Los Angeles Lakers

Nick Young thinks Patrick Beverley must've been on the sauce when he declared the Clippers to be the best team in the NBA ... asking TMZ Sports, "He was drunk that night or something?"

Remember, earlier this month, Beverley proudly told us he REALLY believes his new Clip squad is better than the Lakers and the Warriors ... and are real contenders to win the NBA title.

So, when we saw Swaggy -- who plays for the Warriors -- leaving Craig's in West Hollywood Sunday night ... we had to ask for his thoughts. His reaction says it all.

Nice moment between LeBron and his former Cleveland Cavs coach, Tyronn Lue, at the NBA Summer League in Vegas ... where the two embraced and bro'd out.

It appears to be the first time they've seen each other since LeBron bolted The Land and signed a new $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Our friends Bryan Salmond and Sharp and Shapiro from "The Vegas Take" radio show were next to the two at the Thomas & Mack Center as the Cavs took on the Raptors ... and watched Bron and Ty chat it up.

LeBron -- wearing his L.A. Lakers shorts -- got a standing ovation from the crowd.

LaVar Ball says the pathway for LiAngelo Ball to get to the Lakers is a clear one ... and it runs through the new hoops league he created -- THE JBA!!

L.A. -- along with the other 29 teams in the NBA -- passed on Gelo in the draft last month ... so now the most famous Ball has a new plan to fix that -- put him in a JBA jersey with LaMelo.

"It's not even a yellow brick road," LaVar tells TMZ Sports. "It's a road that he has to take. It's nothing wrong with this."

So far ... so good for Gelo -- who dropped 53 points, 10 boards and 10 assists in his debut Thursday night ... playing in front of Lakers stars Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

LaVar seems to concede it's probably not the most ideal route for Gelo to end up in the association ... but he says it's better than "running hills and just shooting on the machine by yourself."

You're looking at a living, breathing SHOE GOD -- Tinker Hatfield -- Nike's famous designer who created some of the most iconic Air Jordan shoes EVER!

But Tinker also created a stinker ... an Air Jordan shoe that he wishes he never made -- the Jordan 15.

You gotta hear Hatfield explain why he wishes he could take it back and throw it away ... the story is really interesting. Did you know he modeled the tongue of the shoe after Michael Jordan's actual tongue?

On the flip side, Tinker says his Jordan 11s are his proudest creation -- but tells TMZ Sports it's a shoe that was thiiiis close to being scrapped ... if not for MJ himself bringing it back to life.

BONUS -- we ALSO asked Hatfield what to expect with LeBron James' first signature shoe as a Laker ... and it's gonna get fans hype.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope says he's thinking of ways to welcome LeBron James to the Lakers -- and says a dinner with the rest of his teammates is definitely on the table.

The funny part ... Bron's been in town for about a week now and hasn't broken bread with his Purple and Gold squad yet (that we know about) ... but he had made time for Hollywood stars like Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio and Khloe Kardashian.

If LeBron James is looking to cast people in his upcoming movie ... look no further than Karl-Anthony Towns!!

We got the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar out in Hollywood with his smokin' hot girlfriend, Kawahine Andrade ... wearing the exact same designer hoodie Bron rocked Wednesday night.

FYI, the hoodie is made by a company called Rhude -- which sells the sweatshirts for around $500!

So, with their fashion sense lining up, we asked KAT if he wants some on-camera work with LeBron's production company.

"Tell him to call me," Towns said ... "We can make it happen!"

He's not the only star hoping to team up with James -- Common says he'd love to hook up with LeBron for a project.

How's this for a collaboration ... LaVar Ball and LeBron James on a big Hollywood project together?

LaVar tells TMZ Sports ... don't rule it out.

The Big Baller was at his JBA league event in Ontario, CA where we asked if LaVar had plans to get in on all of the Hollywood power meetings LeBron has been taking in Los Angeles.

Lonzo's dad told us a meeting with Bron ain't a priority ... right now ... but he's excited about the possibility of teaming up with King James down the line.

"In Hollywood, anything's possible," LaVar says ... "We hook up together maybe become something more powerful. But it's all good!"

We also asked LaVar about Lonzo's health surrounding his knee injury -- and he assured us, "Lonzo's getting better and better."

LeBron James hasn't been in L.A. two weeks and the stars are already falling out of the sky to work with him -- this time it's Common, who tells TMZ Sports he's ITCHING to do movie biz with the King.

James has been doing work in Hollywood already -- he and his business partner, Maverick Carter, just sold a new movie to Paramount Players and took a power dinner meeting with Leo DiCaprio and Al Pacino.

We got Common at LAX and asked if he's drooling to be a part of LeBron's Hollywood kingdom, and he said he'd love to run some lines with James ... again.

"LeBron is one of my favorite athletes, I actually just did a movie called 'Smallfoot.' We both did this animated film together."

The flick he's referencing is about a yeti who's convinced humans exist -- and includes voiceover work from stars like Channing Tatum, Zendaya, James Corden, and Danny DeVito.

"Of course I'll work with LeBron and Maverick! They're incredible, they do good stuff."

Who's gonna say NO to this guy?

Back when he was a junior high student, Magic Johnson knew he was destined for big things ... telling a local paper he planned to play pro basketball, start a business and travel the world.

Check, check and check!

Johnson dug up the article from his 9th grade year for a dope Throwback Thursday post ... in which he was written up for breaking a city junior high scoring record with 48 points!

But, the best part of the article is when he was asked about future plans:

"In the future, Earvin plans to keep on playing ball up through high school, college and into the proffesional [sic] ranks. He also plans to start a business and to travel."

Now, roughly 44 years later ... Johnson is giving himself a well-deserved pat on the back.

Imagine you're the server assigned to this table ... LeBron James, Al Pacino and Leonardo DiCaprio -- who gets to order first?!

That was the situation at Avra Beverly Hills on Wednesday night -- where the newest L.A. Lakers star broke bread with two of the most powerful men in Hollywood.

And, get this ... it seems Leonardo DiCaprio tried to run interference for Al and Bron -- because after the meal, Leo went out the front while the other two guys went out the back!

Of course, Leo is a massive Lakers fan who's been a regular at Staples Center over the years -- maybe Pacino is a fan of "Trainwreck"?

BTW -- LeBron's business partner, Maverick Carter, was also there (in the jean jacket) ... so yeah, this dinner was more business than pleasure.

No word on who paid (or expensed) the bill.

It's Bron's second big celebrity dinner since he's come to town -- he had sushi with Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson earlier this week.

LeBron James is already making moves in Hollywood -- the newest Lakers star just sold a movie project to Paramount Players ... and he's making a play for the starring role.

The project is a comedy movie, according to Variety ... which says Bron has been developing the flick with his production company, SpringHill Entertainment, and writer Steve Mallory.

Mallory wrote the Melissa McCarthy movie "The Boss" and he's working on her next project, "Superintelligence."

LeBron is producing the flick with his business partner, Maverick Carter.

It's not Bron's first big Hollywood deal -- he's already got a "House Party" reboot in the works and is working on the new "Space Jam" movie.

Dear Lakers fans,

Don't plan the victory parade just yet.

Love,

Charles Barkley

The NBA legend was leaving Madeo in Beverly Hills on Tuesday when he hit Lakers nation with a cold, hard dose of reality -- LeBron James can't single-handedly save the Lake Show.

"He not gonna win next year," Barkley told our guy ... "Stop it, dude."

Barkley says Lebron's a great player, but they need to get better -- and tells TMZ Sports Magic Johnson needs to continue building out the roster and bringing in top talent before they can contend with the Warriors.

And, here's more Lakers dream-crushing -- Barkley says there's NO WAY IN HELL Kobe Bryant's coming out of retirement to play in the NBA.

Hours after officially signing his L.A. Lakers contract, LeBron James and his wife celebrated in Malibu ... with his OLD Cleveland Cavs teammate Tristan Thompson (and Khloe Kardashian!).

The foursome -- along with a ton of security and others -- hit up Nobu in Malibu ... one of the most expensive sushi joints in town.

Not like price matters (LeBron just signed a $154 million contract, Tristan is in an $82 mil contract and Khloe is rich as hell too).

So, why is Bron out with the old teammate instead of bonding with his new Lakers squad? Could be because the Lake Show is in Vegas at the moment competing in the NBA Summer League.

Then again ... it's not like LeBron couldn't have flown out (or flown them in) for a first official dinner together.

... Or maybe he just really likes Tristan and Khloe?!

On that note, TT and KK were ALL OVER each other in the car -- kissing and hugging up ... and posting it on social media for everyone to see.

LeBron James isn't going anywhere but L.A. now -- the King has officially signed his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Klutch Sports -- which reps LeBron -- tweeted a photo of the NBA superstar grinning widely alongside Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, and a stack of papers in front of them.

The sports agency added a caption, which read ... "Officially signed with the @Lakers @KingJames." In a press release, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson is quoted as saying, "LeBron is special. He is the best player in the world ... The Lakers players are excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It’s a huge step closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals."

As we reported ... LeBron's new deal is worth $154 mil over 4 years. Magic is said to have engaged in immediate talks with LeBron the moment he landed in L.A. last Saturday, and was integral in landing the big fish for the Lakers organization.

Could Kobe Bryant come back from retirement at 39 years old to play one final season with LeBron James?

Matt Barnes says that would be dope as hell ... but highly unlikely.

There have been rumors (mostly wishful thinking) that Mamba would lace 'em up for one last ride in the Purple & Gold to take a run at the Golden State Warriors alongside King James.

We know Matt and Kobe are friends -- so, we asked ... is it a real possibility?

Long story short ... Barnes says don't bet on seeing #8 or #24 back on the court -- but, "that would be dope though."

We also asked Barnes what he thought about Patrick Beverley telling TMZ Sports his Clippers are BETTER than the Warriors ... and Matt hits the NBA with a dose of cold hard reality.

Jonas Never -- the guy who painted the new dope LeBron mural in L.A. -- says he ain't pissed his piece got tagged only hours after its completion ... telling TMZ Sports it took just 20 minutes to fix!!

The kick-ass artist spent 12 painstaking hours putting his "King of L.A." LeBron mural on Baby Blues BBQ in Venice ... and just moments after it was finished -- somebody drew all over it.

Jonas tells us it's all good -- it was an easy fix ... but he does have a question for the dude who tagged it.

"I'd ask him, seriously, if they were a Laker fan, I don't get how a Laker fan could be mad about getting the best player in the game right now."

Jonas says they've added some new lighting and security cams to make sure he doesn't have to retouch it again ... but if it comes down to it -- he ain't sweatin' it.