Los Angeles Lakers

Dear Tony Parker's rap career ...

You were only 6 years old ... but Tony has decided to put you out of your misery.

You were cheesy ... you were part French ... and you were terrible.

You also inspired YouTube comments like, "Tony, what the f*ck is this?" and "Bad bad bad."

Maybe it's a good thing Tony decided to pull the plug ... at least according to L.A. Lakers player Nick Young ... because, as we said before, you were really, really bad.

But we're not too sad, 'cause as long as YouTube exists, you'll never really die.

Au revoir for now ...

R.I.P. Tony Parker's rap career
2007 - 2013

Lamar Odom was deep into drugs while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks and there is evidence he was doing the exact same thing while playing for the Lakers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to a Westin hotel in Memphis tell TMZ ... in March of 2012, shortly before Lamar was cut from the Mavs, he stayed in one of the guest rooms while his team was in town playing the Grizzlies.

Our sources say when Lamar left, hotel employees found major carpet damage ... including quarter-sized burn marks. The damage was so bad, the hotel had to replace the carpeting in the room.

Our sources say hotel employees also found white powder on the desk blotter and the room reeked of noxious smoke. Our sources say it was obvious there was serious drug use going on in the hotel room.

The Westin is one of numerous hotels where NBA players stay when they're on the road. TMZ has contacted a number of these hotels in various cities. We've learned from several hotel employees ... they had complained about the state of the rooms when Lamar left -- similar to what happened in Memphis -- and this was while he was playing for the Lakers.

Our sources say no one on the Mavs knew Lamar was a substance abuser while he was on the team, but everyone knew something was seriously wrong with him.

We're told that during at least part of the time he was playing for the Mavs, Lamar was smoking Oxycontin and cocaine.

Odom's problems were so severe, he was cut from the Mavs mid-season and paid in full just so he would go away.

TMZ broke the story ... the drug use escalated to crack -- and we're told Lamar's level of crack use is now alarming and life-threatening.

At least one NBA star is willing to say it -- Kobe Bryant is a much tougher opponent than his airness, Michael Jordan was ... at least that's what Tracy McGrady hinted. (Pause for lightning bolts)

McGrady was responding to Kobe's recent comment that T-Mac was the hardest player he ever had to guard -- so, we expected him to throw a little praise back at Kobe.

But watch his comments at LAX -- McGrady wasn't just being nice ... and actually went out of his way to say it's "not even close" who his toughest assignment was on the court.

Remember, McGrady checked Jordan during MJ's final championship season in Chicago ... when he was older, but still making opponents look foolish (see Bryon Russell).

Dear NBA,

Kobe Bryant is running again ... just 4 months after tearing his Achilles tendon.

You tag Phil Jackson in a rap song, he'll tag you right back -- just ask Kendrick Lamar ... who got a free lesson in ego management from the Zen Master after droppin' his name in a new song.

67-year-old Jackson was definitely listening when 26-year-old Lamar called him out in Big Sean's new song, "Control" -- a song that includes the lyrics:

"Who the f**k y’all thought it’s supposed to be?
If Phil Jackson came back, still no coachin’ me
I’m uncoachable, I’m unsociable."

Jackson -- who's no stranger to dealing with egomaniacs (or people named Lamar) ... shot back on Twitter moments ago ... with a message aimed right at Kendrick:

“@kendricklamar it’s okay to be cocky and sure, but we all need somebody to lean on. Let’s just call it mentoring."

With his rehab in full swing, Kobe Bryant proved his achilles is healthy enough for tourist activity this weekend by strolling around Italy with his family.

Kobe -- along with his wife Vanessa and their daughters Natalia and Gianna -- were spotted walking around Capri like regular people.

Kobe recently told an Italian media outlet that he's in the country for vacation -- but found some time to do some rehab at the Milanello Sports Centre, the training facility for famed Italian soccer club A.C. Milan.

As for Kobe and Vanessa ... we broke the story, VB called off the divorce back in January ... and it appears the two are just like peas and carrots again.

Dear Los Angeles Lakers fans,

We're sorry to inform you ... it doesn't seem very likely Carmelo Anthony will be dishing to Kobe Bryant any time soon, despite reports to the contrary.

Anthony was leaving Cecconi's in West Hollywood this week when we asked straight up if he could see himself in purple and gold after his contract with the Knicks runs out.

CA's response? "Ummmmm, I doubt it."

Carmelo teased us a little bit ... saying he owns purple and gold shoes -- but made it pretty clear he has no plans to wear them on the hardwood.

Anthony also told TMZ ... he's NOT secretly plotting with LeBron James to join the same NBA squad ... though he admits, they're pretty damn good when they play together.

Still, don't count out the Lakers entirely ... 'cause when the time comes, you can bet L.A. will bust out the checkbook -- and nothing changes a mind like a couple of zeros.

An Arizona judge has issued a ruling laying the groundwork for Alejandra Nash to get a significant increase in child support.

It's definitely a victory of sorts ... but as Alejandra has stated in the past, her main goal is to move the kids to Los Angeles, so the war ain't exactly over.

As we previously reported, Alejandra says she wants to be in L.A. so the kids can be closer to their father, who plays for the Lakers -- but Nash says she's full of crap.

Steve believes she wants to be in Cali because the Golden State has child support laws that are much more favorable to Alejandra (and would allow her to get more $$$ from Steve than she would get in AZ). Plus, Steve claims she's a materialistic social climber who wants to be in L.A. to be in the Hollywood scene.

And don't forget Steve slammed L.A as a crappy place to raise children.

Bottom line -- the AZ child support ruling may be a victory for Alejandra on one level, but until her mail is sent to an L.A. address, this thing is far from over.

No wonder she fought so hard ... Kobe Bryant's mother raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars selling her superstar son's stuff.

As TMZ reported ...Kobe and his mom Pamela Bryant fought an epic battle -- when she tried to auction off a bunch of his sports memorabilia -- Kobe even sued her to block the sale. The two struck a deal -- the NBA star allowed her to sell around 10% of the treasure trove.

Well the auction ended Friday night ... and Kobe's old junk fetched a pretty penny -- 6 figures in all.

-- 2000 NBA L.A. Lakers Championship ring: $165,889.80
-- 2000 All Star ring: $52,854
-- Kobe's used H.S. Uniform: $48,048.15
-- Kobe's used Lakers jersey: $7,938.45 (less than the H.S. jersey, shockingly)
-- Kobe American Flag Adidas Sneakers: $7,216.25

A lot more was sold. All in all the items raked in $450,000.

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!!!