Los Angeles Lakers

Here's Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma serving notice to the rest of the NBA not to try him ... getting a lesson in the pugilistic arts from one of the most famous boxing trainers in the country.

Kuzma -- one of the Lakers summer league standouts -- headed over to the Team Watson Boxing Club in L.A., the city's new boxing hub, where champions like Leo Santa Cruz work out.

The lesson looks pretty intense (kid's got power) ... and it's definitely legit training 'cause the guy holding the mitts is Phil Paolina, an ex-fighter whose worked with celebs like J.Lo and even Bob Dylan.

Magic Johnson is all about the Balls ... so much that he says he's willing to shell out nearly $1,000 for both Lonzo AND LaMelo's signature sneakers!!

The Lakers Prez was leaving Craig's in WeHo when we asked him if he was gonna cop his prized rookie's $495 ZO2s ... or his H.S. phenom baby bro's $395 Melo Ball 1s.

L.A. Lakers rising star Larry Nance Jr. is officially off the market ... 'cause the NBA baller just proposed to his college sweetheart with a MASSIVE diamond ring!!

The 24-year-old and his longtime girlfriend, Hailey Pince -- a fellow U. of Wyoming alum -- announced the big news on social media Tuesday by showing off the huge rock.

LNJ and the aspiring model have been dating for over 3 years ... and he explained his decision to pop the question by channeling his inner Beyonce, saying "I liked it, so I put a ring on it."

Nance can reportedly make up to $7 million over the next 3 years ... so yeah, dude can afford to splurge on his girl.

Kobe Bryant will be the first Laker in team history to have TWO jersey numbers retired ... when they put #8 and #24 in the Staples Center rafters in December.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the Lake Show will have a ceremony to retire Kobe's jersey on Dec. 18 before the Lakers play the Golden State Warriors.

The big question was which # would get the VIP treatment.

The answer? Both ... according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Of course, Bryant dominated in both numbers ... winning 3 NBA championships in #8 (2000, 2001, 2002) and 2 in #24 (2009, 2010).

BTW, Rick Fox kinda called this ... predicting a double number retirement way back in 2015.

Christmas is coming early for Kobe Bryant -- the Lakers are planning to retire his jersey before the Warriors game on Dec. 18 ... multiple sources tell TMZ Sports.

The Lakers aren't officially acknowledging it -- but the team sent a letter to Lakers season ticket holders advising them to "hold on to your tickets for the game on Dec. 18" for a "special event."

We've made some calls and everyone's saying the same thing ... it's Kobe's big night.

The big question ... which number will go up in Staples Center -- #8 or #24 ... or both? (Our money's on both).

The Lakers also play the Golden State Warriors that night -- so LaVar Ball can finally watch Lonzo take on Steph Curry!

Those tickets are gonna be PRICEY on StubHub.

How does James Worthy feel about Kevin Durant saying he'd take his spot on the Showtime Lakers?

In a word: "LUDICROUS."

We got Big Game James at LAX ... and asked him what he thought of KD's recent comments on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" -- where Durant said he'd take Worthy's starting spot next to Magic Johnson and co. if he could play for any historical team.

"I think that’s ludicrous," the Hall of Famer told TMZ Sports. "I don’t know how he came to that conclusion, but I disagree."

Worthy says he doesn't get why KD would single him out ... but we're guessing their beef from earlier this year's got something to do with it.

FYI, Durant ultimately decided he'd keep Worthy and bench Kurt Rambis for his Showtime dream team.

Jordan Clarkson is having a hell of an off-season -- as demonstrated in this video of the L.A. Lakers player in a heated game of beach volleyball ... with a bunch of hot chicks in thong bikinis.

Clarkson and his Oklahoma City Thunder pal, Andre Roberson, hit up the nets at Hermosa Beach, CA this past weekend -- went shirts off -- and got into a bit of a 2-on-3 situation in the sand.

The chicks sucked at volleyball ... but who cares?!

Lakers head coach Luke Walton knows ya never put a ceiling on a player -- including Lonzo Ball.

So, when he was asked if Lonzo could be the next Kobe Bryant ... he didn't exactly rule it out.

Walton's clearly excited about his team -- telling us good things about the Lakers on his way out of Catch in L.A.

But does Walton REALLY think LaVar's kid can rack up stats like the 5-time NBA champ, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, 2-time NBA scoring champ, 2008 NBA MVP, 11-time 1st Team All-NBA & Slam Dunk Contest champ?

James Worthy on Lonzo Ball -- "He enhances everybody on the court. We haven't had someone with that type of talent really since Magic."

"Big Game James" just dished out some serious praise to Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball -- telling TMZ Sports he's REALLY excited about the kid ... and gave him one of the best compliments ever.

Of course, Worthy was Magic Johnson's running mate back on the Showtime Lakers in the '80s -- and has been heavily involved with the Lakers organization ever since.

So, for James to heap that kind of praise on Lonzo is a pretty big deal.

We know what you're thinking -- is James dissing Kobe?

We don't think so -- seems more like a pure point guard comparison to us.

His jersey's got the Swoosh ... but Lonzo Ball says he's still a BBB guy at heart -- and the proof is on his feet.

The L.A. Lakers rookie was at an NBA rookie photo shoot with teammate, Kyle Kuzma, when they started showing off their new Lakers uniforms, made by Nike.

That's when Lonzo told the camera, "I know you see the Nike jersey on ... it's still Triple B's though!"

He then pointed down to his $495 Big Baller Brand shoes.

Daddy likey.

L.A. Lakers star Larry Nance Jr. says he's totally pumped to take flight with new teammate Lonzo Ball ... telling TMZ Sports Zo's skills are gonna make the whole team better!!

We spoke with Nance at LAX about the #2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft ... and it's clear he's ready to be on the receiving end of some big-time alley-oops from Zo.

Nick Young is the Al Michaels of the wedding industry ... 'cause Swaggy P gave out an amazing play-by-play of Julius Randle's marriage ceremony Thursday ... and it's hilarious!!

The Lakers star tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Kendra Shaw, in front of his old Kentucky and L.A. teammates (including Jordan Clarkson) ... and Young provided some top-notch commentary to his recording of the ceremony.

Young really gets into it, saying it's a "proud unk" moment as he watches his ex-teammate exchange vows ... and emotionally whispers "he 'bout to cry!"

No word on if the water works came out ... but the party afterwards looked like a great time.

Byron Scott's NBA coaching career is done FOREVER -- with the ex-Lakers skipper saying there's absolutely 0% chance of a comeback.

Byron started his coaching career in 1998 as an assistant with the Kings -- before taking over as head coach for the Nets, Hornets, Cavs and Lakers.

He's been out of the league since 2016 after an ugly breakup with the Lake Show -- but since he's only 56, we had to ask if he was mulling a return to the bench.

Scott's answer was straight and to the point -- "No" -- explaining he's moved on with his life and he's not looking back.

Still, Byron's got some thoughts on the new Lakers -- telling TMZ Sports he likes Lonzo Ball but agrees with Charles Barkley ... they ain't making the playoffs this year.

Charles Barkley says any Laker fan thinking the team will make a playoff run behind new star, Lonzo Ball, is smoking purple and gold CRACK ... telling TMZ Sports the Lake Show has ZERO CHANCE.

The hype is officially here, Lonzo balled out so hard in the Summer league (winning the MVP), that a lot of fans are thinking postseason, so when we got Barkley out at LAX we asked him if it was possible.

"Hell no."

Pretty simple. In fact, Sir Charles says in his opinion the 76ers with their young core of guys like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Markelle Fultz are waaaay better than the Lakers are right now.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is showin' mad love for Lonzo Ball ... saying it's Zo's game -- not his dad, LaVar's big mouth -- that has the whole league buzzin'.

We talked to Silver -- one of the coolest guys in all of sports -- about all the talk surrounding the Ball family ... and he says he likes what he sees from the Summer League MVP so far.

There's more ... Silver also says he's a big fan of Ice Cube's BIG3 league and suggests there might be a way for the two leagues to work together in the future. Cool, right?

He also weighs in on the Houston Rockets sale and reveals which pro league commissioner foots the bill when all the honchos get together for lunch.

Lonzo Ball will have plenty of time to crush all the celebrity ass he wants -- AFTER he starts to kill it in the NBA ... so, don't go chasing the Kardashians just yet.

This is the wise message from ex-Laker Shannon Brown ... who knows all about dating famous women.

Of course, Brown famously married R&B star Monica back in 2010 -- after Brown had already won 2 NBA titles with the Lake Show.

Brown isn't saying to stay away from Kylie, Kendall or any other K-family member who might be interested (Kris?) ... he's just sayin' wait a minute.

BTW, Lonzo already has a hot girlfriend ... so, in theory, it shouldn't be a problem.