Basketball

LiAngelo Ball has got 2 powerful forces trying to secure his release from China ... UCLA and Alibaba founder Jack Ma ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Ball and 2 other UCLA basketball players are currently under house arrest after allegedly stealing sunglasses at Louis Vuitton.

Our UCLA sources tell us, the University has deep ties with China for various reasons, and school officials are using their influence to try and secure the release of the 3 players. As for the nature of the influence ... UCLA is a prize school for Chinese students, many doctors have won research projects at the various UCLA medical facilities and UCLA sports has become popular in China.

We're also told Jack Ma -- a Chinese citizen worth an estimated $40 billion -- is also working to help free the 3 players. FYI, the team visited Alibaba headquarters Monday ... the day before the arrests.

Our UCLA sources also say there is no question the players pilfered the sunglasses so there's no attempt to prove them not guilty ... they are trying to use their considerable influence to ask for mercy. As once source put it, "UCLA and Ma are pulling out all the political stops to resolve this."

The U.S. State Dept. tells TMZ Sports they are aware of the LiAngelo Ball, UCLA shoplifting arrests in China ... and are ready to step in if called upon.

‎"We are aware of reports of three U.S. citizens arrested and subsequently released on bail in China," a State Dept. official tells us.

"We stand ready to provide appropriate consular assistance for U.S. citizens. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.‎"

As we previously reported, LiAngelo -- along with UCLA basketball teammates Jalen Hill and Cody Reily -- were arrested for allegedly jacking merchandise from a Louis Vuitton store near the team hotel.

LiAngelo Ball -- and his 2 UCLA basketball teammates -- have been released from jail in China after being arrested for shoplifting ... but they're NOT allowed to leave the team hotel.

Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were released on bail early Wednesday morning, according to ESPN's Arash Markazi, who is covering the team in China.

The 3 college hoops players are accused of stealing from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team hotel in Hangzhou just days before UCLA is scheduled to play Georgia Tech in Shanghai on Friday.

Per the terms of their bail, all 3 players have been ordered to stay at the team hotel in Hangzhou until the case has been adjudicated -- which could take days, weeks or months, according to Markazi.

As for LiAngelo's father, LaVar Ball told Markazi he's not worried -- "He'll be fine. Everybody's making it a big deal. It ain't a big deal."

LiAngelo Ball -- along with 2 of his UCLA basketball teammates -- were arrested for shoplifting during a team trip to China, according to ESPN.

The UCLA basketball team was out in Hangzhou before their game with Georgia Tech on Friday.

Ball and his teammates allegedly jacked merchandise from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team hotel. According to ESPN's Jeff Goodman, players Cody Riley and Jalen Hill have also been arrested.

UCLA issued a statement to TMZ Sports saying, "We are aware of a situation involving UCLA student-athletes in Hangzhou, China. The University is cooperating fully with local authorities on this matter, and we have no further comment at this time."

LiAngelo Ball is the middle son in the ball family. His younger brother LaMelo Ball is expected to play at UCLA when he becomes college eligible. His older brother Lonzo currently plays for the Lakers.

Move over, Lonzo Ball -- Nick Young's not only down to star in his own reality show -- he says he's already gotten a bunch of offers to put the life of Swaggy P on TV!!

Swaggy dropped the news at Warriors practice today -- looking happy as hell telling reporters about his future plans for Hollywood domination.

But there's a catch -- "I gotta get the best offers ... gotta take my talents to the best place."

His asking price -- "Kardashian prices."

Nick lives the life reality producers gush over -- dates celebs (Iggy Azalea), has famous friends (Gilbert Arenas) and has all sorts of real life drama (D'Angelo Russell).

Kinda doubt Swaggy's worth $150 mil ... but hey -- shooters gonna shoot.

Dennis Rodman is making a plea to POTUS on the eve of his trip to South Korea -- asking him to make peace with his North Korean bro, Kim Jong-un, as tensions rise over nuclear warfare.

"Donald Trump, please, help us," Rodman said to TMZ Sports in Newport Beach. "You always say, 'unite.' I'm all about that."

Dennis told us he trusts Trump ... but feels like he's gotta be involved for his former "Celebrity Apprentice" boss to break bread with the supreme leader.

Highly doubt the Donald's down ... but at least we know the Worm's still trying to play peacemaker.

Gilbert Arenas thinks Lonzo Ball is off to a pretty decent start, but tells TMZ Sports they can't really shine in L.A. just yet BECAUSE THE REST OF HIS TEAM IS SUPER TRASH.

Here's Gil's point ... Lonzo is a passer, and in order for him to tear it up for the Purple & Gold, his teammates have to make the shots he sets them up for, something Arenas says these guys can't do.

"You try to put so much hype around a point guard but your team is bad. He can't make these players good, if they're Hondas they're Hondas. This is not fast in furious where you can put some Nitrous on Ingram and make him a better Honda."

Ouch. Arenas went on to explain that no point guards make all the greats like Shaq and Jordan who they were, and if the Lakers think Lonzo's gonna do that, they're fooling themselves.

Ex-NBA stars Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Henry Bibby claim they got "conned" into joining a new basketball league ... only to get screwed out of thousands of dollars.

Both guys are suing the Champions League -- a 5-on-5 full court league comprised mainly of retired NBA players and coaches.

Monroe and Bibby claim they were promised serious cash to join -- but the money never came.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Monroe accepted a job as Sr. VP and GM of the Gotham Ballers -- and was supposed to get $110k ... but he only got $30k instead.

Bibby says he was supposed to get $60k for coaching the Phoenix Desert Cats -- but never got a cent.

The guys say they were offered stock to make up for the cash -- but they think the whole league is a Ponzi scheme and want their cash, asap.

Rapper ScHoolboy Q's got an ice-cold reality check for Lonzo Ball -- saying the Lakers superstar needs to get the hell out the studio and "STICK TO BASKETBALL."

With Lonzo droppin' more tracks in recent weeks, we had to ask Q if he wanted to get in on the aspiring emcee's career like DJ Mustard and DJ Quik.

His answer -- "HELL NAH! 'Cause I rather see that n***a score some points and get some damn assists."

But Q ain't hatin' ... telling TMZ Sports he just wants Lonzo to be great on the court.

FYI, dude's a huge Lakers fan, but beefs hard with the Dodgers -- straight-up TRASHING the National League champs for chokin' away the World Series.

Gilbert Arenas is tired of all the haters saying Jahlil Okafor sucks 'cause the 76ers are trying to cut bait ... telling TMZ Sports the big man's just stuck behind a superstar in Philly.

"He’s not a bust – there’s just a better player in front of him," Gil said, giving props to Joel Embiid. "He’s not a (Hasheem) Thabeet, he’s not a (Michael) Olowokandi – he’s better than those guys."

Basically, give Jah a change of scenery, and the former #3 overall pick can ball out.

Arenas also brought up the Lakers -- saying they have the reverse situation with former #2 pick Brandon Ingram (the starter) and rookie Kyle Kuzma (who's playing behind him).

Classic good news/bad news situation for Lonzo Ball ... good news is that one of the greatest producers in hip-hop history says he's totally down to work with Ball.

Bad news is that this guy ... DJ Quik ... says he'll only do so if Ball can really rap, saying he hasn't heard Lonzo's rhymes yet, and isn't sure about his skills.

You gotta remember, Quik has worked with Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and every other rap legend around, so impressing him might not be easy.

There's a brand new trick shot challenge -- ya gotta hit 2 tough shots in a row -- and Drake not only pulled it off ... he's challenging two huge NBA stars to follow suit.

It's called the #OneAndDoneChallenge -- first, ya gotta hit a QB style overhand 3-pointer ... then immediately sink a half court shot FROM YOUR BACK (with no video edits)!

Drake got the challenge from the guy who invented it -- rapper/skills guru Dribble2Much -- and hit both shots like a champ.

Now, we're told he's calling out Raptors stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry -- who better put some NBA-style flair into their videos!!!

NASTY FOOT ALERT!

Turns out, Shaq's not the only NBA star with jacked up feet ... right, Reggie Jackson?!

The Detroit Pistons star put his busted up feet on display in the team locker room -- and Andre Drummond was so impressed, he pulled out his phone and shot footage!

Drummond praises Jackson's dogs as "the feet of a hardworking man."

He's right ... but still, gross.

Not as bad as Shaq's disgusting feet ... seen here for your viewing displeasure.

Happy Halloween!

Metta World Peace just casually dropped some BIG basketball news ... telling TMZ Sports he's gonna suit up for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 league next season!!

Metta -- who's already part of Master P's Global Mixed Gender League -- says he's gonna play for BOTH organizations ... on top of being a player developmental coach for the Lakers' G-League affiliate.

It's awesome news for BIG3 fans ... as the rest of next season's new players have yet to be revealed.

Hornets baller Frank Kaminsky got waaay into the Halloween spirit on Thursday -- owning his "Dark Knight" character for the kids at Hemby Children's Hospital in Charlotte.

The young patients kicked it with other members of the NBA Justice League, too -- Malik Monk as The Flash, Cody Zeller as Superman and Dwayne Bacon as Green Lantern -- but Frank "The Tank" stole the show with his epic Christian Bale impression.

The kids got candy. Kaminsky and his boys got to be kids again.

Justice was served in Buzz City.

Lamar Odom hit up an L.A. strip club Tuesday night -- where he threw money and danced around the place until 2 AM ... which begs the question -- is this a terrible idea for him?!

Odom has been super candid about how drugs, partying and sex all played a huge role in the 2015 drug overdose at a Nevada brothel that nearly killed him.

So, when we saw this video of Odom partying at Crazy Girls ... it made us wonder if a strip club is really the best place for him to be hanging out these days.