Basketball

We're assuming Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and Shawn Bradley won't be back for LeBron's "Space Jam 2" ... so the movie is gonna need some new Monstars.

And, NBA Hall Of Famer Ray Allen is gonna tell us who they should be.

If you remember, the Monstars were the alien race that sucked the talent out of those NBA stars, then used their skills to try to beat Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, and Bill Murray in a hoops game for the fate of the world.

We got Ray Allen out in NYC and wanted to know who the NEW Monstars starting five should be ... now that Jordan is out, and LeBron is in.

Gordon Hayward just confirmed what you already knew ... he WAS kinda disappointed when pink balloons popped outta his baby gender reveal box earlier this summer.

You'll remember ... the Celtics star -- a father already to 2 girls -- went instantly viral in July when he couldn't hide his ... excitement ... over adding baby girl No. 3 to the fam.

"Is daddy happy?!" His wife, Robyn, asked as the pink balloons flew up.

"Daddy's always happy," Gordon says, booting one of the balloons.

Well ... Gordon hit the barbershop for a vid with YouTuber BluMaan and explained he is and always has been, in fact, trying like hell to add a baby boy to the family.

"Desperately trying to get a boy in there," Hayward says.

Just one problem now ... Hayward tells BluMaan he's gotta decide whether gambling for a FOURTH time is worth it.

"Three girls is a lot to deal with," he says.

LeBron James says his move to join the Lakers was strictly a basketball decision -- and had NOTHING to do with his budding Hollywood career.

... so, you believe him?

King James just spoke with reporters at Lakers Media Day where he was decked out in his full #23 Purple and Gold uniform.

During the Q&A session with reporters, he was asked if he ultimately picked the Lakers over other (better) teams so he could be closer to Warner Bros Studio ... where he has a major development deal.

Remember, LeBron has movies coming out -- "Space Jam 2" and a new "House Party" flick -- and is working on other TV shows and a "Shut Up and Dribble" documentary narrated by Jemele Hill.

But, Bron says he's a ballplayer first -- and joined the Lakers because he felt it was the right fit for him on the court ... even though they sucked last season.

Is it cold in here ... or is Enes Kanter just thinking about the playoffs??

The NY Knicks star and LeBron James' nemesis was asked about the team's postseason goals at media day on Monday ... and the dude might've overshared juuuust a bit.

"I like it a lot, man. Because I've been to playoffs before, and then that should be everybody's goal," Kanter says. "It's the playoffs. When I think about playoffs, my nipples get hard."

Kanter immediately apologized for the TMI comment ... but it's too late. It's out there and we can't un-hear it.

"I'm sorry, that's the thing. It's the playoffs. That's what we play for."

Kanye West just added another big name to the list of people willing to help his social initiatives in Chicago ... ex-NBA star Quentin Richardson, who says he totally down to work with Mr. West.

Richardson is a Chi-Town native ... and lost his brother to gun violence there back in 2005. So, when we saw him at LAX we had to ask if he'd be down to work with Kanye to help turn things around.

"Anybody asking me to come back home and help out ... I'm always down."

West is making a new home in Chicago, and working with Windy City giants like Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa and GLC to address inner city issues, and QR says West is doing the right thing.

Drake loves to sit courtside at basketball games and now he's bringing that action to his brand new Toronto mansion with a near-NBA-sized basketball court ... in the basement!

Drake's under-construction pad will be lavish even by his standards because it's got a 15,000 square foot basement. The 6 God's plan for that level alone? Spa surrounded by 2 saunas and a massage room ... pool WITH a hot tub ... and snack lounge suspended ABOVE the b-ball court.

That's a check, check, check and check ... according to Drizzy's building permits filed with the city.

Above ground, it's just as sweet. He's gonna have a rooftop terrace with another hot tub, a sprawling outdoor swimming area flanked by bars and massive projection screens. Translation: Best. House. Party. Ever.

Of course, he'll also have the standards: wine and champagne bar, home theater, recording studio and award ROOM (when a shelf alone won't cut it).

Paul Pierce says the Celtics-Lakers rivalry is officially back on ... with Kyrie Irving playing the Bird/Pierce role -- and LeBron James playing the Magic/Kobe role!!

We got Paul out at LAX this week and, as one of the key players in the historic NBA clash -- he declared to TMZ Sports the two teams can finally have a real tiff again now that Bron's in L.A.

"It's on. It's on," the Celtics legend tells us. "The rivalry is back. For sure. It's official."

Pierce tells us LeBron and Kyrie will fill the leader-of-the-team roles well ... and he seems stoked to see it this season.

By the way ... if you were wondering if Pierce has any inkling to come back to the NBA and be a part of that rivalry one last time -- he says no chance.

J.B. Smoove LOVES "Space Jam" ... and he's pulling out all the stops to get in the LeBron-led sequel -- showing off his best basketball alien impression!!!

We got the comedian leaving Craig's on Wednesday and he was adamant he'd be perfect for a spot in the new flick.

"LeBron, if I don't get a part in 'Space Jam,' I would lose my marbles, man!" Smoove says.

That's when Smoove reveals he'd be the PERFECT Monstar ... and we gotta say -- his E.T. moves are LEGIT.

And ... just in case LBJ isn't moved by those -- Smoove says he'd make for a great assistant coach too!

Michael Jordan played a little help defense Friday ... packing boxes full of food for Hurricane Florence victims.

The Hornets owner was front and center on the assembly line -- boxing up cereal and other goods for people affected by the storm that barreled into the East Coast last week.

It's a cause Jordan's clearly been affected by ... 'cause the NBA's best ever also donated $2 MILLION to the relief efforts Tuesday.

BTW ... M.J.'s shirt -- a Hornets logo sandwiched between North and South Carolina -- is for sale, with all the proceeds going to Florence victims as well.

John Salley has a clear side in the Kanye West vs. Nick Cannon feud ... telling TMZ Sports West was 100% within his rights to send shots at Cannon for talking about Kim Kardashian West.

Ye fired off on Nick Thursday ... saying NC has no right mentioning Kim's name in interviews, and talking about her body ... even though Nick and Kim dated back in the day.

Cannon fired back, saying he's NEVER disrespected Kim but has answered questions about her honestly, and will continue to do so.

We got Salley leaving Catch in L.A. and asked him which side of the fence he falls on ... and he said it all goes back to a rule he learned during his NBA playing career.

"Everything was open except wives and fiancees."

Salley goes on to say Kanye is "kinda right" to be pissed at Nick Cannon, and that he thinks West's warning shot is enough that no one will talk about Kim Kardashian in a sexually objectifying way again.

Wilt Chamberlain's rookie card just sold at auction for more than 600 TIMES what he once scored in a basketball game ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned somebody paid over $60k for it!!

The ultra-rare card was a 1961 Fleer piece -- graded in PSA 9 Mint condition -- featuring the NBA legend in his Philadelphia Warriors jersey.

Unclear who the new lucky owner of the card is ... but PWCC Marketplace tells us 56 total bids were placed before Thursday's winner was crowned.

We're told the same card of Wilt -- who's famous for dropping 100 points in a single NBA game back in 1962 -- previously sold for $45,000 in May 2017.

By the way ... apparently anything Wilt's previously graced is going for big money these days -- remember when his old mansion hit the market for $18.99 MILLION in June?!

LeBron James is lashing back at Donald Trump -- saying he didn't give a crap when POTUS called him dumb because, "I'm not."

"That's like somebody saying I can't play ball," LeBron told The Hollywood Reporter.

"That doesn't bother me at all. What bothers me is that he has time to even do that. He has the most powerful job in the world. Like, you really got this much time that you can comment on me?"

LeBron is referencing a tweet Trump put out on August 3 in the wake of LJ's interview on CNN, when the NBA superstar said the President is using sports to divide America.

Trump tweeted, "LeBron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do. I like Mike!"

The Tune Squad is gonna need a coach ... and who better than LeBron James' coach in real life -- Luke Walton -- to lead the Looney Tunes to victory in the "Space Jam" sequel?!

TMZ Sports asked the Lakers coach if he's down to star alongside LBJ in the highly-anticipated follow-up to the 1996 classic starring Michael Jordan ... and L.W. says he's IN!!!

... as long as LeBron wants him.

It seems like a perfect fit -- after all, the dude had a cameo on "The Young and the Restless" in 2006 ... and Luke's tight with Hollywood big shot Jeffrey Katzenberg (they were leaving Craig's together when we shot Luke last night).

Gilbert Arenas says the restraining order a woman got against him was based off straight-up manufactured bulls**t that cost him a boatload of money ... and he's fighting back in court.

Here's the deal ... a woman named Janelle Reeves -- who claims she dated Arenas -- got a restraining order against the NBA star in June.

Reeves claims Arenas took the breakup hard ... and harassed and tormented her -- and threatened to send explicit videos of her to her son.

The restraining order was eventually dismissed by the judge after Reeves was a no-show for court.

But, Arenas just ain't letting it go ... he's now filed a lawsuit against the woman claiming she fabricated the whole thing.

"Reeves created the false impression of supposedly having received threatening messages by making copies of various texts that she created and sent to herself."

As a result of the false allegations, Arenas says he was humiliated, lost his media gig at Yahoo Sports ... and suffered significant harm to his bottom line.

Caron Butler says LeBron James and Jimmy Butler would be a match made in heaven ... telling TMZ Sports the Lakers should try to make a trade for the All-Star.

FYI -- Jimmy reportedly asked Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau for a trade on Wednesday ... after just one season in Minnesota.

So, we asked Tuff Juice if the Purple & Gold should pick up the phone and call the Wolves ... and he thinks it's a no-brainer, saying Butler would perfectly complement King James.

Here's the catch -- Jimmy reportedly does NOT want to play for the Lake Show ... even though he'd be playing alongside one of the GOATs. His wishlist consists of the Knicks, Nets and Clippers.

Looney Tunes Land will have the power of Wakanda in the newest 'Space Jam' sequel starring LeBron James ... 'cause the director behind "Black Panther" is officially joining the project!!

The follow-up to the 1996 classic -- slated to begin production 2019 -- has added Ryan Coogler to the movie as a producer ... and Terence Nance will be the director.

LeBron's got a lot of irons in the Hollywood fire, but this has been by far the most anticipated project since it was announced in 2016.

If Coogler's name doesn't ring a bell, you've probably seen one of his movies. He's directed other movies like "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station" ... both starring Michael B. Jordan.