Basketball

Rip Hamilton spent 9 years ballin' out in Detroit -- so what's his advice for the newest Pistons star Blake Griffin?

Bundle up.

The ex-NBA star was kinda laughing at the fact that Griffin went from sunny California to the frozen tundra of Detroit ... and said Blake's got no choice but to make it work 'cause he signed up for 5 seasons!

"Make sure he get a heavy coat out there 'cause trust me, it gets cold!"

Dwyane Wade personally greeted the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday as they returned to the school for the first full day of classes since the shooting.

Wade posed for photos and hung out with the kids as they tried to resume their education. It's the first time the school has had a full day of classes since the Valentine's Day shooting.

Wade also gave a speech and told the kids he's proud to live in Florida and praised them for the strength they've shown after the incident.

"I just wanted to come here today, hopefully for a moment, for a second ... bring a little excitement, bring a little joy," Wade says.

"What you guys have been going through, and I was hearing you guys have been amazing from afar, and I just wanted to come and say I'm inspired by all of you."

Wade tweeted about the visit, saying "I just had a great conversation with some of the students at Stoneman Douglas High School about some important/impactful things that they have planned."

"I’m looking forward to being more involved in the change that they WILL create."

Kobe Bryant's Oscar win has gotten mixed reviews amid the #MeToo movement, but Matt Barnes is 100% behind his ex-NBA rival -- giving Bryant mad props for paving the way for sports stars.

"I think it's dope. He's breaking down barriers, still being great," Barnes told TMZ Sports out at Poppy in Hollywood.

Want proof? Matt says things are really coming together for a Huey Newton/Black Panthers biopic he's producing ... and he can't wait to tell "the whole truth" behind the real BP (sorry, Marvel).

Remember Mustafa Shakur?

He was a BEAST at the University of Arizona back in the day -- and now he's going to bat for hoops coach Sean Miller ... telling people to STOP assuming he's guilty of paying recruits!

"I think we have to go by innocent until proven guilty," Shakur says ... "can't assume anything!"

Miller has adamantly denied discussing plans to pay $100,000 to Deandre Ayton -- despite an ESPN report that the conversation was captured on an FBI wiretap.

Shakur not only praises the university for sticking by Miller -- but also says the scandal could actually MOTIVATE the team to kill it in the NCAA tourney.

We'll see ... in the meantime, check out this Shakur highlight.

DeAndre Jordan says the NCAA should absolutely pay its players ... and if they do, a crappy salary won't cut it.

We got DJ out at Poppy over the weekend, and the Clippers All-Star didn't shy away from our question about pay for play ... joining guys like Carmelo Anthony and Lonzo Ball who've called for change in college hoops.

As for how much they should rake ... DeAndre didn't go full LaVar, but he did call for them to earn more than millions of Americans do every year.

If you've ever wondered what happened to Billy Hoyle from "White Men Can't Jump," we've got the video for you -- Woody Harrelson showing he's still got the moves by training a new hoops generation.

Woody was on set filming his new movie, "The Highwaymen," when he took some time out to teach his youngest daughter, Makani, the same tactics he used to dominate Wesley Snipes (face it, he did).

Looks like Woody's teaching her how to finish high in the lane without killing her dribble, and demonstrating it from multiple angles on the court ... and he seems like he's still got it.

It was announced last year that 'WMCJ' was set for a reboot starring Blake Griffin ... but after seeing this, maybe it's time to scrap the reboot, and give Woody & Wesley a sequel.

NBA star DeMar DeRozan doesn't want people struggling with depression to feel alone -- telling TMZ Sports that's why he opened up about his own issues during All-Star Weekend.

"We all go through stuff," DeRozan told us in D.C. ... "You can't name nobody that don't go through something."

The Toronto Raptors All-Star first revealed his struggle on Feb. 17 -- when he tweeted out, "This depression get the best of me."

He later opened up about his mental health situation with the Toronto Star saying, "It’s not nothing I’m against or ashamed of. Now, at my age, I understand how many people go through it."

James Harden's crossover broke the internet -- and Wesley Johnson's ankles -- Wednesday night ... but one of the best ball handlers on the planet says he's seen way better!!

We got AND1 legend "The Professor" -- real name Grayson Boucher -- the morning after Harden's dirty cross/stare down combo vs. the Clippers ... and he told TMZ Sports why he thinks it should NOT go down with the all-time greats.

Don't get it twisted -- Professor says the Beard's shake was "one of the best of the season, for sure" ... but to get an A+ in his class, you gotta drop fools with Allen Iverson-level sauce.

Speaking of A.I., Grayson told us whether or not Iverson's his pick for GOAT NBA crossover artist ... and who he feels is the best in the game today (and trust us -- it's a shocker).

University of Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller just came out swinging against allegations he tried to pay a top recruit $100,000 to play for him ... saying, "I have done nothing wrong."

Miller appeared at a news conference Thursday to address reports that FBI wiretaps show he discussed making a $100,000 payment to lock up high school phenom Deandre Ayton.

"I have never paid a recruit to come to Arizona," Miller said ... who adds he also never DISCUSSED paying a recruit.

In short, Miller says the allegations are inaccurate, false and defamatory.

"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach at this great program."

Miller says he was approached with the suggestion of paying a recruit at one point during his career at U of A ... but he did NOT agree to pay the recruit and that player did not end up at the school.

The only thing Donald Trump should be giving teachers is more school supplies -- so says John Salley, who tells TMZ Sports he ain't down with POTUS' idea to have educators packin' heat in the classroom.

We got Salley at an event at NeueHouse in Hollywood ... and the 4-time NBA champ told us only people trained to protect should carry guns, and no one else.

As for Trump's classroom cop proposition -- "I think teachers should carry books and pencils and pads. You know what, they've been lacking those."

Let's stop pretending D-1 college basketball players are just student athletes -- they're PROS who deserve to get paid already ... so says Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin.

Bevin just WENT OFF about the current state of college basketball -- slamming the way the NCAA treats players ... and explaining why the concept of amateurism in top-tier college sports is a lie.

"It's a multi-BILLION industry in America, college athletics ... and yet we're pretending these kids are just student athletes? Come on."

That said ... Bevin is a huge fan of college basketball and sports in general -- he just wants the players to be treated fairly.

"I firmly believe that for top-tier D-1 programs, these kids should get paid. They're professional athletes, for us to pretend otherwise is ridiculous."

He also referred to the top-tier programs as the "minor leagues of professional sports."

Charles Barkley says college basketball is still GREAT because it helps black kids get a free college education -- and he dismisses the NCAA recruiting scandals as a few bad apples.

"The NCAA has some issues," Barkley told Adam Glyn in NYC ... "but what about all those kids who got to go to college for free?!"

"There's a few guys who are corrupt, I understand that. But, I always look at the big picture."

"I want all them young black kids getting their free education!"

The NCAA has been under fire recently after several high-profile players and programs were allegedly involved in schemes to pay players ... sometimes the payments reached 6 figures.

As for how Barkley would fix the system -- he says it's not as simple as just saying, "Pay the athletes."

"I don't know how to pay 'em. Who do you pay? Do you pay the basketball team? You pay the football team? You pay the girls teams? It's not that simple."

Shaquille O'Neal and his family were so excited for Shareef to commit to UCLA last night -- they made a victory family dance video!!!

We told you first ... Shareeef was leaning toward signing with the Bruins after decommitting from the University of Arizona following a recruiting scandal involving the head coach.

Well, Tuesday night, Reef -- one of the best high school hoops players in the country -- made it official ... and his mother Shaunie couldn't be happier (he'll be close to home!).

Then ... the family dance party broke out.

Shaq also posted a message about his son's decision -- "My baby @shareefoneal decided he’s gonna be a Bruin."

"Me and your mom @shaunieoneal5 are proud of you dude. This is the first of many steps to fulfill your dreams. #prouddad."

Dwyane Wade paid respect to the 17-year-old Miami Heat superfan killed in the Parkland school shooting by writing the kid's name on his shoes. Then he hit the game-winning shot.

Wade decided to honor Joaquin Oliver -- one of the 17 people killed in the attack -- when he learned Oliver was buried Sunday in Dwyane's #3 Miami Heat jersey.

Clearly, Wade felt inspired -- dropping 15 of the Heat's final 17 points -- including the game-winner -- to seal the 102-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wade also honored his former agent Henry Thomas -- by inscribing his name on his other shoe.

After the game, Wade talked about why he chose to honor Thomas and Oliver.

"Appreciate you noticing that," Wade told reporters.

"It's just giving whatever I can to people who believe in me, and especially people who were happy about me coming back here ... who embrace me the way that I only can dream of with me coming back home."

"So just paying some due respect to [Oliver] and his family tonight."

Here's a reason to 8-clap ... Shareef O'Neal is "leaning toward signing with UCLA" after pulling his commitment to the University of Arizona ... sources tell TMZ Sports.

O'Neal -- the high school superstar son of Shaquille O'Neal -- decommitted from Arizona over the weekend after reports surfaced that Arizona coach Sean Miller was caught on an FBI wiretap discussing making a $100,000 payment to a huge recruit.

Shareef is one of the best high school players in the country -- and the move made top programs around the country salivate at the mouth hoping to score a top prospect who has absolutely NO REASON to be involved in a pay-for-play scandal (his family's got way too much money for that).

Multiple sources connected to O'Neal tell us he's been considering a couple different schools -- mostly Pac-12 programs -- but right now, UCLA is in the lead.

The NBA's 1-and-done rule is "complicated" and objectionable" and has got to go ... so says ESPN star Michael Wilbon -- but he definitely stopped short of calling it "racist."

We got the "Pardon The Interruption" host leaving Craig's in L.A. -- and asked him about Stan Van Gundy's recent comments about the league's 1-year collegiate mandate being racist ... since most athletes it's holding back are black.

"The '1-and-done' is complicated and it's not good and its gonna go away," Wilbon said ... "I don't know if it's racist or not, but it's objectionable."

The complication? Wilbon points out that such a high percentage of college and pro basketball players are black ... suggesting people arguing against the rule might be able to twist the numbers to make their argument.