Los Angeles Lakers

The NY Knicks must have done something terrible to someone in a past life, 'cause they're more cursed than the John Madden cover ... so says "Inside the NBA" star Kenny Smith.

Of course, Smith's reacting to the Knicks getting the #4 pick at Tuesday night's NBA Draft lottery ... after getting beat out by Minnesota (#1), the Lakers (#2) and Philadelphia (#3).

FYI -- the way the lottery works, the teams with the worst record have the best odds to get the #1 pick ... and the Knicks had such a bad record this season, they had the SECOND best odds to get the #1 pick in the lottery. Instead, they got screwed.

You gotta check out Kenny's analysis -- it's pretty hilarious.

Might be a hot new couple in Hollywood ... 'cause last night Lakers stud Jordan Clarkson hit the clubs with Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman -- and TMZ Sports has a shot of the two of them holding hands on the way out!

The 22-year-old NBA rising star was leaving DBA nightclub holding hands with the supermodel ... who has been featured in everything from Sports Illustrated to Vogue.

No word on how serious they are ... or if they're even an official couple ... but our sources who were there say last night, it sure seemed like there was some chemistry between the two.

BTW, this wouldn't be Chanel's first celebrity relationship -- she was engaged to rapper ASAP Rocky ... but they broke things off back in 2014.

He's straight outta Compton but Ice Cube is only supporting ONE team from his hometown ... the Lakers -- and taking a shot at the Clippers in the process.

Despite the fact the Clippers are about to play in a Game 7 ... and the Lakers are sitting at home ... Cube told TMZ Sports "There's only one team in L.A."

Then, for good measure, Ice throws even more shade at Lob City ... making fun of the team name.

'Coach' and 'The Chin' weren't enough ... so now Bill Cowher can also go by 'Grandpa' -- his daughter Lindsay and her husband, Lakers forward Ryan Kelly, just had their first baby.

The baby ... Nile Jeremiah Kelly was born last night, and he's a big boy ... 8.8 lbs. and 22 in. long.

It's not known if Coach Cowher was actually at the hospital when Lindsay popped, but the ex-Steelers coach took a hands on approach with Lindsay's dating life ... at least according to his son-in-law, Ryan.

So, now that they have a baby boy ... the question: Dad is in the NBA, grandpa's an NFL coaching legend -- do you play football or basketball?

Nick Young claims the woman who accused him of rape back in 2011 has demanded $3 MILLION in damages to make things right ... but the NBA star is refusing to budge ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Swaggy P is being sued by a woman who claims Nick slipped her a date rape drug at a Hollywood bar in 2011, took her to his house and vaginally and anally raped her.

Cops investigated the alleged incident and DISMISSED her claim because they felt her story didn't add up. The woman filed a lawsuit against Young in 2013 ... and the two sides are still battling it out.

Now, according to new docs obtained by TMZ Sports ... the accuser has a number in mind -- $3 million ... claiming she suffered emotional distress and loss of earnings.

But Young isn't buying it -- and has refused to settle ... instead, fighting the case tooth and nail to prove once and for all he's no rapist.

The Clippers aren't trolling the Lakers by turning the team locker room into an owners lounge for the NBA playoffs -- they asked the team for permission and got it ... TMZ Sports has learned.

There were rumblings that the Clips were trying to diss Laker Nation by using their space at Staples Center as Steve Ballmer's personal hangout area ... since the Clips are still playing and the Lakers didn't even come close to the playoffs.

But it just ain't the case -- at least according to Staples Center honcho Lee Zeidman who tells us there was an arrangement made before the 1st playoff game.

"The team inquired about using the Lakers locker room as a space for the Clippers owner. The Lakers gracefully granted use."

He continued, "People are trying to make something out of this, as if the Clippers are pissing off the Lakers by using their locker room. That's not true at all. We'd never use the Lakers space without asking the team."

Lakers star Nick Young says he feels like he woke up out of a nightmare ... now that the squad's historically bad NBA season is finally over ... saying, "It was tough for us."

After the Lakers capped off the worst season in team history, Young hit up Toast Cafe in L.A. -- and essentially told us he's glad it's finally over.

As for the two young players who hit the club after the team's final loss, Young says people should cut 'em some slack -- "They deserve to unwind a little bit."

Question -- How did the Lakers cope with losing their 61st game of the season last night? Completing their WORST SEASON in team history?!

Answer -- THEY HIT THE CLUBS ... well, at least two of 'em did.

Jordan Clarkson and Vander Blue hit up Warwick nightclub in Hollywood -- hours after getting their butts kicked by the Sacramento Kings 122 - 99 in the final game of the season.

In fairness to the guys, Blue just signed with the team a few days ago ... and Clarkson was just a rookie.

Here's Rick Fox ... basically saying Phil Jackson tanked the Knicks this season -- while trying to be super politically correct at the same time.

Rick -- who we love by the way (super nice guy) -- was out in L.A. this weekend ... when we asked if the man who coached him on the Lakers intentionally shut down the Knicks to get a better draft pick.

There was some serious tap dancing ... and he doesn't specifically say "yes" -- but he talks about how Phil "made a decision to purge the team of whatever personnel was there."

Will Ferrell went all frowny face at the Lakers game Friday night ... with good reason.

Will and his son looked on as they sat on the hardwood and watched their team lose to the Trail Blazers by a miserable score of 107 - 77.

Will's face is a symbol of woe in the Lakers camp. Ticket resale prices are at a 4-year low. Some $400 tickets right behind courtside seats are being hawked for $119.

Sly Stallone and wife Jennifer Flavin also grimly watched. So sad.

Derek Fisher's wife says she was completely "blindsided" when the NBA legend served her with divorce papers last month ... and was even more shocked that he moved all of his stuff out of their home in the middle of the night ... this according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported ... Derek filed divorce docs in L.A. on March 18th ... one month after they celebrated their 10th anniversary.

Now, Candace Fisher has filed court docs of her own -- telling a shocking tale of a husband that not only surprised her by bailing on the marriage ... but freezing her out of his life almost immediately.

According to the docs, Candace says Derek refused to answer her calls and texts for nearly two weeks ... and even blew off their kids for several days.

Candace says she finally went to their NY apartment the week of March 30th ... only to find that all of Derek's clothing, personal items and computers had already been removed from the home.

There's more ... Candace also says Derek now wants to keep their 8-year-old twin boys in NY to live and attend school -- despite the fact she says all of their family, friends and schoolmates are in L.A.

The Lakers are taking a page out of Jack Nicholson's playbook -- cutting prices on game tickets to record lows ... all in hopes of getting some asses in the those Staples Center seats.

Sources inside the Lakers box office tell TMZ Sports ticket prices for the 8 remaining games are the lowest they've been all season. For instance, some $400 tickets -- right behind courtside seats -- are going for $119.

We're told they've priced the tix to move in a last-ditch effort ... because "no one is showing up for the games."

Fact is, there's still something fans can root for -- losses! The Lake Show's still mathematically capable of having the worst record ... which would put them in the driver's seat for the #1 draft pick.

Go team?

Call 'em the Lakerzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... 'cause the Purple and Gold are so boring to watch, they put Heidi Klum's kid right to sleep Wednesday night ... even though they were sitting courtside.

The supermodel took both Johan and Henry to Staples Center to watch the Lake Show take on the New Orleans Pelicans ... but it was pretty much over by halftime.

The Lakers ultimately lost again 113 to 92.

One of Wilt Chamberlain's former teammates is calling out the NBA legend -- telling TMZ Sports there's NO WAY he took down 20,000 women ... because he was too busy taking down McDonalds.

We spoke with Tom Hawkins -- who played 2 seasons with Wilt on the Lakers back in the '60s -- and he's adamant that Wilt "The Stilt" must have inflated his numbers in his tell-all book.

"I played with him for 2 years ... I doubt his numbers are correct."

And why is Tommy (who played 10 solid years in the NBA) so steadfast in his belief?

"Because too many nights I saw him going back to the hotel with nothing but a bag of McDonalds."

Photog: "Who you thinkin' for MVP this year? Curry? Harden? Westbrook?"
Nick Young: "I would give it to Kobe."

Maybe Nick Young was kidding ... then again, maybe not.

Kobe Bryant only played in 35 games this season ... the Lakers won 11 games WITH Kobe. They've only won 6 of the last 31 ... after Kobe's season ended thanks to a shoulder injury.

It's been a crappy season for the Lake Show any way you slice it ... but they were 50% better WITH the Mamba.

That being said ... does Kobe really deserve to be the MVP?

Kobe Bryant has ONE more championship run left in him ... and will probably get his SIXTH ring next season ... so says Mamba's former teammate Metta World Peace.

But before we get to that ... you gotta watch this clip of Metta buyin' a rose from the rose lady out in Hollywood last night.

Who's he buying it for? Metta says he wants to surprise someone ... wait'll you see who it is.