Basketball

Charlotte Hornets rookie Malik Monk -- the 11th overall pick in the draft -- was involved in a car accident early Sunday morning ... and was cited by cops for careless driving.

According to police documents obtained by TMZ Sports, Monk was driving near the University of Arkansas around 5:46 AM when his red 2002 Lexus ran off the road and crashed into a gate.

University police responded and cited the 20-year-old for careless driving and no proof of insurance.

The car was pretty jacked up and was towed to a nearby impound lot. Monk was allowed to retrieve his personal items which included money, basketballs, shoes and jerseys.

Monk told police, "I was driving, looked down for a second then I just hit a bump. Happened fast."

No word if he was injured in the wreck. The Hornets don't play until Thursday.

Talk about a power dinner ...

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union met up with Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart at one of the fanciest restaurants in Beverly Hills ... and TMZ Sports has the video!

Of course, they were all in town for the NBA All-Star Game -- but when we asked why they all met for dinner, D-Wade joked, "Black History Month!"

Clearly, they're all good friends -- and joked around together after chowing down at Mastro's Steakhouse.

At one point, Kevin told Dwyane that he didn't have his cell phone number anymore -- and Wade joked back, "I got traded and I changed my number!"

They weren't the only superstars in the building last night -- Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Usher were also inside!

Dikembe Mutombo says LeBron James shouldn't "shut up and dribble" -- he should continue to take a stand to defeat social injustice ... and he's not the only one, we all should.

Mutombo is reacting to the recent comments by FOX News host Laura Ingraham -- who said she doesn't care to get political advice from "someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball."

The comments sparked a nationwide debate on whether athletes should use their platforms to speak on these issues -- and Mutombo says the answer is a resounding YES.

"I think everyone in the U.S. has rights to express themselves. When there's a problem affecting one part of the society, it becomes the responsibility of everybody."

We then asked if LeBron should continue to weigh in on polical topics -- and Dikembe told us it should be a team effort.

Fergie has finally broken her silence on last night's botched NBA All-Star Game's National Anthem ... saying she was trying to take a risk, and it clearly didn't pay off.

The singer tells us, "I've always been honored and proud to perform the national anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA. I'm a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn't strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best."

Fergie took a lot of heat after her slowed-down/jazzy take on "The Star-Spangled Banner" Sunday night ... and it appeared she had a lot of celebs and athletes in attendance cracking up, too.

At least one person had her back though ...

Captain LeBron won MVP at the All-Star game ... but his offspring were the ones rockin' garments fit for a King.

LeBron snapped a pic with his 3 kids after downing Team Steph -- and they were all fitted in super expensive gear from Gucci, one of his favorite designer brands.

The lineup ...

13-year-old Bronny: $1,100 Gucci logo sweater

10-year-old Bryce: $1,390 Gucci teddy bear sweater

3-year-old: Zhuri: $410 Gucci princetown slipper-shoes and $365 Gucci tiger hoodie

That's right -- a toddler was wearing more expensive clothes than you yesterday.

FYI, papa James' footwear of choice was his brand new Chapter 2 Kith x Nike LeBron 15 "Long Live the King" joints -- which retail for $285.

Beyonce showed Blue Ivy how it's done in the selfie department during the NBA All-Star Game, but to be honest doesn't look like the kid needs any advice.

Mother and daughter sat courtside Sunday evening at Staples Center along with grandma Tina Knowles, and her hubby, Richard Lawson. Looks like Jay-Z stayed home with the twins.

Even without Jay, there was no shortage of celebs -- like Dave Chappelle, Common, Cardi B, Jack Nicholson and many more ... packed the arena.

As for Blue, who's only 6, it's not her first rodeo. The kid had front row seats to last year's All-Star Game in New Orleans. Stole the show there, too.

Jeremy Lin is going to bat for J.J. Redick after he was caught on video using a Chinese slur ... saying he's 100% convinced J.J. didn't say mean to use the anti-Asian C-word in a hateful way.

Redick dropped the slur in a commercial for NBA China that was released over the weekend -- clearly saying, "I wish all of the NBA ch**k fans of China a very happy Chinese New Year."

The whole thing was puzzling -- leaving many wondering why the hell J.J. would use that word in that context.

But Jeremy -- the NBA's first full Chinese/Taiwanese-American player -- says he spoke at length with J.J. over the phone, and "I truly believe he didn’t say a racial slur and that he has a great deal of respect towards Chinese people."

Lin acknowledges the word should NEVER be used, but says all the "hateful language" J.J.'s getting from fans needs to stop since it was an accident.

Redick released a lengthy apology on social media Sunday night, saying -- "I ask your forgiveness ... I am so sorry for upsetting anyone."

"I was intending to say 'NBA Chinese fans' but it sounded weird in my mind so I changed it mid-sentence to 'NBA fans in China.' It came out the wrong way."

"That is not a word in my vocabulary but I now understand how it sounds on the video."

It ain't ALL hate for Fergie after that bizarre national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game -- with Mariah Carey dishing out some advice on how to deal with the negativity.

A glammed up Mariah was leaving Sweet Chick on Fairfax Sunday evening -- when she gave Fergie one very simple tip.

By the way, Mariah has some experience in this department ... the haters came out in force for her New Year's Eve performance a while back -- but it didn't seem to faze her.

Aside from Mariah, Takeoff from Migos and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns also had Fergie's back.

Not everyone has been so supportive ... "Saturday Night Live" star Leslie Jones hated it -- and judging by Draymond Green's face, he wasn't a fan either.

Still haven't heard from Fergie yet -- but we'd LOVE to hear her thoughts on it.

Stay tuned ...

Lamar Odom's battle with drugs, alcohol and depression almost cost him everything -- so he's telling Johnny Manziel the #1 thing he's gotta do to avoid the same traps.

"Put higher power first," Odom told TMZ Sports, "Whoever his God may be."

Lamar, of course, was in a coma for days after OD'ing at a brothel in Nevada ... but he continues to party hard despite his brush with death.

Johnny, meanwhile, says he's got his life back on track ... after years of hitting the bottle while he struggled with bipolar disorder.

Lamar doesn't want him to go through that pain again -- telling us he's a big-time Johnny Football fan ... and that he truly believes JM can make an NFL comeback.

The Internet sensation who ended a young man's basketball career with a devastating move this week says she's looking for her next victim -- and the guy might just be Harlem Globetrotter Mani Love.

We spoke with Jazmine, the woman who went viral this week after a ridiculous, sensational, almost sinister move destroyed a guy at her local gym, and she wants to embarrass more men.

"Some guys they don't know and they don't play up on me and I'm like, play defense, 'cause I want the credit, so when I cross you, you can't even say I wasn't playing defense on you."

It's not just regular guys who can get it from Jazmine -- the Internet fame has brought celebrities into her DMs, including one Harlem Globetrotter with a basketball death wish.

"You know Mani Love? Me and him are playing in the summer. We have a bet."

Team LeBron or Team Steph??

It doesn't matter -- the REAL winners of All-Star Weekend are the super hot wives and girlfriends flocking to town for all the festivities ... as if L.A. needed any more beautiful women.

We all know about Bron Bron's lovely wife, Savannah, and Curry's better half, Ayesha ... but don't forget about newcomers like Karl-Anthony Towns' GF, Kawahine Andrade, and Bradley Beal's smokin' lady friend, Kamiah Adams.

Kangaroo loving Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum is letting USA Basketball know ... the future of International basketball could be down under, 'cause the Australians are up next.

The Aussies have some hoopers -- including Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and more -- so when we got Exum in L.A., we asked if the Star & Stripes should be worried.

Exum clearly thinks so, telling our guy Australia should've done better in the last Olympics, and absolutely WILL do better in the next games, promising an appearance in the Gold medal game.

Bobby Brown says he knows exactly who should star in the LeBron James "House Party" reboot ... and his ideas are ... how should we put it ... unconventional.

If you don't remember, "House Party" was about two teenagers and the hijinks that ensued when one threw a party that the other's father forbid him to go to. He went anyway, and thus there were hijinks.

We got Brown outside of Madeo, and asked his thoughts on who could pull it off in this new era -- and he named two huge stars that are, shall we say ... older.

Jamie Foxx was NOT having it when he was asked about Katie Holmes on ESPN -- and straight-up walked away from the camera during the live interview.

Foxx was on "SportsCenter" talking with Michael Smith -- and everything was cool when they were talking about the All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star weekend in L.A.

But when Smith asked if Foxx prepared for the game by hoopin' around with Katie Holmes -- Foxx took off his headset and walked away ... refusing to even acknowledge the question.

Foxx and Holmes have been VERY private about their relationship -- refusing to "go public" despite the fact everyone seems to know they're together.

Scottie Pippen ain't playin' in the All-Star Game this weekend, but he already scored ... a freakin' awesome $30,000 luxury Swiss watch -- at a celeb packed party last night.

Haute Living and Larsa Pippen threw Scottie a party at Bungalow 1 at Chateau Marmont in L.A. to celebrate his Hall of Fame career.

Scottie -- along with guests like Kourtney Kardashian, Ludacris, Omarion and L.A. Reid -- ate (steak and salmon) and drank super expensive Louis XIII cognac.

Best part of the night (at least for Pip) ... when HL presented him with a Roger Dubuis Titanium Excalibur 45 timepiece -- a watch they tell us goes for $30k.

Now Scottie's got a watch to go with those 6 rings.

Lonzo Ball tells TMZ Sports there's no animosity whatsoever with new Lakers teammate Isaiah Thomas -- despite the fact they might be competing for the same job.

Lonzo -- who was at a Big Baller Brand pop-up shop in L.A. -- is sidelined right now with a sprained MCL and Thomas is playing the point guard spot while he's out.

Thomas' agent has made it clear Isaiah is demanding a starting role -- meaning he won't surrender the job to Lonzo without a fight.