Basketball

Here's LiAngelo Ball putting on a dunk show ... something we know he can do ... but it's where he's doing it that's interesting -- 'cause the kid is throwing down at the Lakers practice facility.

'Gelo is working hard to get into the NBA ... and told TMZ Sports he had interest from teams when we got him and his dad, LaVar, out at LAX last week.

So, when it comes to the new footage of 'Gelo at the Lakers gym, we're wondering ... did 'Gelo slide in with his big bro, Lonzo, or is the team taking a real look at the middle Ball brother, making LaVar's dream of a Ball-filled Lakers roster closer to being a reality?

So, the Golden State Warriors celebrated their Western Conf. Championship Monday night by bumping Usher on the team jet.

Funny, since Usher happens to be a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavs ... and it's almost like Nick Young and company were trying to send a friendly message -- "We're coming!"

While passing around the trophy, Swaggy P took over music duties -- and busted out Usher's greatest slow jams hits ... from "Nice & Slow" to "U Remind Me" and even "Burn."

Most of the players were diggin' it -- singing along and even dancing.

Serge Ibaka has a plan to stop the yearly butt kicking his Toronto Raptors get from the Cavs -- don't worry about LeBron, worry about ourselves.

For the last 3 years straight, Bron's Cavs have bounced the Raptors from the playoffs -- the last 2 years were a clean 4-0 sweep.

So, when we saw Serge at LAX, we asked what he plans to do to stop the LeBron domination.

"It's not about LeBron, it's about us," Ibaka said ... "We have to learn from this playoffs and work hard this summer and get ready."

That said, Ibaka tells us James is nothing short of "amazing" -- and said the 33-year-old legend isn't just an inspiration to future NBA stars ... but to current ones as well.

It isn't Shaq. It ain't Larry Bird. And it isn't Kobe ... but Lamar Odom DOES have a final member in mind for his NBA dream team's starting five.

The first four are obvious: "Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, LeBron," he told TMZ Sports outside of Blind Dragon this week.

But the fifth member? Odom -- who was leaving a launch party for Humbly cryptocurrency in L.A. -- has someone off the wall for that spot.

LeBron James is making his already incredible home even more fit for a king ... 'cause the NBA superstar is adding some crazy renovations to his new Brentwood mansion, TMZ Sports has learned.

ICYMI -- LBJ bought the 15,846 square foot house back in December for $23 mil ... and it came with a theater room, wine cellar, cigar room with air purifying technology and an onyx bar.

But, King James is takin' it even further ... our sources tell us he's adding a basketball court, indoor wine tap (dude LOVES his wine), and is working on the paperwork to get a pizza oven ... while also making changes to the theater and pool.

Remember ... this is LBJ's 2nd Brentwood mansion. After all, he spends his offseasons in L.A. working on his entertainment career (and might be here year-round next season, right Laker fans?).

LiAngelo Ball believes his NBA hopes and dreams are alive and well ... telling TMZ Sports there are definitely NBA teams interested in retaining his services.

'Gelo just killed a private combine at the IMG academy down in Florida ... turning in a 37-inch vertical leap, and draining 3's with ease.

Question is, was it enough to make NBA teams think about taking a flier on the middle Ball brother?

We asked LiAngelo if the workouts had drawn any interest from NBA teams when we saw him out at LAX with LaVar, and his answer was simple.

"Yeah, of course."

There were reports that both the Lakers and the Warriors have agreed to workouts with 'Gelo ... but the Warriors refuted those claims soon after they were made public.

That's cool by LaVar, because he told our guy he'd rather 'Gelo play for a California team a little further south.

The Milwaukee Bucks are blasting the Milwaukee Police Dept. over the "shameful and inexcusable" way cops abused Sterling Brown ... and they're demanding accountability.

"The abuse and intimidation that Sterling experienced at the hands of Milwaukee Police was shameful and inexcusable."

"Sterling has our full support as he shares his story and takes action to provide accountability."

The team continued ... "Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated case. It shouldn’t require an incident involving a professional athlete to draw attention to the fact that vulnerable people in our communities have experienced similar, and even worse, treatment."

"Racial biases and abuses of power must not be ignored. There needs to be more accountability."

"Get Out" star Lil Rel Howery is a Boston Celtics fan ... but he says there's a silver lining to the team losing a couple games, and he's telling TMZ Sports his glass-half-empty theory.

If you're asking why Lil Rel is a Celtics fan in the first place, he says it's because he developed a kinship with Kyrie Irving while the two men were shooting Irving's upcoming "Uncle Drew" movie.

Rel says it's that friendship that makes it kinda okay ... hell, he almost even likes it ... that the C's seem to be struggling to beat LeBron with no go-to NBA superstar.

"I've been watching all these stories about how the team is better without Kyrie and all this dumb sh*t and I was like, ah, no, this is superstar time."

"So, I'm just saying like, Kyrie, that's his team, man. So, don't ever question that sh*t again. It's his f*cking team. He's a superstar. They need to win with him."

Lakers rookie star Kyle Kuzma says he's honored NBA coaches voted him to the NBA All-Rookie 1st Team ... but tells us he wasn't surprised.

"I thought I was gonna get it all year, really," Kuzma told TMZ Sports at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.

"It's definitely a good honor."

The twist ... his teammate, Lonzo Ball (the 2nd pick in the draft), only made the All-Rookie 2nd Team -- so, we had to ask Kyle if that would have an impact on their friendship.

"Not at all," Kuzma says ... "That's my brother."

Bradley Beal's a VERY lucky man ... and the proof is in gorgeous baby mama Kamiah Adams' totally nude pregnancy photoshoot.

The Washington Wizards baller and former 'Love & Hip Hop' star have been dating for over a year now ... and announced earlier this month they were expecting a little bundle of joy together.

Adams is 8 months preggo ... and revealed they're having a baby boy!!

K.A. posted several pics in her birthday suit for the big announcement ... and sent a message to their future son -- "Mommy & Daddy can’t wait to hold you. We already love you more than you can imagine!"

Bradley added a message of his own, saying "@kamiahadams and I promise to love you, protect you, teach you, support you, respect you, and be the best parents we can possibly be!"

Congrats!!

Ex-NBA star Glen "Big Baby" Davis was arrested Friday for felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the ex-NBA star was being investigated for allegedly getting violent with a man outside of a West Hollywood nightclub back in April.

Sources told us ... 32-year-old Davis was accused of almost hitting a man with his car and, when the man confronted Davis, he allegedly picked him up and slammed him on the concrete.

We're told the alleged victim was hospitalized for severe injuries including facial fractures, a broken tooth and broken ribs.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... Davis surrendered on Friday with his attorney and a bail bondsman. He was booked and released on $50k bail.

Kobe Bryant is finally revealing his initial reaction to Kanye West's slavery comments on "TMZ Live" -- and it's the same feeling mostly everyone else had ... "What the hell are you talking about?!"

The Mamba was speaking with L.A. high school students at We Rise LA when 14-year-old Kaya -- a BSO junior reporter -- wanted to know what Kobe made of Kanye's "slavery is a choice" argument.

"Completely disagree," Kobe explained.

"The thing about our country is that you have the right to say whatever it is that you want to say ... that's the beautiful part about living in a democracy."

He added, "Conversely, you also have to take the responses that come after that as well because everybody has the freedom to say what it is that they feel."

"For him, he's one of these entertainers that's always in a constant state of growth ... he's always challenging not us as people but really himself. He's doing a lot of questioning internally himself."

"I just take it for what it is and completely disagree."

Who was one of the key people who helped get 'NSYNC off the ground??

IT'S GOTTA BE SHAQ!!

It's true ... according to Lance Bass who tells TMZ Sports the supergroup owes a lot of its early success to the NBA legend.

"I mean ... a lot of people don't know Shaquille had a big hand in starting our career," Lance said at the Montage Hotel in Bev Hills.

We only brought up Shaq because Google search is showing Shaq as the 5th member of the group -- replacing Joey Fatone.

It's obviously a glitch ... but Lance says Shaq's connection to the band is 100% real.

"We lived in Orlando and our first place that we recorded was his house ... so all of our first demos, our first songs were all from Shaq's house!"

It's true ... Shaq has a recording studio in his massive Orlando estate -- which is now on the market for $28 MILLION -- and Lance says O'Neal let the group record because he knew someone at the label.

One thing led to another ... and 'NSYNC became a global phenomenon.

Now, Lance says he'd love for Shaq to join the group in real life ... as soon as they get rid of that one member "we probably need to replace."

Even Black Mamba enjoys a little white snake.

Kobe Bryant brought his entire family to the Taylor Swift concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena over the weekend ... even busting out some dance moves to "Shake It Off."

Kobe and Taylor have been friends for a little while ... remember, it was Kobe who played M.C. when she got a banner at Staples Center back in 2015 for "Most Sold Out Performances."

This time, Bryant didn't have any official duties -- but he did get V.I.P. access for his daughters to hang with Taylor backstage ... where his wife, Vanessa, also kicked it with Julia Roberts!

Retirement ain't so bad, is it, Kobe?

There were a TON of famous people at the show including Rebel Wilson, Miles Teller, Bill Nye, Sarah Michelle Gellar ... and get this -- Amber Rose and her ex, Wiz Khalifa, arrived together with their kid!

If Dwyane Wade wants to be a big Hollywood actor, Chris Bosh is ready to buy a ticket ... telling TMZ Sports his friend has the looks and physique to be a real star actor!!!

"He's buff and a good-looking dude," Bosh said about his old Miami Heat teammate ... "He can do what he wants!"

Remember, just a few days ago Wade told us he wants to costar in "something romantic" with his movie star wife, Gabrielle Union, who's been in roughly 40 movies herself!

So, when we saw Bosh leaving Il Pastaio in Bev Hills (after taking pics with fans) ... we had to ask what he thought of his good friend's new career goals.

Shannon Sharpe wanted to rub Skip Bayless' nose in LeBron James' greatness Monday morning -- so, he put on the goat head, ditched his sleeves ... and even busted out a Black & Mild!

... and it was HILARIOUS (and weird).

Sharpe LOVES Bron -- Skip's a lifelong doubter -- so ... after James brought the Cavs back to life with a dominating 30-point win on Saturday, the ex-NFL star was hyped about it on FS1's 'Undisputed.'