TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dirk Nowitzki is a free agent ... but the 40-year-old legend tells TMZ Sports when it comes to the NBA, it's "Mavs for life."

Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks have already mutually agreed to opt out of Nowitzki's contract -- which included a $5 million option.

The team is expected to sign a new, cheaper deal with Dirk -- unless he decided to explore other NBA options.

But, when we spoke with Dirk on the way out of Craig's in West Hollywood over the weekend -- he seemingly shut down all other teams ... and let us know he's riding with Mark Cuban to the end!

Joakim Noah's tenure with the Knicks so far has been a disaster ... but he tells TMZ Sports he hopes the team doesn't cut him, saying, "I love New York!"

The NBA star inked a 4-year, $72 MILLION deal back in 2016 ... and has had about as many fights with Knicks coaches as big plays made since.

But Noah told us out in Malibu this week he wants to stay and turn things around with new coach David Fizdale.

"Coach Fizz is cool, man," Noah says.

It's an interesting statement, considering Joakim was exiled from the team last season after a blowout fight with ex-coach Jeff Hornacek ... but Noah's clearly ready to put that water under the bridge.

Sylvester Stallone turned 72 years old this week, and got proper action hero birthday wishes from some of the best in the biz.

Sly made an appearance Friday at London's O2 arena -- the same day he hit the big 7-2. While answering questions from the crowd, a video message was played to honor his born day ... with well-wishes from A LOT of his old action flick buddies.

Guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael B. Jordan, Al Pacino and Dolph Lundgren (the Russian in 'Rocky IV') all gave a shout out to Rocky Balboa for hitting a new milestone in his life ... and continuing to punch back.

You'd think this would be the greatest gift ever ... but, apparently, not for Sly. He told the audience that the best present he'd ever gotten was his three daughters, who were present.

Blake Griffin stripped down to his niftiest trunks for a beach day this weekend, but might've been one-upped by his own GF's swimwear ... yeah, bikinis are kinda her thing.

The Pistons power forward hit up a beach in Malibu Saturday with Francesca Aiello -- founder of Frankies Bikinis -- whom he's been seeing since at least last month. Unlike their last 'Bu outing, this time they got in the water ... and showed off their killer bods.

Yes, Blake was looking good in his pink shorts -- but, truth be told ... Francesca seems to have the edge over him here. That just us, though.

Daniel Cormier was unsurprisingly in the mood to celebrate after his knockout win against Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.

Daniel showed up with his 2 championship belts at the Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop in Vegas. Confetti rained down on him as the crowd flashed "G.O.A.T." signs.

We shot the video at around 1:30 AM Sunday and the party showed no signs of winding down. D.C. is only the second fighter to hold titles in 2 different weight classes simultaneously. The first was Conor McGregor.

It was a stunning victory ... Daniel ended the fight in the first round with a short right.

The UFC looked like the WWE Saturday night when former UFC champ Brock Lesnar interrupted Daniel Cormier's victory celebration with an epic throw down.

Cormier had just won the title, knocking out Stipe Miocic with a short right hand. As D.C. talked to Joe Rogan, Cormier challenged Lesnar to step into the Octagon, telling him, "Get your ass in here!"

Lesnar was more than happy to oblige, shoving Cormier and screaming, "Touch me now, you go to sleep later."

But Lesnar wasn't done trash talking, calling Miocic "a piece of s***" and telling Cormier, "I'm coming for you motherf*****!"

Dana White made it clear ... Cormier vs. Lesnar is on, saying "We're definitely going to make that fight."

LiAngelo Ball says he's going to be a Los Angeles Laker!

... Eventually.

We got Lonzo's little bro at LAX on Wednesday ... and we just had to ask about his dad's prediction that Gelo will join up with Zo in the purple and gold.

"Yeah, I will," Gelo says. "Probably later. I think I will."

Just one problem ... Gelo says nobody from the NBA has called about putting him on their roster -- so sounds like it'll DEFINITELY be later rather than sooner.

LaVar is still confident he'll get to the pros -- and guaranteed at least TWO titles once the Lakers sign Gelo.

Brooklyn Nets star Allen Crabbe tells TMZ Sports ... cutting a 6-figure check to save an L.A. school was a "no-brainer" -- because giving back to the community is more important than ballin' out.

We broke the story ... Crabbe stepped in with a "miracle" donation to Frederick K.C. Price III Christian School in south Los Angeles last month ... saving it from closing permanently.

Crabbe went to school there -- and has several members who still attend -- and felt a moral obligation to help out when it couldn't afford to pay the bills.

"My mom texted me saying, 'Look, nobody has come forward with a donation, can you give this amount?' And I was like, 'Yeah, I'll do it!'"

Crabbe -- who's in the middle of a 4-year, nearly $75 million contract -- says he's blessed to be making such a high salary and says he wants to use that money to give other kids a chance.

You gotta watch the clip ... Crabbe's as humble as they come.

UFC star Dominick Cruz tells TMZ Sports ... his broken arm is still not healed -- he's hit some bumps in the road during recovery -- but hopes to be cleared to fight before the end of the year.

The former bantamweight champ suffered the injury back in November while training for a fight with Jimmie Rivera ... but says he's had some medical setbacks while trying to heal up.

Now, Cruz says he's itching for a fight real bad -- and hopes to be cleared by a doctor in next few months so he can book a fight before the end of the year.

As for potential opponents, Cruz says he'd LOVE to get the winner of T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt ... but claims neither guy is man enough to take the fight!

Tyler Honeycutt -- a former UCLA hoops standout and Sacramento King -- was found dead early Saturday morning after a police shootout and standoff at his L.A. area home ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to LAPD ... it doesn't appear as if Honeycutt was struck by any gunfire in the shootout, but "appears to have sustained injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound." We're told a gun was found on the scene.

LAPD tells us ... officers responded to a call of a man with a gun at Honeycutt's Sherman Oaks residence after 5 PM Friday, and upon arrival -- he fired a shot at them. We're told cops fired back, but no officers were injured.

After an hours-long standoff -- SWAT entered his home and found Honeycutt unresponsive. He was declared dead at the scene by the fire department.

Honeycutt's mother was reportedly the one who called police Friday, saying her son was acting erratically.

Honeycutt was a UCLA basketball star, earning All-Pac-10 first team honors in 2011 as a sophomore, before being drafted by the Kings in the second round. He played in parts of 2 seasons with them, before heading to Europe to play pro ball.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is the most HATED man in his neighborhood -- with neighbors telling TMZ Sports they've called police between 30 AND 40 TIMES on the guy.

Here's the deal ... law enforcement tells us cops were called to Jennings' L.A. valley home in the early hours of July 5 after neighbors complained about an insanely loud rager at BJ's pad.

No arrests were made -- but multiple neighbors tell us they're fed up with Brandon because he treats the house like a nightclub, with crazy parties, blaring music and huge crowds almost every night of the week.

In fact, neighbors tell us they've spoken with Jennings and have pleaded with him to keep it down because the area is filled with families -- kids who have school and parents who work -- but the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The neighbors have taken their gripes to the Nextdoor app -- where they've strategized about how to get Brandon to be more considerate.

The crazy part ... Slash -- the rockstar -- used to live in Brandon's home and the neighbors say he was WAY more quiet and respectful than BJ.

One neighbor, Ivan Kuznetsov, tells TMZ Sports it's not personal ... he just needs to sleep.

"I have nothing against parties. Partying is nice. It's just not the right place with everyone trying to sleep."

We reached out to Brandon for comment -- so far, no word back.

There might not be anyone more qualified to pick the winner of the big Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic fight than Roy Nelson -- he fought 'em BOTH -- and he's putting his money on the underdog!

The heavyweight brawler battled both guys back in 2013 -- and lost both fights -- but tells TMZ Sports there was one big takeaway ... Cormier hits harder than Stipe!

There's more ... "Big Country" says Cormier is the smarter fighter, and that will pay off big time when they clash at UFC 226 in Vegas on Saturday.

"I think DC has probably the better game plan and I think he has the overall better skills," Roy says ... "If I'm a betting man, I go with the odds with DC."

Allen Hurns is unloading his Jacksonville pad after the Jaguars kicked him to the curb this offseason ... putting his Florida creekside mansion up for sale for $1.3 MILLION ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The new Dallas Cowboys wideout bought the place back in August 2016 a few weeks after inking a 4-year, $40 million deal with the Jags ... but, Jacksonville cut him this past March -- so his loss can now be your gain!

The place is fancy ... with Jim Pittman of Pittman Real Estate Team tellin' us it's got five bedrooms, four bathrooms (plus two half baths), 5,805 square feet -- and a huge covered pool in the backyard.

It's also got its own dock leading to the creek in the yard ... but no word yet if the two jet skis parked there come with the crib.

Don't feel bad for Hurns for having to cut ties with the spot ... he signed a 2-year, $12 million deal with the Cowboys ... AND he could theoretically make $200k on the mansion if he gets his asking price.

LaVar Ball says he had absolutely nothing to do with word of Lonzo's knee injury getting out, and neither did anyone in his camp family ... because the Balls don't roll like that.

We got LaVar at LAX Friday and asked about the recent report that the Lakers think someone on Zo's side leaked news of his torn meniscus and potential surgery to keep him from getting traded ... he calls BS.

"I don't leak nothing. I always say what's on my mind, so you don't never see me saying, 'I think I should say this now and let it leak.' I don't do that."

LaVar says he's never babied his son or even talked about him being hurt ... so the media should look for leakers elsewhere.

He also touches on Lonzo's relationship with his new teammates -- LeBron and Rondo -- but tells us he's been busy with his own business this summer ... so he doesn't have all the answers.

Well, THAT didn't take long ...

LeBron James hasn't played a minute for the Purple & Gold yet ... but that hasn't kept him from getting the Kobe Bryant treatment ... getting a MASSIVE mural in the streets of L.A.!!

Just days after announcing his decision to bail on Cleveland again, King James has been painted on Baby Blues BBQ in Venice ... donning his new threads and trademark stare.

We're told the artist behind the mural is Jonas Never -- who just completed a piece for the late Anthony Bourdain -- with the help of fellow artist Menso ... and it took about 12 hours to complete.

Terrell Owens is trying to make nice with the rest of his Pro Football Hall of Fame class -- gifting Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and company with some dope custom Vans ... and helping out kids in the process!

T.O. was showing off his own pair -- designed by Eddie at Ink Your Shoes, an elementary school teacher in North Carolina who uses some of the profits from the kicks to fund educational projects for his 5th grade class.

Owens also got some shoes for Brian Urlacher and the rest of the gang -- despite the fact he won't be with them in Canton for the induction ceremony on August 4.