Los Angeles Lakers

After more than a decade in the league, NBA star Matt Barnes FINALLY signed the mega-contract he's always wanted ... telling TMZ, "I've been underpaid for a long time."

Barnes -- who recently inked a 3-year $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers -- was working out at TapouT in L.A. yesterday when we congratulated him on striking it rich.

"It's been a long time coming," said Barnes ... who only made $854,389 last season.

When we asked why he thought it took so long to get such a big contract, Barnes didn't hold back -- saying, "I don't know ... I don't think they liked me."

It's unclear who the "they" is ... considering he's played for multiple NBA teams including the Lakers, the Suns, Orlando and Golden State.

FYI -- back in 2010, Barnes passed on more lucrative offers to sign with the Lakers, hoping the opportunity to play in L.A. would lead him to a bigger contract down the line. It didn't work out at the time, but after the incredible season he had with the Clips last year, it would have been hard for the team NOT to show him the money.

Ice Cube is a Los Angeles Lakers superfan ... and apparently, he doesn't take kindly to Dwight Howard running out on his team -- 'cause the rapper OBLITERATED the NBA star during a live show ... and it was incredible.

Cube was on stage at the Greek Theater in L.A. over the weekend -- when he blasted "Dwight Coward" mercilessly.

"F**k Dwight Howard ...we don't need no punk ass motherf**kers on our team."

He continued, "We don't need no bitches on our team homie."

Cube adds, "Kobe will win another championship before Dwight Howard ever sniffs one."

After the rant, he told the crowd ... "I'm glad I got that off my chest."

You'd THINK Los Angeles Lakers star Metta World Peace would be one of the FIRST one's to know that Dwight Howard ditched the team for the Houston Rockets ... turns out, he was one of the last.

Metta was leaving Mastro's in Beverly Hills on Saturday night with his GF Shin Shin when we asked how he felt about the move -- but to our surprise (and his), Metta told us he had NO IDEA Howard picked the Rockets.

The reaction seems legit ... considering Shin Shin seemed just as shocked.

"I don't know what happened," Metta said ... "He's going to Houston?"

Do as Game says, not as he does ... because while he plans on torching his Dwight Howard jersey, he recommends another mode of destruction for other Los Angeles Lakers fans.

Our photog caught up with Game outside Katsuya in Hollywood last night, where he actually defended Dwight's decision to bolt for Houston and thinks the Lakers will be just fine without him.

Kobe Bryant is pissed at Dwight Howard ... so much so he did the worst possible thing you can do to a person ... he UNFOLLOWED HIM ON TWITTER.

Pause for reaction.

That's right, just after Howard announced he was ditching the L.A. Lakers for greener pastures ... i.e. the Houston Rockets ... Kobe made sure to axe D12 from his Twitter feed.

Fellow Laker Pau Gasol also unfollowed Howard -- but reportedly changed his mind 20 mins later.

Dwight Howard has decided to make the entire city of Los Angeles hate him (except for the ever-growing number of Clippers fans) by spurning the Lakers and signing with the Houston Rockets.

No word on whether he will sign outright with Houston or work out some sort of sign-and-trade with the Lakers (which would net him more money).

D12 cannot officially sign any deal until July 10.

Howard spent one disastrous, injury-plagued year with the Lakers after they acquired him in a trade from the Orlando Magic.

The Black Mamba will not take this lightly.

****IT IS WORTH NOTING****

With a combined net worth somewhere in the $100 million range (maybe more) ... NBA superstar brothers Pau and Marc Gasol saved a few bucks by yachting TOGETHER in Spain this week.

With the 2012-13 NBA season officially over ... and zero combined championship rings to show for it ... the two 7-footers decided to chill on a fancy boat in Menorca, Spain.

... don't you ever forget!!!

When Kim Kardashian first arrived to Cedars-Sinai to deliver her baby, she didn't get the fancy celebrity suite she had hoped for 'cause they were all in use ... and one of the VIP occupants was Dwight Howard's newest baby mama, TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the births tell us ... before Kim went into labor, she had made arrangements to stay in one of the fancy suites at the L.A. hospital. But the baby came 5 weeks early, and the fancy suites were all booked. So Kim was placed in another unit.

But while Kim was laid out in bed, Kanye roamed the maternity ward ... and bumped into NBA superstar Dwight Howard, whose lady was giving birth to his child.

FYI -- Dwight's a seasoned vet when it comes to the maternity ward ... he's reportedly fathered 3 other kids (with 3 different women).

We're told Kanye and Dwight got along great ... with Yeezy giving Howard a preview of his new album "Yeezus."

As for Kim ... we're told she's finally out of the hospital -- and mother and the baby are shacked up in a private location.

When the Heat and the Spurs went into OT during last night's dramatic Game 6 of the NBA Finals ... Dwight Howard was busy eating dinner -- telling TMZ he didn't have the stomach to watch.

Howard hit up Crustacean in Beverly Hills last night -- at the very same time LeBron and Co. were taking on Tony Parker and the rest of San Antonio.

Sources inside the restaurant tell us ... The L.A. Lakers star (at least for now) was nowhere near the TV during the game ... and focused on dinner with his buddies the entire time.

On his way out of the restaurant, Dwight explained why he chose not to watch -- telling us, "I'm not watching ... I'm not playing so ain't no need to be [watching]."

He added, "I don't want to see nobody win a championship."

It's the stuff that caused a war between Kobe Bryant and his parents -- a collection of the NBA star's tacky jewelry, shoes and jerseys -- and now it's officially up for auction.

A diamond-encrusted NBA Championship ring complete with the words "Bling Bling" engraved on the side ... prototypes of Kobe's shoes ... Bryant's high school jersey -- it's all up for sale.

As we previously reported, Kobe sued his mom to prevent her from selling the memorabilia ... claiming she had no ownership rights to the merchandise.

But Pamela Bryant -- along with her husband Jellybean -- fought back ... claiming Kobe had gifted the stuff to them over the years and they had every right to sell it.

Last week, the two sides hammered out a settlement agreement ... in which Kobe allowed his folks to sell off 10% of what they had originally tried to auction ... and the items are pretty interesting.

Los Angeles Lakers executive Johnny Buss -- oldest son of deceased Lakers owner Jerry Buss -- has filed for divorce from his wife, who happens to be an ex-Clippers dancer, TMZ has learned.

Johnny -- who's currently the V.P. of Strategic Development for the Lake Show -- filed divorce docs in L.A. County Superior Court ... seeking to end his marriage to Christy Curtis Buss ... a marriage that began in 1991.

Here's the weird part ... in the court docs, obtained by TMZ, Buss states that he and Christy separated back in 2000 ... which means they've been split up for 13 YEARS!

Apparently, Johnny finally felt like cutting the cord ... because he filed the docs himself on June 11, 2013. It's unclear why he waited so long. They have no minor children.

In the docs, Buss blames the split on irreconcilable differences ... but checked the box that acknowledges he'll have to pony up spousal support.

Kobe Bryant has ended his legal war with his mother ... settling the lawsuit over his basketball memorabilia.

As TMZ reported ... Kobe went after his mother for trying to auction off jerseys, rings, trophies and scores of other items. Pamela Bryant claimed her son gave her the stuff, but Kobe claimed she was full of it and she was just pissed because he wouldn't buy her an expensive house in Vegas.

Now Pamela and Kobe's dad agreed to issue a letter of apology to the Lakers' star, according to ESPN. In return Kobe agreed to let Pamela sell off just under 10% of the items.

So the legal issue is now resolved. As for family relations, we're guessing that's a whole other Oprah.

Bryant's parents released a statement that reads, "We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia. We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years. We also apologize to Goldin Auctions for their inadvertent involvement in this matter and thank them for their assistance."

L.A. Lakers star Steve Nash just won a victory in his custody war with his ex, but it's small potatoes compared to what's ultimately at stake.

A judge in the case just ruled ... Steve's live-in girlfriend, Brittany Richardson, is allowed to accompany the 3 kids without Steve from L.A. to Arizona and back. Steve's ex, Alejandra Nash, had objected to Brittany taking charge of the kids on grounds she wasn't a family member.

The judge ruled ... Brittany was as much a family member as the nanny, who is allowed to care for the children.

There's a bigger issue on the line. Both Steve and Alejandra are waiting for the judge to rule on whether she can move from Phoenix to L.A. Steve has objected ... he says because L.A. is a lousy place to raise kids. Alejandra scoffs at Steve's objection, saying it's a smoke screen and the real reason he doesn't want her to move is because a California judge would nail him with child support.

The judge is expected to rule any day.

Lakers star Metta World Peace went out on a limb -- making a bold prediction on who will win the NBA Finals ... and then the limb snapped when he tried to spell his pick.

We'll tell you this much ... Metta's riding with the San Antonio Spurs to take down LeBron James and the Miami Heat -- but you gotta hear how he spells it.

He might have been joking, but then again ...

Crazy week for celebrities ... and speaking of crazy, we gotta ask ...

5:20 PM -- Both sides have rested their case, which is now in the hands of the judge. We're told a ruling could take up to 60 days.

4:30 PM -- Nash just finished his turn on the stand ... saying his ex-wife has been making it EXTREMELY difficult to see his kids in Phoenix ... so it makes NO SENSE that she wants to move to L.A. so they can see him more often.

Nash said he sees the kids in Arizona at LEAST as much as would in L.A. ... and maintained that her only motivation for moving is so California courts can nail him for child support -- which he says would really only support her lavish taste.

“A major reason we divorced was her incessant spending, social climbing, materialism,” he said.

Nash testified about several occasions when Alejandra made it difficult for him to see 8-year-old twin girls Lola and Bella, and 2-year-old son Matteo Joel … including a Christmas homestand, when Nash wanted his girlfriend to escort the kids on a flight to L.A.

“She had none of that,” Nash said.

Nash said he can totally afford child support ... he just doesn't want it to ruin his kids: “I don’t want my high-privileged lifestyle ... to be an artificial environment.”

Steve Nash -- who plays for the LOS ANGELES Lakers -- just trashed L.A. in open court ... claiming the City of Angels is NO PLACE to raise a family.

Nash slammed L.A. on the stand in his legal war with ex-wife Alejandra ... saying point blank, "I don't want my kids to grow up in L.A."