Basketball

Klay Thompson's back in the States ... but the legend of #ChinaKlay lives on!!

Here's video of Steph Curry mocking his Splash Brother with a hilarious intentional dunk fail in Chengdu -- one of the stops on Steph's Asia tour.

Remember ... the #ChinaKlay phenomenon started when Thompson was unintentionally REJECTED by the rim on his Chinese shoe tour last month.

Now we have this gem from Curry -- who killed it on his best (worst) 360 attempt.

Klay lit China on fire with his dance moves too, but #ChinaSteph is giving him a run for his money.

The day before, S.C. busted out some push-ups on a clear glass panel in a Beijing skyscraper ... and got paralyzed by his fear of heights.

Here's something you might not be used to seeing ... Terrell Owens taking the high road ... telling TMZ Sports he still loves Ice Cube and the BIG3 league, even though Cube killed T.O.'s hoop dreams.

Owens recently told us he wanted a spot in the league and made a personal plea to Ice Cube to make it happen, saying he had tried to get in and was getting the runaround.

We saw Cube and LAX and shot T.O.'s shot for him, and Cube straight Mutombo'd it ... saying the league is strictly for former NBA players, which Owens is NOT.

As luck would have it, we got T.O. mere moments after we saw Cube and broke him the news, and Terrell couldn't have been cooler with the disappointment, saying he's still 100% behind the league.

We tried T.O., but that Ice Cube can be downright cold (get it?).

Terrell Owens is gettin' the cold shoulder from Ice Cube ... 'cause the ex-NFL superstar's plea to join the Big3 has been officially shut down by the league's founding father himself.

ICYMI -- We talked to T.O. last week about wanting to join ex-NBA hoopers like Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Ricky Davis in Cube's new 3-on-3 league ... and he said he was 100% serious about joining in on the fun.



But Cube was quick to shut down the idea ... telling TMZ Sports T.O. ain't exempt from Rule #1 of the Big 3 -- ex-NBA players ONLY!!

So it looks like it's back to the celebrity games and the Drew League for T.O.'s hoop dreams.

Rock legend Flea -- a die-hard Lakers fan -- says he sees unparalleled GREATNESS in Lonzo Ball ... and guarantees he'll win Rookie of the Year.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist is no bandwagoner -- the guy is a hardcore hoops fan. He regularly attends high school games to scout out the top rising stars in the state. He's also had Lakers season tix for decades.

To say he's impressed with Lonzo's talent is a gross understatement -- you gotta watch the clip, he thinks Ball is already better than the legendary Jason Kidd.

LaVar Ball's mouth might've finally written a check his ass can't cash, because Shaq has accepted the Big Ballers' challenge, and he's putting his dome on the line for victory.

This all got started when we got Shareef O'Neal out at LAX and asked him if he thought he could beat LaMelo Ball in a 1-on-1 battle. He said "Yes," and his father, the Big Diesel, agreed.

The news made it back to LaVar ... and of course he didn't back down, offering to end the speculation with a 2-on-2 game, Shaq and Shareef, vs. LaVar and LaMelo.

Well, Shaq -- wearing a hilarious white wig -- made a video message to respond to LaVar, and he's in ... saying if his fam loses, he'll glue the white wig to his head for good.

Challenge accepted. Is the T-Mobile Arena available?!

Greg Oden is finding out that college life ain't easy at age 29 -- but he's soldiering through like a boss!

We got the 2007 #1 overall NBA draft pick leaving lunch at L.A. Live ... and asked what it's like being back at Ohio State -- strictly as a student this time around.

"Still tough," he told TMZ Sports.

And the homework?

"It's homework. It sucks."

Oden -- who's taking sports industry classes -- has previously said that he's accepted his basketball career is over so he's returning to school to set up a better life for himself and his family.

Shaq says his boy has it right (it's okay for him to say it, Conor) ... telling TMZ Sports his son Shareef's claim that he'd beat LaMelo Ball in hoops is 100% accurate.

Reef talked his ish to us when we got him at LAX, telling our camera guy he likes 'Melo as a person, but when it comes down to the hardwood, he'd best the Ball brother.

We talked to Papa O'Neal out in NYC, and he told us not only does he agree with his progeny, he's proud the kid has the attitude to go along with his game.

"When you're a young up and coming player you're supposed to say you're the the greatest in the world. Is he better? Yeah, I think he's better."

So far LaVar's been quiet on the whole thing ... but we doubt that's gonna last long.

Listen up Ice Cube, one of the greatest athletes of all time is about to ask you for a gig ... Terrell Owens, who is publicly asking Cube for a shot at hoops glory in the BIG3 league.

It's no secret Owens is a baller, his exploits in different leagues and charity games are well documented on Youtube, but when we talked to him, he told us he wants to try it on the pro level.

"I tried to get into that league. I gotta get Ice Cube's number to get my name in the hat to get on one of those teams."

The rub? The BIG3 league has been billed as primarily for ex-NBA and other professional BASKETBALL players to try their hand at. T.O. of course starred in the NFL.

That didn't stop him from making an impassioned plea to try his hand alongside Allen Iverson, Rashad McCants, Rashard Lewis and Kwame Brown, and it's clear he's 100% serious.

Klay Thompson's dad, Mychal, says the Warriors better hope the Carmelo Anthony trade is dead, 'cause if the Rockets get Melo, they'll be a legit threat to dethrone his son's team.

Houston's already stacked with James Harden and CP3 ... so we asked Thompson -- a former NBA stud himself -- if acquiring Melo would make the Rockets the best team in the league.

"You add Carmelo Anthony to Chris Paul and James Harden, you gotta take them serious."

But is it enough to topple KD, Steph, Klay and Draymond?

We also talked to Mychal about Klay's epic dance moves in China ... guess where KK got those moves.

Shareef O'Neal ain't lackin' confidence ... telling TMZ Sports he'd dominate LaMelo Ball if the two face off on the court.

Shareef (17) and Melo (15) are two of the biggest stars in high school hoops -- so, when we saw Shaq's kid at LAX, we had to ask how a showdown with the youngest Ball bro would go down.

FYI -- Shareef is bigger than 'Melo at 6'8'' (Ball is 6'3") ... but Ball's a proven scoring machine, once dropping 92 points in a single game.

O'Neal admits he likes LaMelo -- off the court -- but he can come get it like everyone else ... and so can his brother Lonzo.

Give it a couple years ... might see this play out in the NBA.

Here it is ... your first Lonzo Ball, Michael Jordan comparison ... courtesy of ex-hoops star Jay Williams.

J-Will is FIRED UP about the Lakers star's potential -- and tells TMZ Sports, "That kid is gonna make passing what Jordan made scoring."

"He makes the game so damn easy for everybody."

Clearly, the ESPN analyst was impressed by the rook's 11-assist triple-double over the weekend.

That was 'Zo's first big summer league game for the Lakers, but Jay's already convinced the kid's special -- and he's predicting a $200 MILLION contract down the line.

Oh, and J-Will's got a message for everyone hatin' on Lonzo's funky shot ...

IT DOESN'T MATTER!!

Memo to children ... if you're gonna pull a sick move on NBA superstar Boogie Cousins, don't expect him to take it easy on you after ... as a matter of fact, expect him to give you his Game 7 best.

That's exactly what happened to a little tyke who was messing around with Cousins at Crenshaw High School during Trinidad James and Big U's celebrity hoops game in L.A. this past weekend.

The little man gets his against the nearly 7-foot star early (although he can't finish his layup) but after that it's all Boogie, as he doles out a little tough love hoops style.

Lonzo Ball made a good impression on the woman who signs his checks -- with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss telling TMZ Sports, "The future looks bright."

Buss was leaving Madeo in Bev Hills on Sunday when we asked about all the action in Vegas -- where the Lakers' summer league games are in full swing.

FYI, summer league tix for Lakers games are in super high demand -- they face value for $30 but have been fetching $250 and more on ticket resale sites.

We asked Buss if Lonzo is the reason for the renewed interest in the Purple and Gold -- and it's clear, she's excited about what Ball brings to her squad.

Ball stunk up the court on Friday night in his summer league debut but bounced back with a triple double on Saturday. The Lakers play again Monday night against the Kings.

Jason Kidd could have a new nickname -- Octodad -- 'cause the Milwaukee Bucks coach's ex-wife says he's expecting his 8th child!!

We spoke with Joumana Kidd outside Delilah in West Hollywood -- where the TV host broke the baby news to TMZ Sports ... and said she couldn't be happier for J and his wife, Porschla.

Kidd's oldest son -- Jason Kidd Jr. -- was also out that night (in more ways than one) ... telling TMZ Sports he's just wants to keep the crown as the "gay son" in the family.

It's the first time Kidd Jr.'s gone public with his sexuality -- and told us in a statement, "My sexuality doesn't change me, it only makes me the pink glittery sheep of the family. And I own it."

We reached out to Kidd about the baby news -- but so far, no word back.

You thought the Big Baller was gonna stay quiet?!? Hell no.

LaVar Ball is coming back hard at Joel Embiid -- after the NBA star fired an f-bomb at Lonzo's dad on social media this week.

"Business and basketball are two different things. They say don't take it personal, but everybody does." -- Austin Rivers on Chris Paul.

The Clippers star was at LAX when it kept it 100 about the situation involving his former teammate -- telling TMZ Sports he's happy for the guy, but it's gonna get intense when they face the Houston Rockets next season.

"You saw what happened when the Warriors played the Thunder this year. There was a lot of emotion in there."

"I don't think it'll be quite like that but it'll definitely be a lot of fireworks that game if I had to take a guess."