Basketball

Shaunie O'Neal says life at the ultra-exclusive Crossroads School in L.A. will be a breeze for LeBron James Jr. ... because her son Shareef O'Neal educated the institute on how to deal with a celebrity student.

Shareef transferred into Crossroads after his sophomore year in high school, and Shaunie thinks all the media coverage he got will help Bronny, who as the son of LeBron James will probably get more.

But, it's not just the media ... Shaquille's ex-wife thinks Bronny will also benefit from the fact that the school is now more equipped on how to get superstar offspring ready for college.

"When Baron was there the rules like NCAA rules were so drastically different then they are now, and it was fortunate but unfortunate that they were learning that process with Shareef ... They hadn't had a student athlete on that level since Baron."

BTW -- O'Neal's youngest son Shaqir is also currently at Crossroads, and at 15 he's already 6'3" according to Shaunie.

Gonna be a fun couple of years in Santa Monica (that's the rich-ass neighborhood the school is in).

The man who threatened to kill Adam Silver over an NBA roster spot just caught a huge break ... and he has the commish to thank for it.

27-year-old David Pyant was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment back in May after sending an email to Silver, saying "If you don't let me play, I'm going to come up there and kill you with my f*cking gun."

But, Pyant won't be serving any time for the threat, 'cause TMZ Sports has learned Silver simply did not want to move forward with the case ... and the charges were dropped.

It's a HUGE break for the guy ... he was facing up to a year in jail.

LaVar Ball's JBA league is now facing allegations from a former player that he got stiffed out of his full paycheck ... but, just last week, LaVar was adamant he's paying ALL of his guys.

Brandon Phillips -- who played for the L.A. Ballers this season -- claims he's only been paid roughly one-third of what he was promised ... and had to come out of pocket to pay for travel expenses.

Phillips told Cycle Media's Thomas Duffy that no one from the league has returned his calls regarding the 2 paychecks he never received.

But, we spoke with LaVar on August 10 -- and he didn't seem like a man with anything to hide.

In fact, he was bragging about how his league pays their players -- saying, "We ain't letting you play for free!"

If someone told you, "Your mom should have killed you when you came out of the womb" -- would you consider those "fighting words?"

Ex-NBA star Tom Chambers certainly did -- admitting he got physical with a trash-talking 22-year-old at an Arizona bar ... and now he's been charged with assault.

It all stems from an April 15 incident at Isabella's Kitchen in Scottsdale -- where Tom says he was innocently hanging out when another patron started insulting him.

Witnesses told police the other patron, Alexander Bergelt, began to take verbal jabs at Tom including, "You're not sh*t," "You're tall and scrawny" and "Look at your big head."

Tom told police the final straw came when Bergelt said, "Your mom should have killed you when you came out of the womb as ugly as you are, your arms are skinny, your chest is this. Your belly is big."

Tom admits he "absolutely put hands on [Alexander]" but never punched him. Tom says he was trying to get Alexander to "show respect."

Alexander told police a different story -- saying Chambers came at him from across the bar, grabbed him by the throat and threw him backwards.

Cops say Alexander had a mark on his neck and a bruise on his lip.

When cops arrived, Alexander told police all he wanted was an apology -- he didn't get it.

Cops investigated and decided to press charges against both parties -- Chambers was hit with assault and Alexander was charged with disorderly conduct.

Chambers was a 4-time NBA All-Star and famously had one of the greatest dunks in NBA history over Mark Jackson.

Ex-NBA player Al Harrington says Zion Williamson should do one thing if he wants to have a long career dominating on the NBA level ... and that's lose about 20 pounds.

Zion has the Internet going nuts right now ... with his crazy dunk videos (including a free throw line joint) from Duke practices going viral because of the sheer amazingness of his athleticism.

But, Williamson is physically MASSIVE ... with reports saying all that jumping ability is coming from a guy who weighs upwards of 280 pounds.

Harrington says that's fine for now, but if Zion wants his body to withstand the night-in, night-out grind that is the NBA, he might wanna shed a little.

"I think in order for him to have longevity in the league, he'd have to lose like 20 pounds maybe."

Harrington goes on to say that Zion should learn from guys like LeBron, who've had to slim down in order to add years to their careers.

Al knows what he's talking about, he was a beast for 16 years in the NBA ... but if you look at the video below, the kid looks alright. Like, DAMN.

Here's proof they DO make bikes big enough for Shaquille O'Neal!!

The NBA Hall of Famer felt the urge to go on a bike ride during his vacation in Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday ... so he ducked into a local shop and asked for the biggest 2-wheeler they got.

The shop delivered -- and Diesel was so happy, the 7'1" giant took the whip out for a quick cruise around the neighborhood ... while wearing some amazing floral-pattern shorts!

As we've previously reported ... Shaq loves his 2-wheelers, but usually has to get them customized to fit his gigantic body size.

Carmelo Anthony wants all the talk of him coming off the bench for the Houston Rockets to slooooow down ... with the NBA superstar telling TMZ Sports, "Let's just let it play out!"

FYI ... Melo is one of TWO NBA players to have never started a game on the bench in their first 1,000-plus career games -- joining Patrick Ewing.

But, some critics are predicting that streak to end now that Anthony's in his mid-30s with a lot of NBA miles on his body. Plus, there's so much talent in H-Town with guys like James Harden and Chris Paul -- so, there might not be enough basketball to go around.

Carmelo ain't so sure about all that, though ... telling us, "I just signed, let it start first!"

TMZ Sports has learned ... James Harden has been named in a police report filed by a woman who claims she was roughed up by the NBA star at a Scottsdale nightclub -- and she has video.

The woman claims she was partying at Mint nightclub on Saturday morning when she claims a member of Harden's entourage got involved in a fight -- and when James noticed she was recording, he grabbed her wrist and snatched her phone before throwing it on the roof so she couldn't sell the footage to TMZ.

She says at some point Harden noticed she was videotaping the action and demanded that she delete what was recorded. She says Harden said he knew her endgame was to sell the vid to TMZ.

The woman claims Harden threw her phone on the roof of the club, and then a member of Harden's crew came up to her and offered her $200 for the phone. She took the money, and then she says Harden came up to her and handed her another $300.

We're told security personnel eventually broke up the fight. When things settled down she climbed up on the roof and retrieved her phone, which was still recording. The woman later went to the hospital where she was treated for a wrist injury.

A rep for the Scottsdale PD tells TMZ Sports a report was taken and the investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement sources tell us Harden is named in the report but he has NOT been named a suspect at this point.

Terrell Owens made one helluva catch at Matt Barnes' charity football game on Sunday -- catching a 60-YARD HAIL MARY from another ex-NFL star ... with no time on the clock!!!

The QB was Kerry Rhodes (a safety in the NFL) who dropped back and slung a dime to Owens in the back of the endzone to tie up the game as time expired at the Athletes Vs. Cancer flag football game.

Everyone went crazy ... except for T.O., who played it cool (he's a Hall of Famer after all).

There's more ... one of the best highlights featured NBA star JaVale McGee -- who stretched his 7-foot physique to snag a ball above the heads of his regular-sized opponents.

It's a pretty sick highlight.

Tons of stars showed up to the event at Fairfax High School in L.A. -- from Snoop Dogg to Reggie Bush to Nelly, Baron Davis and Draymond Green.

Funny, Draymond told us he opted not to play because he didn't want to risk injury just a few months before the NBA season begins (ditto for Nick Young) ... but it didn't stop JaVale!

Props to everyone who participated and raised money in the fight against cancer.

You're looking at Fred Williams -- who was JUST fired from his job as the head coach of the Dallas Wings after getting into a screaming match with his boss Sunday night ... and now he's telling us why he thinks he got the chop.

Williams -- who was the head coach from 2014 to 2018 -- was seen screaming at Wings CEO Greg Bibb after a 93-80 loss to the Mystics earlier in the day. Bibb issued a statement announcing he fired Williams a short time later.

Williams touched down in D.C. early Monday -- and broke his silence about the situation to our photog ... telling us why HE thinks he got the axe.

"It could be because we had some losses in row," Williams tells us. "Everything builds up. It's just the management decision."

Fred didn't seem too busted up over the move -- explaining to us this DEFINITELY won't be his last stop in the WNBA.

Dallas Wings star player Skylar Diggins-Smith seemed to agree ... saying players LOVED playing for Fred ... and they still support him after his firing.

LaVar Ball says it's hardly worth discussing whether Donald Trump is a racist ... it's soooo obvious.

We got the Ball patriarch Friday night in L.A. at the Junior Basketball Ass'n tourney, and asked about Trump going after LeBron James, calling him dumb. It's interesting ... Ball says people don't care about LeBron's political stance ... they care about him winning for the Lakers. Weird comment, since LeBron is one of the strongest, most compelling voices in America for civil rights.

"Shut Up and Dribble" could turn into "Shut Up and Pay Me" for LeBron James.

Despite the fact he's launching a new Showtime series using the 'S.U.A.D.' title, we've learned someone else has already moved on locking down the trademark to use the phrase on clothing.

Of course, LeBron LOVES to turn his projects and catchphrases into fashion items -- we've seen him do it with "Strive For Greatness" gear and just the other day he rocked a shirt that said "I Promise," the name of his new school in Ohio.

So, it seems obvious he would try to get the rights to "Shut Up and Dribble" too.

The problem ... a guy in Jersey named William DelGrande applied for the trademark back in February ... just a few days after FOX News' Laura Ingraham used the phrase to scold LeBron for getting involved in politics.

DelGrande doesn't own the trademark outright -- at least, not yet -- but he's got a big head start on LeBron ... which gives him an advantage if James makes a claim.

The good news ... DelGrande says he's willing to drop his claim -- for the right price.

Don't get it twisted, DelGrande isn't looking for a 7-figure deal -- telling TMZ Sports he'd wave the white flag for a "reasonable price."

NBA guard Nik Stauskas just took the biggest shot of his life ... and SCORED -- 'cause his smokin' hot girlfriend said yes to marriage!!

The new Trail Blazers stud just met Alexandra Brynn last August ... but things heated up quickly -- with Nik popping the question Wednesday in front of EVERYONE at Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square.

And, yeah ... the ring is definitely NBA sized.

"Words can’t even describe the feeling I had waking up this morning knowing I’d be waking up next to you every day for the rest of my life," Nik said on his IG page.

"I always knew when I got down on one knee you would say yes, but to actually have it happen last night was a dream come true!"

Congrats!!

LeBron James is clearly unmoved by the criticism of his new I Promise school in Ohio -- at least judging by his shirt.

After Bron announced the opening of the district school in Akron, reports came out showing James is not covering the full operating costs of the school ... only around 25%. The rest is covered by taxpayers.

Don't get it twisted, Bron's coming out of pocket roughly $2 MILLION per year (amazing), but the school will reportedly cost around $8 mil per year to run.

Some critics went in on LeBron for putting such a heavy burden on the school district -- others praised LeBron for his generosity and commitment to education.

Despite the drama, LeBron went out in Hollywood Wednesday night wearing an "I Promise" shirt -- showing his full support for his passion project.

The Harlem Globetrotters did it again -- hitting an insane trick shot from a FLYING AIRPLANE!!!

Globetrotters star Bull Bullard strapped into a yellow monoplane in Wildwood, New Jersey (where the guys are playing 4 games next week) and took aim at the basket while flying 70 miles per hour.

He shot. He scored. Insane!!!

There's video from all angles -- it's pretty amazing stuff.

"There’s no better way to arrive to Wildwood than with a trick shot from an airplane," Bullard said ... "I can’t wait to meet up with my teammates next week and put on a great show for the fans!"

The Globetrotters have hit crazy trick shots from all over the world -- from the top of Madison Square Garden to a rollercoaster in Georgia ... even Alcatraz.

Lil Wayne wants his bling, bling back -- claiming NBA player Frank Mason ditched his Young Money sports agency ... and refuses to give back his YM chain.

Backstory ... Mason signed to Weezy's Young Money APAA Sports Group back in April 2017 ... right before the NBA Draft (he was selected in the 2nd round by the Sacramento Kings).

As part of the deal, YM says it advanced Mason $40,000, agreed to pay his pre-draft expenses (totaling $52k) and hooked him up with an $11,000 diamond Young Money chain. Pretty standard stuff.

The catch, YM says Mason's contract stated that if he ever left the agency, he had to repay the money and give back his jewelry.

Well, in April 2018 -- toward the end of Mason's rookie season -- Mason fired Young Money "at the urging of a former YM employee" but never gave back the stuff, according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

Now, Young Money is asking the judge to force Mason's hand -- demanding $92k in cash plus the chain PLUS damages.

FYI, Mason's NBA contract isn't super rich -- he only made $1.3 mil last season and will make similar money for the next 2 years.

What's interesting, Mason appeared on the "TMZ Sports" TV show right after he signed with Young Money and told the guys why he was pumped to be in business with Lil Wayne.

No word on what changed after the interview ...