Gossip / Rumors

Great news, 76ers fans -- Dr. J's got faith Markelle Fultz is gonna fix his broke ass jump shot ... and he's telling TMZ Sports exactly why.

We got Julius touching down at LAX for All-Star week ... and the doctor gave his official diagnosis on why it looks like the #1 overall pick's been talent-zapped by The Monstars.

"Clearly it's some sort of physical thing that's causing him the problems that he's having, more than mental," Erving explained.

Essentially, Dr. J's saying Markelle's shoulder injury is to blame ... and the kid can get back to ballin' out with proper R&R.

FYI, there have been reports claiming Fultz's personal trainer is to blame for screwing with his jumper ... but no one really knows.

Scott Baio has threatened to sue Nicole Eggert, Alexander Polinsky, Lisa Bloom and anyone else he claims has defamed him with false allegations of sexual abuse and harassment.

Scott's rep, Brian Glicklich, says Scott denies every single claim made against him. During the news conference, Glicklich and Scott's lawyer, Jennifer McGrath, said Eggert and Polinsky have had "ever-changing stories" and point to an interview Eggert did where she said, "I would love to work with him [Scott] again and am friends with his wife."

They went on to say Nicole has a track record of making false claims. As for Eggert's demand for an apology, they say Scott will not apologize for things he never did.

Glicklich called this a "media witch hunt" by people "hungry for publicity."

As for Polinsky's claim that he was sexually harassed and even physically assaulted on the set when he was 11 and 12, Baio's team says there were hundreds of people on the set yet no one reported any act of abuse.

And Baio's reps called BS on Polinsky for saying he was not ready to take a call from Scott a decade ago where Scott was going to apologize, and they pointed to photos of the 2 of them with their arms around each other 7 years ago at Scott's birthday party.

Blake Griffin had a "toxic" relationship with several teammates on the Clippers -- and things got so bad, Doc Rivers had to mediate disputes in private meetings, this according to Blake's ex.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Brynn Cameron is suing the NBA star for palimony -- but in her lawsuit, she details the turbulent relationship Blake had with the Clips.

In her suit, Brynn says she would council Blake on how to deal with the "mounting tension with Chris Paul."

"The Clippers had been Griffin's team since he was drafted and he felt like it was no longer his team."

She continued, "Griffin struggled to be viewed as a leader for the Clippers while Chris Paul was such a vocal presence in the locker room and the media -- and was better known for his drive to win and dedication to both team building and family values."

Brynn says she counseled Griffin to lead in his own way "by setting a standard for hard work."

She also claims she helped Blake with his communication skills -- including how to speak with teammates and coaches when issues would arise.

"The relationship between Griffin and other teammates had become so toxic Rivers had to mediate disputes in private meetings with the players."

"Griffin did not know how to handle confrontations and would go silent when things did not go his way. To change that dynamic, Cameron would coach Griffin on how to communicate his issues."

Cardi B is pregnant ... is what members of her team told people during Super Bowl weekend ... TMZ has learned.

Cardi performed at several events in Minneapolis, one of which was the Maxim party. At that event there were 2 VIP areas ... one at the side of the stage that was reserved for talent and football players, and the other in the back of the venue which was reserved specifically for Cardi and her entourage.

Our sources say after Cardi performed, a venue staffer asked her team if they could escort her back to her VIP room, where alcohol was flowing. One of Cardi's reps then said she didn't want to be in a "party atmosphere" and preferred to stay in the area by the stage and drink Fiji water. The rep then told the staffer Cardi was 3 to 4 months pregnant.

Cardi and her people have repeatedly denied she's pregnant. She said on Instagram, she wasn't pregnant, saying, "No bitch I'm just getting fat. Let me fat in peace."

Nicki Minaj isn't missing, hiding or lying low because she's pregnant -- she's just been in beast mode working on making her next album a masterpiece.

Sources close to Nicki tell us ... she decided to ditch social media at the end of 2017 to fully focus on her music, which is why she's had no new posts since December 30. We're told she feels way more creative without the distractions of Instagram and Twitter.

Our sources say Minaj has been working night and day in the studio with major producers and rappers like Lil Wayne, Mack Maine and other Young Money acts ... and she's going to continue to leave social media alone until the album's complete.

Nicki's fans have expressed concern about her being MIA in 2018, which culminated Monday with Wendy Williams launching a faux campaign on her show to help find her ... replete with a missing persons poster.

But we're told all is well with Nicki -- she's happy, healthy, single and NOT pregnant, despite rumors.

Here's another episode of "Playing It Coy," starring Tim Tebow ... who says he really doesn't know whether he'd consider signing with the XFL.

Tebow was gentlemanly as ever when we got him at LAX on Tuesday -- but when the topic of Vince McMahon's XFL offer got brought up again, he gave us the ol' Heisman stiff-arm.

"I don't know -- that's a long way from now."

He does have a point. The XFL doesn't launch til 2020.

Timmy did give us a clear answer when our photog -- a Chicago guy -- asked about him potentially playing for the Cubs.

Ric Flair has some WWE matchmaking advice for Vince McMahon -- set Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair, ASAP!!

Ric's daughter is the current "SmackDown" Women's Champion -- and Ric tells TMZ Sports he knows his daughter wants a shot at the newest star on the roster.

Charlotte has previously told TMZ Sports when it comes to Rousey -- "She knows where to find me."

The good news for Rousey ... Ric and his pal Hulk Hogan are big fans. They love the fact she's a TRUE wrestling fan and were impressed with her tribute to Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Speaking of legends ... we also asked Hulk and Ric to name the 4 people who belong on the Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling.

Spoiler alert: here are some names that DIDN'T make the cut:

The Rock, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Sting.

Marlon Brando's son says his dad did NOT bang Richard Pryor ... even though Pryor's widow insists he did.

Marlon's oldest living son, Miko Brando, tells TMZ ... "The Marlon Brando family has heard the recent comments by Quincy Jones and we are disappointed that anyone would make such a wrongful comment about either Marlon Brando or Richard Pryor."

That's in sharp conflict with what Richard's widow, Jennifer Pryor, told us last week ... that the Brando/Pryor hookup DID go down, and Rich was fine with it.

You'll recall, Jennifer said Richard wasn't upset at all by Quincy's comments -- adding the comedian was always very open about his bisexuality, apparently having documented his experiences in diaries he kept.

Miko's gone to bat for his late father before -- most recently when the actor was accused of plotting a real rape during a movie scene. Heck, even Richard's own daughter, Rain Pryor, denied the love affair between the 2 stars in a now-deleted post ... saying Pryor had a relationship with a trans woman once ... but "Daddy did NOT have relations with Brando."

So who's truthin' and who's lyin'?

Carl Anthony Payne says the "Martin" show transcends time ... and since he's all in for the show making a comeback, there's no better place than Netflix.

We got Martin Lawrence's pal leaving Mastro's on Thursday night and asked him, first and foremost, if the reboot's gonna happen. Carl dances around the question for a bit before we ask him if he'd be into it. Carl says NO. QUESTION. ABOUT. IT.

Oprah just threw up her hands and confirmed it once and for all in front of Lin-Manuel Miranda -- she's NOT running for President anytime soon ... and we have the video.

Oprah was taping an interview with the "Hamilton" creator Wednesday at the Apollo for her upcoming batch of 'SuperSoul Conversations' that are dropping in March, and she said it clear as day after Lin-Manuel said he wasn't running for public office ... "I'm not either!"

The audience erupted in laughter/shock -- some people sounded downright upset O finally batted down the rumor ... which had been swirling since her incredible Golden Globes speech.

Mel B is so damn good at the promotion game, she's giving Spice Girls fans some serious hope for a reunion tour by dropping a few well-chosen words.

Mel B was walking out of Fred Segal Tuesday in WeHo when we asked, point-blank, if the group's hitting the road again. Of course, she's fully aware of the rumblings that started when all 5 Spices posed for a photo last week in the U.K.

Watch Mel's sly reply when we attempted to grill her -- arguably she played it perfectly.

'NSYNC was a no-go during Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl Halftime Show, but the guys will be getting back together soon, according to Lance Bass.

We got Lance leaving Craig's Monday night with husband Michael Turchin where he confirmed the boy band would reunite for their Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Rumors they'd be getting a star on the Walk of Fame surfaced last year, so it appears it's really happening ... no word yet if they'll perform.

Shannon Sharpe says it might be the beginning of the end for the Patriots dynasty ... 'cause recent statements by Robert Kraft prove there are real problems between him, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

Remember -- ESPN dropped a bombshell report last month alleging their relationships were fractured ... and in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Kraft admitted to "tension" and needing to "get their egos checked in."

Shannon told TMZ Sports those words prove there's "a crack in the foundation" ... and the co-host of FS1's 'Undisputed' wouldn't put it past Belichick to leave the Pats over all the infighting.

Mel B's become a major thorn in the side of "America's Got Talent" producers, who now want to kick her to the curb ... and Queen Latifah's their first option to replace her.

'AGT' production sources tell TMZ ... Mel's been butting heads with people on set and producers think she comes with too much "baggage" for the amount of money the Spice Girl's getting paid. We're told the situation worsened while Mel was enmeshed in her intense divorce from Stephen Belafonte.

You'll recall ... she's feuded on camera with Simon Cowell ... tossing a drink at him, but we're told there's been even more tension behind the scenes.

We're told producers wanna replace Mel with Queen Latifah by next season. One potential hurdle is the fact QL's under contract with the FOX series, "Star."

Joey Fatone is itching to collect $1k from our photog, who bet him that 'N Sync will take the stage with Justin Timberlake during the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

We got Joey Friday night at the Leather and Laces Party in Minneapolis and he's stickin' with his story that Justin will perform solo, although he's not ruling out a surprise appearance by Janet Jackson.

Joey offers evidence ... singers who perform for a billion people typically don't go out and party 2 days before the big game.

The cast of "Martin" is back together -- just for a steak lunch, for now -- but it could be for a reboot of their popular '90s sitcom very soon ... based on the smiles on their faces.

We got Martin Lawrence (aka Martin Payne), Tisha Campbell-Martin (aka Gina) and Tichina Arnold (aka Pamela) leaving Morton's Steakhouse in Burbank Thursday, so we had to ask if the rumors are true ... and it sure seems like they are.

Martin and the ladies play it coy at first, but all 3 of them can't stop dishing out the deets once they start reminiscing ... until Tisha steps in to shut it down ... twice!

It's interesting -- the show went off the air in 1997 after a serious rift between Martin and Tisha ... so many thought a reboot would never happen.

Looks like water under the bridge now, though, and as Lawrence says ... "never say never."