Basketball

It's time for John McCain's Guide to the NCAA Tourney!!!

He's picking Arizona to win it all, and why??? Because he's not an idiot!!

In fact, our guy asked if most politicians should pick teams from their home state to win.

"It depends on whether you wanna be re-elected or not!"

Note: McCain says he actually picked AGAINST U of A last year (and still got re-elected) ... so he's probably kidding. Plus, they're really good this year.

Charles Barkley says LaVar Ball needs to come to terms with the fact he SUCKED at basketball ... and the idea he would beat Sir Chuck in 1-on-1 is straight-up delusional.

The NBA Hall of Famer was out in NYC when he responded to LaVar's claim that Chuck is a slow, Krispy Kreme eating fat boy who'd get WRECKED if they faced off on the court.

There's more smack talk ... Chuck throws some numbers around ... funny stuff.

The good news -- Barkley still really likes LaVar's son, Lonzo Ball, and thinks he should be the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

But LaVar ... these two guys hate each other.

Nick Cannon and Birdman could be the next Ron Howard and Brian Grazer if they score a hit with their first big Hollywood production.

Sources close to Nick and Baby tell us they're teaming up to produce a basketball flick. We're told the end product will be like "Save the Last Dance" meets "Love & Basketball" ... with a twist of "Above the Rim."

Cash Money's honcho did a power dinner this week with Wack 100 and Frisco Chuck, who are funding and acting in the flick. We're told Nick wrote the treatment and presented the idea to Birdman. The duo will also appear on screen and word is The Game's also locked down a role.

Jermaine O'Neal says Ice Cube's BIG3 league is NO JOKE -- telling TMZ Sports, "We ain't signing up for it to be a clown show."

O'Neal -- along with a slew of ex-NBA stars -- have signed up for the 3-on-3 league ... and O'Neal says he's dead serious about competing at a world-class level.

You can see in the video, the 6-time NBA All-Star looks to be in pretty good shape ... and says he and his old running buddy, Bonzi Wells, are in it to win the whole damn thing.

Guessing Allen Iverson, Stephen Jackson, and Chauncey Billups will take issue with that.

Kenyon Martin can't help but laugh at all the outrageous comments coming from LaVar Ball's mouth -- but says one thing is undoubtedly true ... his kids can ball.

We asked Kenyon about Lavar's claim he could beat MJ in 1-on-1 and his plan to get his kids a billion dollar shoe deal ... and the ex-NBA star keeps it all the way real.

One of LaVar Ball's college teammates says Ball's claim he could've beaten Michael Jordan back in the day is a bunch of BS ... calling Ball's statement "laughable."

TMZ Sports spoke with Brian Quinnett, a forward on the 1987-88 Washington State team LaVar played on for one year ... and asked him if there's any truth to Ball's big-time assertion.

"It's laughable. The stats speak for themselves."

The stats Quinnett are referring to are LaVar's 2.2 ppg average from that year ... numbers NFL stud Le'Veon Bell used to call out Ball earlier today.

BTW -- the 6'8" Quinnett knows all about having to guard Michael Jordan ... telling us he did just that as a member of the Knicks back in the early '90s ... and it didn't work out well.

"He basically called for a clear out, took the ball and dunked on my head."

Charles Barkley's approval rating of Donald Trump is trending DOWN ... 'cause Sir Charles is mighty displeased at the POTUS decision to diss a Presidential tradition ... the annual NCAA tournament bracket.

Barack Obama participated in the Madness of March every year by filling out a bracket like millions of other Americans ... but not Trump, who recently announced he planned to skip it.

Barkley covers the tourney for Turner Sports, and when we got him out in NYC he was all worked up about the Prez skipping the festivities ... and a number of other things as well.

It's not too late Donald ... change your mind.

Fear not, traditionalists ... the person providing the vocals for the 2017 rendition of "One Shining Moment" at March Madness is about to be revealed ... and it's gonna make you happy.

We spoke with David Barrett -- the guy who wrote, composed and originally sang the song behind the most emotional montage in sports -- and he told us it's all Luther Vandross, baby!!!

Remember, last year CBS used a new version with singer Ne-Yo on the Team Stream presentations of the NCAA tournament championship ... and people lost their minds (even though he did a good job).

But Barrett says it's Luther all around this year ... the guy behind the most popular rendition of the song.

Allen Iverson finally has a name for his 3-on-3 team, the Big3 basketball league just announced it'll be "3'S COMPANY!"

The Answer will officially spread the word the Wednesday -- with the logo and team colors making their debut too.

As for Allen's team, the draft is set for later this year and he'll have some big names to choose from including Brian Scalabrine, Reggie Evans and Josh Childress and Iverson's old running buddy, Larry Hughes ... AI's co-captain is Dermarr Johnson.

Some other team names in the 8-team league ...

-- Tri-State (Jermaine O'Neal & Bonzi Wells' team)

-- Ghost Ballers (Mike Bibby's team)

-- Trilogy (Kenyon Martin's team)

-- Killer 3s (Chauncey Billups' team)

-- 3-Headed Monsters (Rashard Lewis' team)

If Lonzo Ball wants a shot at gridiron glory, UCLA football coach Jim Mora says he could play WR for the Bruins RIGHT NOW ... there's just a couple of problems.

We spoke with Mora on his way out to Mount Kilimanjaro to work with Chris Long's Waterboys charity -- which provides drinking water to people in need in Tanzania (great organization, btw).

But with Lonzo Ball tearing up the college hoops world, we had to ask Jim if he's had ANY thoughts about trying to recruit the kid over to the football team.

"I think he's certainly got the athleticism and skill," Mora said ... "I'd put him out there at receiver in a heartbeat!"

So, what's stopping him?? Watch the clip.

Good news for Duke star Grayson Allen -- a college basketball legend just gave him a green light to do all the trippin' he wants ... saying it's about time another Dukie embraced the villain role.

The hoops legend is former Blue Devil star Jay Williams (2-time NCAA player of the year), who we got out in NYC and asked about Allen's penchant for sticking his foot out and "accidentally" tripping players.

Jay has been SUPER critical of Allen, even writing an open letter criticizing Coach K, saying the 1 game suspension he gave to Allen earlier this year was too lenient.

That's apparently all over, 'cause Jay is now totally on board with flagrant fouling, and he told our camera guy why.

Nothing pisses off Kelly Olynyk more than a poorly run fantasy basketball league -- which is why the Boston Celtics player tore our TMZ photog a new one right in the middle of the street.

Long story short ... our guy is in a league that starts the fantasy playoffs THIS WEEK. Olynyk feels that's wayyyyy too early. He's right.

When our guy tried to explain why (in case NBA playoff-bound teams sit their stars at the end of the regular season) ... Kelly called B.S. and called for the commish to be FIRED.

Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins will soon make the NBA their bitches ... that's according to Stephen Jackson, who says it's just a matter of time before the duo takes over.

We got Jackson out at LAX, and asked him if the big deal that sent Cousins to New Orleans will end up paying off for the Pelicans ... 'cause right now, the guys are 1-3 since the trade.

Jackson has a message for the Crescent city ... RELAX ... saying Bougie & The 'Brow are gonna be the league's new David Robinson & Tim Duncan once they figure things out.

Kevin Durant's gotta get healthy if Golden State wants to win an NBA championship ... 'cause it ain't happening without him, so says Warriors legend Rick Barry.

KD's out "indefinitely" after spraining a ligament in his left knee during Tuesday night's loss to the Wizards. The team announced they'll reevaluate Durant in 4 weeks ... but there's no chance he plays before.

FYI -- the NBA playoffs start in 6 weeks.

So, can the 50-10, 1st place GSW win without their leading scorer?

It ain't looking good ... according to longtime Warrior and HOFer Rick Barry.

"I would think the chances are diminished considerably [without Durant]. I don't think they would have an opportunity to do it without Kevin Durant because he is such an integral part of their success so far this season."

But if they already won a 'ship without KD in '15 ... why can't they do it again?

LaMelo Ball got over his high school team's season-ending playoff loss Friday with a pep talk from a HUGE rap star -- The Game ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Ball's Chino Hills squad lost to Bol Bol and Mater Dei H.S. in an overtime thriller ... and Game waited outside the locker room to give some words of encouragement to the 15-year-old phenom.

Game even quotes some Tupac for LaMelo ... "All eyes is on you!"

Game also reminds LaMelo he's only a sophomore and says in 2 years, he can be THE best high school basketball player in the country.

The giant spawn of Shaq and Manute Bol went DUNKIN' CRAZY in a high school playoff game ... reminding everyone they can ball just like their daddies.

Shareef O'Neal's Crossroads H.S. squad crossed paths with 7 foot tall Bol Bol's Mater Dei earlier this week in the 1st round of the CIF Open Division playoffs ... and the highlights are nothing short of INSANE.

O'Neal and Bol trade dunks, defensive stops and awesome passes throughout the game ... with Bol's team coming out on top 80-44.