Basketball

Shareef O'Neal knows it's hard following in his NBA superstar dad's footsteps ... but says Bronny James is thriving under that same spotlight ... sharing a touching message to LeBron's oldest son.

ICYMI -- LBJ recently revealed he regrets naming Bronny after himself because of all the pressure that comes with it ... admitting it was an overreaction to not having his own father growing up.

Shaq's son reflected on Bronny's journey so far on Thursday ... praising Bronny for dealing with the heat like a pro at just 13 years old.

"Bronny ... One kid I can relate to a lot ... we both kind of have it the same way , being the son of an NBA legend isn’t easy and to get all of this at a young age is a real challenge to adjust to."

"Bronny has it a little bit worse than I do, but the difference between him and I, he can back his up at such a young age."

Shareef says he struggled with the hate when he was Bronny's age ... admitting he'd sometimes choke when getting heckled. But, he makes it clear the Lakers superstar's son seems poised enough to tune out the negativity.

One of the NBA's greatest playboys has weighed in ... and sorry, Jimmy Garoppolo -- Chandler Parsons says dating a porn star is a line he wouldn't cross.

"You know what, I respect their hustle," Chandler tells TMZ Sports ... "But, I don't know if I could ever be in a relationship with one."

Chandler's shacked up with celebs (Bella Thorne), models (Toni Garrn) and even hot chicks that have been in Playboy (Arianny Celeste) ... but, he tells us public restaurant dates with porn stars are just something he can't do.

Not that it matters now -- Parsons says his run as the Association's top stud is over ... 'cause he's happy with his smokin' hot model GF, Cassie Amato.

Are wedding bells in their future?? Parsons wouldn't say yes ... but he didn't exactly give a hard no either!

WNBA star Diamond DeShields took an immediate L courtesy of her teammate after getting a huge win Wednesday ... and the video of it is hilarious.

After the Chicago Sky beat the Phoenix Mercury, 101-87, DeShields earned the postgame interview attention as the star of the day ... and then Gabby Williams struck.

The reporter asks how big of a win it was ... and while Diamond's giving her answer -- Williams yells, "Hey, is your rash okay?!"

Diamond -- clearly embarrassed -- tries to laugh it off, turns to the camera and says, "Jokes! Jokes!"

We know one person who's certainly hoping Gabby was kidding -- Diamond's BF, Saints star Alvin Kamara!!

Seems like it's all fake though ... so no rash lotion necessary.

Isaiah Thomas tells TMZ Sports ... he's fired up to show the NBA he's healed up and back to the superstar he was -- and wants to prove in 2018 that he's worthy of a max contract.

Remember, the 2-time All-Star just signed a veteran's minimum, 1-year, $2 million contract with the Denver Nuggets ... and when we saw him at LAX, he explained why he took the deal.

"The goal is just to show that I'm healthy and I'm the same player I was before," Thomas said ... "I just need one year."

The 29-year-old has been battling hip problems since the 2017 playoffs -- but underwent surgery back in March and recently said he's feeling better than ever.

But, this 2018-19 season isn't all about him ... IT says he's ready to take his squad to new heights.

"We'll make the playoffs ... and then we'll go from there."

Thomas also had some comments about his old team, the Boston Celtics -- which traded him after a remarkable playoff run in 2017.

Sorry, Iman, Bron and Lonzo ... Damian Lillard says he's better than ALL OF YOU when it comes to best ballin' rappers in the NBA!!

The Blazers superstar -- aka Dame D.O.L.L.A. behind the mic -- didn't mince words when we asked him at LAX ... telling TMZ Sports there's nobody with better bars in the Association.

But, does this mean he would stiff Andre Drummond on the epic NBA collab the Detroit Piston wants to do??

Lillard didn't throw shade at the other spitters, telling us, "I don't [rap] to compete with other basketball players. It's just like an artist. I'm an artist."

Either way, don't worry too much, Portland ... even if Dame D.O.L.L.A.'s rap career blows up -- he tells us hoops will always be his priority.

Is Dwight Howard a Hall of Famer?

It's the question experts and fans have been asking for years -- so, we took it to the man himself.

Look, Dwight's numbers over the course of his 14-year career are pretty insane ...

8-time NBA All-Star, 5-time NBA 1st Team, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year and he's averaged a double-double (17 pts, 13 rebounds) over the course of his career.

But, the knock on Dwight is that he's become a journeyman who's jumped to 6 different teams -- and has a reputation for not exactly being the most beloved guy in the league.

One guy who DOES love Dwight is Lou Williams -- who invited D12 to his basketball camp in Atlanta this week and Howard accepted. He spent a bunch of time playing with the kids.

So, we asked Dwight for his take -- and he didn't mince words ... "I think my resume speaks for itself."

DeMar DeRozan took Drake's "In My Feelings" challenge to a whole 'nother level last week ... going to the song's creator himself to figure out his feelings after the Raptors stunningly traded him.

The ex-Toronto superstar revealed one of the first people he confided in after the Raptors sent him packing to San Antonio was none other than the 6 God.

"The day it came out, I went to Drake's house," DeRozan told ESPN.

"Sat and talked for a couple hours, man. Not even on the hoops stuff, just my partner. Just to hear the words that come from him being the person that he is in this world, especially in Toronto. What I meant to the city -- it was what I needed."

Drake's one of the Raptors' biggest fans ... and he took the DeRozan news tough too -- writing on Instagram, "Thank you for being an incredible captain and an even better friend."

Of course ... Toronto did get Kawhi Leonard in the deal -- and he IS one of the best players in the NBA.

Sooo ... feelings might be down now, but something tells us Drake will come out of it fine.

They found love in an NBA place!!

OKC Thunder star Andre Roberson made his long-rumored relationship with the face of NBA 2K, Rachel DeMita, social media OFFISH this week ... and the two are adorable.

DeMita's been a meteor in the sports world, rising to national fame with her appearances on the Association's top video game and at Celebrity All-Star Games (she's a hooper too!).

She's picked up over a million followers on social media ... and Dre was clearly one of the biggest fans.

The two got all kinds of cozy over the last few months, including at a wedding overseas last week ... which appears to have prompted the long-awaited Insta move.

Rachel clearly appreciated it, dropping a "My whole heart" line in Andre's comment section.

NBA superstars seem happy about it too ... Russell Westbrook posted some praising hands emojis -- and Kevin Durant even liked the post!

Only one thing left for the couple to divulge ... this had to be how the meeting between the two ballers went down, right???

Scary moment for Lamar Odom ... someone pulled a gun and fired multiple shots during an altercation with the NBA star ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... cops were called to a Hooters restaurant in Queens, NY in the early hours of July 20 after gunshots were fired.

We've learned ... witnesses told police Lamar and his group of friends were leaving the restaurant when they got into a verbal altercation with another group. Part of the argument was captured on surveillance.

One witness told cops a man from the other group pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots into the air -- nobody was hit. That group fled the scene, according to the witness.

Law enforcement sources tell us the NYPD is actively searching for the shooter. So far, no arrests have been made.

Odom is not accused of any wrongdoing -- and we're told he's been cooperating with police.

Lamar's attorney Saam Zangeneh tells us "Lamar did nothing wrong and was not arrested."

Sorry, Lakers fans ... L.A. is still Clip City, even with LeBron in the purple and gold -- so says Clippers guard Lou Williams.

We got the reigning Sixth Man of the Year out at his Lou Williams basketball camp in Atlanta when he told us the Clippers still run Los Angeles ... despite Magic Johnson's huge free agency haul.

"I mean, the Lakers ain't beat us since I've been on the Clippers," Williams tells TMZ Sports.

"So, record-wise, yeah, we are the better team in L.A. until they prove it."

Nothing's off limits when Jeff Ross goes head-to-head with Blake Griffin in a Roast Battle on Saturday ... including his former relationship with Kendall Jenner.

Here's the deal ... Blake challenged Ross on social media a few days ago. Ross accepted. Now, the joke prepping begins. So does the s**t talking.

"He gets injured easily," Ross said about the NBA star ... "Maybe it'll be an emotional injury this time."

Ross won't have a hard time finding material -- but, our photog gave him a head start.

Of course, Griffin's no amateur -- he's been doing stand-up comedy for a while and Ross thinks he's a genuinely funny guy.

"Blake, to his credit, has got a lot of guts challenging me to a Roast Battle ... I think he's gonna give me a good shot."

What's the only thing hotter than the stogie Michael Jordan lit up on his vacay in Italy this week?? HIS KICKS!!

His Airness was out in Positano on Monday -- coolin' it on boats and hangin' with his entourage -- rockin' a fresh pair of all white Js.

Our sneaker experts tell us they're some kind of Jordan lows ... without a swoosh and DEFINITELY not available for retail.

We're told the basketball GOAT really likes the kicks ... so Nike hooked him up with the one-of-a-kind pair.

This ain't the first time MJ has flossed super rare sneaks while on vacay -- 'cause back in December while in Barbados, he rocked special kicks we'd never seen before.

Here's Kevin Durant & Kyrie Irving showing that, while they play for different NBA teams, they're on the same squad when it comes to one thing ... HOT CHICKS.

Durant & Irving hit up Wet Republic in Vegas this past weekend, where Irving's girlfriend, Chantel Jeffries, was DJ'ing her first set at the legendary pool party.

KD was making the most of the occasion ... taking shots, and spending a lot of time talking and seeming to have fun with model Jocelyn Chew.

If you remember, Chew popped out of a cake at Joel Embiid's 24th bday back in March ... making some people think maybe the two were an item ... although it was never confirmed.

The next generation of the Big Baller Brand empire has arrived -- Lonzo Ball's girlfriend has given birth to a baby girl, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story back in February ... the 20-year-old Zo and his high school sweetheart, Denise Garcia, were expecting a baby baller of their own.

A family rep confirms Zoey Christina Ball was born on Sunday. We're told the baby girl is as happy and healthy as can be.

Lonzo and Denise started dating back when they were kids in Chino Hills.

Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, Victor Oladipo, Iman Shumpert and Andre Drummond -- a pretty good starting five on the hardwood, right?!

Well, Drummond says it's also a fivesome he's rollin' to the music studio with -- 'cause they all spit fire on the mic!!

Andre -- better known as Dre Drumm in the rap community -- has serious game when it comes to rhyme and flow ... so, we had to ask -- who's the best musician in the NBA??

Drummond wouldn't reveal an MVP -- but he did give us an all-star team.

"Between myself, Iman Shumpert, Dame Lillard, you know Kevin Durant raps ... Victor Oladipo is another artist that does music in the NBA too!"

Kenyon Martin Jr. is like a Magic Johnson Jr. when it comes to LeBron James Jr. -- putting on the full-court press to get him to commit to his insanely high-profile California high school.

Of course, Kenyon -- one of the top high school players in the country -- is going into his senior year at Sierra Canyon ... playing alongside Scottie Pippen's son and other NBA spawn.

The school's basketball program is crazy famous -- drawing super high-profile fans like Drake and Kanye West. Also, Marvin Bagley -- the #2 pick in the draft -- just graduated from SC.

As we previously reported, LeBron's son, Bronny -- widely considered the #1 rated 13-year-old hooper -- is seriously considering going to Sierra Cnayon ... but nothing's in stone yet.

But, Kenyon Jr. is hoping he can help steer Bronny in the right direction -- it's a pretty good sales pitch.

Obviously, they won't end up playing together -- Kenyon graduates in 2019 ... and he's already getting offers from top colleges including Georgetown, Memphis, Oklahoma, Oregon State and UCSB.