Basketball

Smush Parker tells TMZ Sports he's PUMPED Lamar Odom is down to join his team for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 league ... and while he hopes Kobe Bryant comes around, he's not about to beg.

The ex-Lakers player joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Wednesday night on FS1) and told us he's still VERY serious about joining the league. His agent's even been in contact with league officials.

But, with Kobe still mum on the possible reunion with his former Lakers teammates -- Smush says he's already thinking about some of the players who could fill the 3rd spot.

Trick shots. Thunderous dunks. Crazy feats of athleticism.

The insanely athletic spawn of Metta World Peace and Shaquille O'Neal BALLED OUT HARD during a high school showdown in L.A. ... complete with some VERY impressive highlights.

Shareef O'Neal's Crossroads High School traveled to Ron Artest III's Bev Hills High Tuesday night -- where the prep stars battled it out in a game that literally came down to the buzzer.

In the end, Artest's team came out on top 50-47 ... but you gotta watch these highlights -- we're guessing they'll see each other again in college.

#ProudDads

How's this for a warm welcome back to campus?!

The NC State men's basketball team beat Duke on the road for the first time since 1995 on Monday night, but the students partied like they just won the national championship.

Check out the vids posted by Abdul-Malik Abu ... there are a TON of fans greeting the team's bus back to Raleigh after the Pack beat the Blue Devils 84-82.

Makes you wonder how they'd react if it were the title game.

Ex-Laker Smush Parker wants to squash the beef with Kobe Bryant and team up to compete in Ice Cube's Big3 League!!

In case you didn't know ... Kobe made it clear during his playing days that he wasn't a fan of Smush ... and even told him not to speak to him until he "had more accolades."

TMZ Sports spoke to Smush about wanting to reunite with Mamba and old teammate Lamar Odom ... and he says their triangle offense would dominate against guys like Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Mike Bibby.

When we asked if there would be any hard feelings with Kobe ... Smush says it's all water under the bridge.

Move over, Washington. So long, Lincoln ... Donald Trump could forever be known as the GREATEST President of all time ... so says Bobby Knight.

Of course, the former Indiana hoops coach is a massive Trump fan -- and even stumped for him along the campaign trail.

Now, he's in D.C. for the inauguration and he's as passionate for Donald as ever.

He even thinks Trump could've played basketball for the Hoosiers ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'd have to check whether he could shoot or not but he could sure as hell play defense!"

This kid is absolutely ridiculous.

LeBron James Jr. -- 12 years old -- has a brand new highlight reel ... and we guarantee it'll make you say, "DAMN" at least 3 times.

In the new footage, Bronny puts on a clinic -- passing, handles, defense and ridiculous step-back jumpers.

He even pulled off the water bottle challenge at the end.

Bronny's dad has already said the kid's being recruited by major colleges ... he's still got 6 years to decide!

Enjoy the clip.

Luke Walton really wants the world to sweat over the possible introduction of Coach Lamar Odom to the LA Lakers ... 'cause now they're grabbing dinner together.

We got the former Lakers teammates leaving The Lobster in L.A. Saturday night, with Lamar heading out first and Luke following soon after.

Steph Curry became an honorary Globetrotter Tuesday night -- when he got together with two of the players before the Warriors game ... and finally learned to spin a basketball on his finger!

The Globetrotters are in the Bay Area for a game on Saturday -- and met up with Steph before the Warriors took on the Heat at Oracle Arena.

Steph admitted to the guys he couldn't do the finger trick ... so they set him up right there on the spot.

He later told the guys, "You all made a dream come true right there!"

Officials have determined the Northwestern women's basketball player who was found dead on campus this week committed suicide ... TMZ Sports has learned.

A rep for the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office tells us the evidence shows 19-year-old Jordan Hankins hanged herself in her dorm room.

The team has cancelled their game scheduled for Wednesday.

How cool is this?

"Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo hit the game-winning shot against the Knicks in NYC Wednesday night ... and then GOT OFF THE TEAM BUS to celebrate with Greek fans who were chanting his name.

Giannis was born and raised in Greece -- and played pro ball there before being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. His career has been on the rise ever since.

Fast forward to last night ... there were a TON of Greek fans in the crowd, some holding Greek flags, and they all went INSANE went Giannis hit the buzzer beater that won the game in the 4th.

After the game, he got on the team bus to leave when he noticed a group of fans holding a Greek flag and cheering for him ... so he got off the bus to sign autos and take pics.

John Travolta says he's PUMPED to be the inspiration for Nick Young's 3-point shot celebratory hip-thrusting dance ... telling TMZ Sports, "I love it!"

Nick's dance went viral after he hit a long-range bomb against the Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Lakers star later said God came to him in a dream the night before and told him to dance like John Travolta.

When we told Travolta about the situation at Barney's in Bev Hills Wednesday night ... he made it clear Nick has his blessing.

The Harlem Globetrotters are at it again ... this time nailing a death-defying shot from the stadium roof where the Golden State Warriors play ... over 100 feet in the air, no harness, no net.

Globetrotters star Buckets -- with his teammate Scooter -- climbed the the top of Oracle Arena ... walked to the ledge of the over 100 foot high roof ... and took the shot.

Boom.

FYI -- if the shot wasn't impressive enough ... the hoop was positioned over 100 feet away from the base of the arena. 100 feet up, 100 feet out.

Someone get Justin Timberlake a bucket of water ... 'cause that dude was ON FIRE Tuesday night!!

The pop star was messin' around on the court at the Lakers game (he's a part-owner of the visiting Memphis Grizzlies) ... when he decided to test his shooting skills from halfcourt.

Not only did JT sink the first shot ... but he followed up with ANOTHER swish -- and then got back on defense after the bucket!!

As for the game, Justin went up to his VIP box and had a dance party with his wife, Jessica Biel ... while the Lakers smashed on the Griz.

#GoLakeShow

Skip Bayless posed the question ... will LeBron James ever top Michael Jordan?

MJ's daughter, Jasmine, weighed in ... bluntly.

Any NBA player sneaking away to call the league's new hotline for bad officiating is WASTING HIS DAMN TIME ... that's according to NBA veteran Al Jefferson who calls the hotline "pointless."

The hotline was set up as part of the new CBA between the league and the players ... allowing a salty hooper to call up and single out specific refs on bad calls they made in previous games.

We got Jefferson -- a former All-NBA player -- in D.C. and asked him if he thinks the hotline will make one damn bit of difference in the way the games are called ... and guess what, he doesn't.

Shaquille O'Neal's son says he's confident he can be a better player than his legendary father ... telling TMZ Sports he's got all the tools to be the GREATEST hoopster in his athletically gifted family.