Los Angeles Lakers

These are actual words that came out of Shaq's mouth Sunday night -- "Kobe coming back. You heard it here first."

Is he messing with us? Probably. Then again, maybe not??

But, probably.

Shaq was leaving the Budweiser LIVE 5-on-5 charity basketball tournament in Downtown L.A. over the weekend when we asked the 46-year-old if he would ever consider a comeback.

The Diesel shot that right down ... but then cracked a big grin and told us, "Kobe coming back I heard. Kobe coming back! You heard it here first!"

There have been rumblings about 39-year-old Kobe Bryant coming back to the Lakers for one more season alongside LeBron James ... but it's super unlikely.

Then again ... maybe not?

By the way, the basketball event raised money for the Folds of Honor Foundation -- which provides scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military personnel who've been killed or wounded in action.

Move over LeBron ... you ain't the only James wanted in Hollywood -- 'cause 'Basketball Wives' star Jackie Christie is BEGGING Savannah to join the show.

"Come on Savannah," Doug Christie's wife tells TMZ Sports. "We need you!"

Jackie's been a staple on VH1's hit ... and when we got her out at LAX with her NBA hubby -- she was all for sharing the show's limelight with LBJ's boo.

"Savannah, come be on 'Basketball Wives,' we think you're adorable!"

Of course ... Jackie IS one of the few 'Wives' stars still with her NBA connect -- so there might be some angling for a new storyline here.

LeBron James is being offered some hip-hop help from one of the biggest new rappers in the game ... Trippie Redd, who's telling TMZ Sports exactly how he'd use LeBron musically.

We got Trippie in Beverly Hills and wanted his opinion of LeBron's rapping, so we let him hear James' freestyle from a couple years ago.

Trippie took it in ... but didn't just give us a review, he gave us a plan -- a plan on how to make LeBron a viable musician ... and it sounds like he knows what he is talking about.

Redd also told us he's 100% sure Kobe is coming out of retirement to play with LeBron next year, pleading his case to our camera guy.

LeBron James has officially put Kid Ink's Clippers fandom on life support ... 'cause the L.A. rapper tells TMZ Sports he'd root for King James' Lakers in a playoff series with the Clippers!!

The 32-year-old has been all-in with the Clips since he was little ... telling us, "I ride for the underdog."

But, with LBJ in L.A. now ... Kid Ink's doing the unthinkable -- DUMPING HIS OLD TEAM!!

"I've always been riding for LeBron James since high school," he says.

Now ... Kid Ink's not fully ready to commit the L.A. treason ... telling us he atleast won't rock Lakers gear when he cheers on LeBron at Staples Center.

But, you gotta hear the dagger he inserts into Clip City's heart when we ask who he'd root for in a scenario where LeBron has the ball in closing time against the Clippers.

Shareef O'Neal knows it's hard following in his NBA superstar dad's footsteps ... but says Bronny James is thriving under that same spotlight ... sharing a touching message to LeBron's oldest son.

ICYMI -- LBJ recently revealed he regrets naming Bronny after himself because of all the pressure that comes with it ... admitting it was an overreaction to not having his own father growing up.

Shaq's son reflected on Bronny's journey so far on Thursday ... praising Bronny for dealing with the heat like a pro at just 13 years old.

"Bronny ... One kid I can relate to a lot ... we both kind of have it the same way , being the son of an NBA legend isn’t easy and to get all of this at a young age is a real challenge to adjust to."

"Bronny has it a little bit worse than I do, but the difference between him and I, he can back his up at such a young age."

Shareef says he struggled with the hate when he was Bronny's age ... admitting he'd sometimes choke when getting heckled. But, he makes it clear the Lakers superstar's son seems poised enough to tune out the negativity.

LeBron James says he regrets naming his 14-year-old son LeBron James Jr. -- because he's concerned about all of the pressure that comes with it.

The NBA superstar was opening up about his family to Jon Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Odell Beckham Jr. and Maverick Carter in his new HBO series, 'The Shop.'

While James was talking about how much fun he's having watching his kids play youth basketball -- Stewart asked, "How do you give them a piece of mind that they don't have to be you?"

That's when James explained his regret when it comes to naming his kid -- but said it was an overreaction from not having a father while he was growing up.

James said he always swore that he would be the dad he didn't have -- and naming his kid "Jr." -- was the first step.

No, this is not a picture from last season ...

LeBron James and Kevin Love were in the gym together Thursday morning -- smiling like two guys who don't hate each other's guts.

Of course, Bron just ditched Kev and the Cavs for L.A. -- and according to multiple reports, he didn't even text Love before going public with his decision.

And, don't forget ... LBJ and Love's 4 years in Cleveland together weren't exactly drama free -- remember Bron admitted he called out Kevin on Twitter a few years ago?

But, that's all water under the bridge ... because Kevin posted this reunion pic in a Vegas gym ... and captioned it, "Thursday morning work."

Sorry, Lakers fans ... L.A. is still Clip City, even with LeBron in the purple and gold -- so says Clippers guard Lou Williams.

We got the reigning Sixth Man of the Year out at his Lou Williams basketball camp in Atlanta when he told us the Clippers still run Los Angeles ... despite Magic Johnson's huge free agency haul.

"I mean, the Lakers ain't beat us since I've been on the Clippers," Williams tells TMZ Sports.

"So, record-wise, yeah, we are the better team in L.A. until they prove it."

The next generation of the Big Baller Brand empire has arrived -- Lonzo Ball's girlfriend has given birth to a baby girl, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story back in February ... the 20-year-old Zo and his high school sweetheart, Denise Garcia, were expecting a baby baller of their own.

A family rep confirms Zoey Christina Ball was born on Sunday. We're told the baby girl is as happy and healthy as can be.

Lonzo and Denise started dating back when they were kids in Chino Hills.

The Chargers need tight end help now that Hunter Henry is done for the year ... and Geno Smith's got the perfect guy for the job -- ANTONIO GATES!!

The new Los Angeles quarterback told us he's hopin' the Bolts bring back the future Hall of Famer -- and his reasoning is pretty simple.

"Gates is a legend!"

Fair enough.

We also asked Geno if he thinks LeBron James is the top talent in Los Angeles now ... and Geno doesn't disagree!

Movie stars ain't the only ones fallin' all over themselves to work with LeBron now that he's in Hollywood ...

YG tells TMZ Sports he's absolutely open to a music collab with LBJ if the King wants to do one.

"I f*ck with LeBron," YG says. "Hell yeah, that n**** can get a YG feature!"

One problem ... YG says it probably ain't gonna happen -- 'cause Bron's too old for rap dreams.

What YG may be forgetting is that LeBron has dabbled in rap before -- in fact, TMZ Sports has Bron's tracks from a 2014 session with his pal, Sian Cotton ... when the two hit a recording studio in Ohio.

In the song, titled "Kingdom" -- Bron raps about docking his yacht off the coast of France, having dope cars and TWO RINGS!!

Roy Hibbert tells TMZ Sports ... he's done with professional basketball -- explaining, "It's just time to move on."

The 31-year-old -- a 2-time NBA All Star -- was at LAX and we were talking about everything from LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony ... even Isaiah Thomas.

But, when we asked Hibbert if he had any desire to come back to the Lakers and play with LeBron, he told us, "I'm good on it right now" ... and explained that he's moving on from the NBA.

Hibbert last played in the league back in 2017 -- a stint with the Denver Nuggets. Before that, Hibbert was a stud with the Indiana Pacers.

As for what he'll do next? He's got options ... considering he reportedly made more than $70 mil in the NBA.

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.