Los Angeles Lakers

LiAngelo Ball -- who strongly believes he'll be drafted by an NBA team -- is NOT currently at an NBA Draft party. Instead, he's at a big event for his dad's new basketball league.

The former UCLA/Lithuanian league player was courtside at LaVar's JBA season opener at Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.

Remember, 'Gelo previously told us he was getting strong interest from NBA teams -- which may be the case -- but there's no draft fanfare like there was for Lonzo last year ... when he was selected as the second overall pic in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Speaking of Lonzo, he was also at the JBA event, along with his pregnant GF, Denise Garcia.

As for LaVar ... there's plenty of support at the JBA opener from close friends and family members -- but, to be honest, the arena is pretty empty.

Kobe Bryant just got rejected at the rim by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -- which just denied membership to the Mamba ... claiming he doesn't have a good enough body of work.

You know what he does have? AN OSCAR!!!!

Kobe won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball" -- which was based off a retirement letter he published on The Players' Tribune back in 2015.

Kobe is credited as the executive producer and writer of the film.

Worth noting, Oscar winners are automatically considered for membership -- but it's not a shoe-in. The board votes on who gets membership based on a specific criteria.

One of the items on the checklist for producers -- "have the equivalent of 2 producer screen credits and perform the majority of the functions of a producer on theatrical feature films of the caliber which in the opinion of the executive committee reflect the high standards of the Academy."

For the record, Kobe produced the docu-series 'Muse' -- but it doesn't appear that would qualify under the Academy's standards because it was produced for TV.

Still, there are some people who believe the membership denial is due to Kobe's controversial past and the rise of the #MeToo movement.

Despite the fact Kobe was cheered on by the Academy when he won at the Oscars, there has been serious blowback.

Anyone waiting for Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball to get into a full-blown beef is about to be disappointed ... because Lakers guard Josh Hart says everything is cool between the two guys.

Lonzo and Kuzma have been taking shots at each other on social media (and on rap songs) so much that the Lakers brass reportedly stepped in and asked them to stop.

So, we got Hart out at The Peppermint Club in L.A. (where he was partying with his teammate, Julius Randle) and asked him if it's getting outta hand ... and he broke it down for us.

Forget what you thought you knew about Kobe Bryant ... there is no Kobe, or Mamba ... because KB gave us a glimpse of who he has become ...

AND, HIS NAME IS DADZILLA!!

Kobe was seen out in France carrying his littlest daughter, Bianka Bella ... and the pythons jumping out of his torso made it clear that the age of DADZILLA is upon us.

BTW -- we didn't jump to this declaration easily ... this is the second time we've seen DADZILLA. The first time being a trip to Disneyland where the former mortal man looked more jacked than normal.

Now, we know it wasn't a one-off ... but the dawn of a new era.

Mark Jackson says if the Lakers can get Kawhi Leonard ANYONE has to be on the trading block ... and that means any of their young stars ... including Lonzo Ball.

Talk in NBA circles is that Leonard wants OUT of San Antonio ... and IN to the Purple and Gold. But for that to happen, the Lakers would have to trade someone of value.

We got Mark out in Calabasas ... and he said it doesn't matter who that someone of value is, because Kawhi is too much of a beast to pass up on.

"I'm getting a top five player in the world so I definitely would be very aggressive in trying to get a home run hitter in my lineup."

Translating ex-NBA coach speak ... EVERYONE MUST GO!!!

The Game has created a brand new strain of marijuana -- obviously named after LeBron James -- and he's hoping it helps convince the NBA superstar to sign with the Lakers.

It's called "'LA' Bron James -- and created by Game's marijuana company, "Trees By Game" -- and the rapper says there's a very specific reason why he developed this strain.

"[It's] a strain inspired by my city & them trying to bring King James to the LAKESHOW."

FYI, Game is from Los Angeles -- and he's a die-hard fan of the Purple & Gold (and green too).

For the record, Game -- just like the Warriors -- has already smoked James. He liked it.

It's time for TMZ SPORTS DECODES ... starring NBA superstar Paul George, who might've just given the basketball world a huge clue about his future and the future of Mr. LeBron James.

Or did he?

First a little context ... rumors in NBA circles say LeBron joining the Lakers depends on him luring another big name star to Hollywood, and most people think George -- an L.A. native -- is that star.

In order for that to happen, George would have to want to play with LeBron and, when we got him at the Fortnite Celebrity Pro-Am in L.A. and asked him ... he seemed like he was down.

"Yeah, I'm with LeBron every All-Star. Every one of my All-Stars I've been teamed with LeBron ... I like playing with him."

We continued decoding as we asked George if he even likes Los Angeles ... and once again, he gave us more positive feedback than an eastern Tinder swipe.

"I'm from L.A., I can say I love L.A. because I'm from L.A."

What do you get when you love both playing with LeBron and L.A.? Seems like Purple & Gold.

It wasn't quite Pusha T on Drake ... but Lonzo Ball came hard after Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma in a newly released diss track called "Kylie Kuzma."

The rap dropped Monday afternoon ... and Ball goes for the jugular on a few occasions, throwing around disses for two straight minutes.

"Who are you without ZO2? Just another dude with a bunch of tattoos," Lonzo rapped.

"Boy, you talking crazy. Why you trying to play me? You ain't on my level, you ain't famous as my baby."

There's more ... Lonzo goes after Kuzma's style relentlessly, jabbin' at the fleece outfits he rocks and the "Kuzmania" shirts he's been trying to sell.

"You want smoke, you can get it, dressing for attention. Trying to be Russell Westbrook, you just honorable mention."

Zo, Kuzma and Josh Hart have playfully gone after each other all season on social media ... but did Zo's rhymes cross the line??

Nah ... let's keep it comin'!!

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were teammates for 13 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, so when Fisher gets hitched to "Basketball Wives" star Gloria Govan ... Mamba HAS to be there right?

NOT SO FAST.

We got Fisher out at LAX, and talked to him all about who may, or may not be there when he and Govan jump the broom ... and it seems there's a pretty decent chance Kobe WON'T be there.

"I mean, we'll see. It depends on how many people we decide to have there. If we decide it's just family, then it's just family."

So, Kobe's not family?! Weddings come with tough choices ...

Fisher also gave us his feelings on Shaq's ex-wife, Shaunie O'Neal, basically saying she wouldn't -- under any circumstances -- be caught dead at the wedding.

Here's a hint: He doesn't give a damn.

What did Lakers player Josh Hart tell his teammate, Lonzo Ball, when he caught him listening to his OWN rap music in the gym???

"TURN THAT SH*T OFF!"

It's actually pretty hilarious ... Hart could hear the ZO2 joint, "Gotta Get It," bumping from across the Lakers facility on Wednesday and decided to shame his pal on social media.

When the camera focused on Lonzo, he started dancing ... hard.

LeBron ain't gonna like this ... Isaiah Thomas is throwing ALL the shade at his former Cavs teammates ... trolling Cleveland for getting whooped in the NBA Finals.

IT was getting smoked by NBA legend Isiah Thomas (the other one) in a game called "Generation Gap" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday night ... and the Lakers guard compared his poor play to his old team.

"I'm like the Cavs ... I'm going to get swept"

Ouch.

Of course, IT was traded from Boston to Cleveland in the blockbuster Kyrie Irving deal just to get shipped to L.A. at the February deadline ... and IT's been poking fun at his time in the Land ever since.

Rick Fox says he's got the $100 MILLION Fortnite prize money in his sites -- and he's got his people scouting the world looking to put together the best squad he can find.

Fox is one of the big dogs in eSports -- his team, "Echo Fox," is a perennial contender in games like "League of Legends" and 'CS:GO.'

So, with Fortnite taking over the world and announcing a $100 MILLION prize pool next season -- we had to ask if he was making a run at that money.

"Our ears have been to the ground there, and our front office has been completely on top of finding the talent that would represent Echo Fox in a Fortnite setting."

Shouldn't be hard for Fox to put together a killer group -- his "Echo Fox" team dominated the H1Z1 competitions and won a ton of money there.

If LiAngelo Ball can help the Lakers win, Josh Hart tells TMZ Sports he'd love to have Lonzo's little bro as a teammate!

We got the Lakers rookie leaving Craig's just hours after Lonzo's bro wrapped up his workout at the Lakers practice facility on Tuesday and had to ask ... would he be open to a second Ball in the purple and gold??

"Hey man, if he's going to make us win, it don't matter," Hart told us. "I want him."

If it does go down ... we'll have to check back with Hart's feelings on the matter ... 'cause he and 'Gelo play the same position -- and you just know LaVar Ball will have something to say about that.

Meanwhile, enjoy LiAngelo's dunk session ... it's impressive.

If you thought LiAngelo Ball's dunk sesh at the Lakers practice facility was impressive ... wait 'til you see Zion Williamson's "hold my drink" response Tuesday.

The Duke commit -- clearly reacting to 'Gelo 'cause of the "dead legs" caption he shared -- nearly took down a rim trying to top the middle Ball brother's performance.

The first dunk: A self-lob, behind-the-back jam.

The second dunk: Another self-lob, left-handed hammer.

'Gelo's clearly got ups ... but yeah, we're givin' Zion the nod here.

Here's LiAngelo Ball putting on a dunk show ... something we know he can do ... but it's where he's doing it that's interesting -- 'cause the kid is throwing down at the Lakers practice facility.

'Gelo is working hard to get into the NBA ... and told TMZ Sports he had interest from teams when we got him and his dad, LaVar, out at LAX last week.

So, when it comes to the new footage of 'Gelo at the Lakers gym, we're wondering ... did 'Gelo slide in with his big bro, Lonzo, or is the team taking a real look at the middle Ball brother, making LaVar's dream of a Ball-filled Lakers roster closer to being a reality?

LaVar Ball doesn't care one damn bit that Lonzo Ball won't be Rookie of the Year, telling TMZ Sports 'Zo's NBA freshman season was still a resounding success.

If you remember, LaVar predicted Lonzo would win the award before the season started, but even though Ball had a decent season with the Lakers, 'Zo wasn't named a finalist for ROY.

We got the Big Baller at LAX ... and wanted to know what he thought about one of his predictions not panning out, and you guessed it ... he couldn't care less.

"Who cares?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Ain't no missed prediction. They all going to the NBA."

As a matter of fact, it seems LaVar has had a TOTAL change of heart ... because now he doesn't even think the award matters AT ALL.

"I don't care who Rookie of the Year is. I don't care who's Rookie of the Year. Rookie of the Year don't mean nothing."

The finalists for the meaningless award are Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum.