.

Aaron Gordon gets us started in Denver!

Warriors-Nuggets | Live on ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/fM8ZwOgsuq

— NBA (@NBA) December 25, 2023 @NBA

Gordon looked just fine while playing 31 minutes in the victory over the Dubs just prior to the incident ... scoring 16 points while adding 10 rebounds and three assists.

He's been a key player for Denver since he was traded to the team in 2021 -- helping the Nuggets win their first-ever NBA championship last season.

Originally Published -- 10:55 AM PT

Aaron Gordon Memorializes Iconic Landry Shamet Dunk With Iced-Out PendantAaron Gordon Gifts Jamal Murray 'JM27' Diamond Pendant Before NBA Finals

Zion Williamson Gets New Tat ... Huge Cross On Chest!!!

zion williamson Getty Composite

Zion Williamson just got some fresh ink to prep for the start of the new year -- getting a giant cross tattooed on his chest!!

The NBA star hit up Onder Ink's Andres Ortega just a few weeks ago to get the piece done -- and as you can see, it came out awesome.

zion williamson tattooed

The tat features a cross with an image of a snarling gorilla inside of it -- and it appears to be strategically positioned more toward his heart.

Unclear what the exact significance of the image is for Williamson -- but Ortega tells TMZ Sports it all took about three hours during a session in New Orleans to complete.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

View this post on Instagram

It's, of course, been a busy few weeks for the Pelicans forward ... because outside of getting some permanent ink placed on his body -- he also helped welcome his baby into the world in November as well.

His recent play on the court has been the focus of many too -- as basketball pundits have criticized his weight and conditioning amid an up-and-down start to the NBA season.

Play video content 12/12/23 LOCKING IN ON MYSELF

To his credit, though, Williamson has shrugged off all the noise -- recently thanking his fans for sticking by him.

Zion Williamson's Alleged Fling Suspended From Twitter After Sex Tape ThreatKenny Smith On Zion Williamson's Weight, 'It's Not Hard, Eat Less'

Ja Morant Hits Apparent Gun Celebration ... In Win Over Pelicans

ja morant

Ja Morant's barely been back on the NBA hardwood for a week, but he's already found himself mired in a bit of controversy again -- this time after he hit a celebration that appeared to feature imaginary guns.

The Grizzlies point guard pulled out the celly Tuesday night after he helped give Memphis an insurmountable lead over the Pelicans in overtime of their game in New Orleans.

AYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/hwVXbU5UY7

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 27, 2023 @memgrizz

The 24-year-old -- who just came back from a 25-game ban for a string of incidents involving gun-related social media videos last week -- seemed to turn his hands into the shape of pistols after throwing down a thunderous alley-oop dunk, before he appeared to spray the road crowd with fake bullets.

The gestures only lasted a few seconds, before Morant returned to defense to finish off the game -- but basketball fans were still critical of the moves nonetheless.

No way @JaMorant did a gun celebration this man is funny pic.twitter.com/izLcH2ZnUE

— Case Harrison (@CaseHarrison) December 27, 2023 @CaseHarrison

Several roasted him as "tone deaf" -- particularly after he had just returned from his suspension on Dec. 19.

Of course, it's entirely possible Morant was not mimicking firing guns and was instead just simply hitting a dance -- but the hooper has yet to publicly address it all.

Morant has been a complete superstar outside of the incident vs. the Pelicans since he was reinserted into Memphis' lineup -- leading the Grizzlies to four straight wins while earning Western Conference player of the week honors.

Ja Morant Gives Young Fan Game-Worn Jersey, Sneakers After Her Ball Was StolenJa Morant Says In Court He Punched Teen In Self-Defense, Demonstrates Check Ball

Timothée Chalamet asiste al partido de los Lakers con su padre

Timothee Chalamet Getty

Timothée Chalamet encabezó el elenco de celebridades que asistieron a un partido de los Lakers el día de Navidad en Los Ángeles, pero su novia, Kylie Jenner, se perdió toda la diversión.

Timothee Chalamet Backgrid

Chalamet se sentó con su padre, Marc -un editor de UNICEF- y el agente deportivo, Rich Paul, para ver a los Lakers perder contra los Celtics de Boston 126-115 en el Crypto.com Arena de Los Ángeles.

Kylie no estaba a la vista, pero estamos seguros de que estará presente para el cumpleaños número 28 de Tim mañana.

Celebrities at Lakers vs Celtics Gallery Launch Gallery FAMOSOS EN LA CANCHA Launch Gallery Gallery Getty

Mientras tanto, un montón de otras personas notables aparecieron en el partido de baloncesto, tres ex jugadores de los Lakers: Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Derek Fisher, junto con la ex-esposa de Fisher, Gloria Govan.

Entre el público también se encontraban el DJ Zack Bia, la estrella del fútbol Eduardo Camavinga y las personalidades de Internet Corinna Kopf y David Dobrik.

kanye west lakers Backgrid

Por último, pero no menos importante... Kanye West apareció cerca del estadio y fue acosado por los fans que querían autógrafos y tomarse selfies con el rapero. Pero el equipo de seguridad de Kanye mantuvo a la gente alejada de él.

KANYE WEST along with BIANCA CENSORI, Kids: Saint West, Chicago West leaving the Lakers game. pic.twitter.com/gpaSjiKLLn

— Ye (@ye_world_) December 26, 2023 @ye_world_

No estaba claro si Kanye se dirigía realmente al partido o estaba por ahí haciendo otra cosa. Como saben, Kanye ha estado ocupado las últimas 24 horas pidiendole disculpas a los judíos de todo el mundo por sus comentarios antisemitas durante el año pasado.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbnZZ5qopV%2BYrrWxxqipop2jZK%2Biv8qeq5uZnKF8gLzAoJx2alaYwrO%2Fzqt0nrF6q7Cunsuco3KjiY2fraSRg6OTpWmup5SVlYaLnK9%2BeZ65mrOKrodrYA%3D%3D

Aldo Pusey

Update: 2024-09-23