NBA

Lamar Odom is drugged out of his head ... but he's telling people he will sober up and play basketball again this coming season ... yes, he's that delusional.

Sources who have been spending time with Lamar tell us his drug problem is out of control -- that one of his drug dealers alone has sold him thousands of dollars in coke. We're told Lamar is now freebasing with pure cocaine.

As crazy as it sounds ... Lamar has done it before. We know he was using while on the Lakers and on the Mavericks. In addition, he was off the rails using drugs just months before joining the Clippers but cleaned up enough to get through the season.

We're told Lamar is full-on paranoid now ... he believes people are trying to set him up to get caught. As he told one friend, "Everyone wants to see me fail, but I'm not gonna let that happen."

Michael Jordan says there's only one guy who would beat him in a game of 1-on-1 ... and it ain't LeBron James -- it's Kobe Bryant.

MJ made the statement in a video promoting the NBA 2K14 -- while talking about a bunch of NBA legends he would've liked to ball against in their prime, including Jerry West, D-Wade, Carmelo, Kobe, LeBron and more.

"I don't think I would lose," Jordan says ... adding, "other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves."

MJ was later asked who was the better player -- Kobe or LBJ -- and explained, "In terms of dominance in the game of basketball at this stage, it's LeBron."

Lamar Odom's ex college roommate, and former NBA player Cuttino Mobley believes L.O. can shake off his drug problems in time to make it back to the NBA ... THIS SEASON!

Mobley, who's 38 and attempting his own comeback, was cruising through the Grove Monday when he said, "Hopefully Lamar will be back before mid (season)."

Lamar is 5 years younger than Mobley, but as TMZ first reported ... he's also battling crack addiction -- so pretty shocking to hear Mobley say Lamar will comeback before he does.

Thing is ... Cuttino looks to be in really good shape.

NBA player Ryan Anderson fought through tears today as he spoke publicly about his gf Gia Allemand's suicide ... saying her death has given him new purpose in his life.

Anderson -- who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans -- opened up during the team's media day, telling reporters he hadn't planned to talk about it, but then tearfully said ... "we have a huge plan to do something great in her name that's going to help a lot of people."

As we reported ... Gia, who was once on "The Bachelor" ... committed suicide in August -- just a few hours after she had a bitter fight with Anderson.

Anderson didn't spell it out, but it sounded like he was talking about Gia's rumored battle with depression. He got really choked up as he said ... "This is a topic that is not talked about enough."

Hit the road Joe ... and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more -- cause your son just stopped paying the rent.

Lamar Odom has had it with his dad and will no longer pay his rent ... and the clock is ticking before Joe is thrown out on the street.

Joe Odom tells TMZ ... Lamar called him earlier this week and went BALLISTIC over the comments Joe made about him and the Kardashians.

Joe claims Lamar has been paying his rent for 4 years -- a hefty tag of $2,900 per month -- but Lamar made it clear to Joe ... he's on his own now.

Joe tells us he can't afford the rent ... so he'll be out at the end of next month -- barring a reconciliation.

Don't hold your breath.

Ex-Philadelphia 76ers star Nick Young couldn't possibly be guilty of raping the woman who's suing him, because his DNA doesn't match the DNA police collected from her ... according to documents Young just filed.

In Young's legal response to his accuser ... he says the lack of DNA evidence should be enough to dismiss her sexual battery lawsuit -- and further, he claims the woman is just making a money grab.

As TMZ first reported back in May ... the woman claims Young drugged her and raped her after they met at Crown Bar in West Hollywood.

Police felt there were a lot of holes in her story, and dropped their investigation, but she promptly filed a civil suit against Young.

Lamar Odom came back to L.A. from the Palm Springs area Wednesday night and got a MASSIVE amount of cash ... and he's telling people he's spending it on an anniversary present for Khloe Kardashian.

Sources connected to Lamar tell us ... he wants to surprise Khloe with something big today -- for their anniversary -- that will blow her away. We're told he plans to spend "well over $100,000" on a present. Sadly, he doesn't understand the only thing that would achieve the goal of blowing Khloe away -- in a good way -- would be if he lays off crack and goes to rehab.

Lamar told people on Thursday he wants to take Khloe to Santa Barbara today where they would spend the night. Our Kardashian sources say there's no way Khloe is going anywhere with Lamar given his current state.

As for Khloe, we're told she's not giving up on the marriage but she's pessimistic. One person who regularly speaks to Khloe told us she's saying, "I'm just hoping for a miracle."

It's like deja vu all over again -- Michael Jordan has just been sued by another woman claiming he's the father of her baby ... but just like last time, MJ says she's a fame whore liar out for cash.

Laquetta Theus filed the paternity suit in Georgia, claiming she gave birth to Juyana Rachelle Henderson in August 2010 ... and MJ's the daddy.

Shocker, Laquetta's out for child support ... big time ... she even wrote on her Facebook profile, "Michael Jordan, when are you going to support your 2-year-old daughter? You drop 10 million on your nice wedding ... that was nice but don’t you think it time that you support your daughter?"

Laquetta's lawsuit is pretty much a carbon copy of a suit that was filed against Jordan earlier this year by Pamela Smith, who made nearly identical claims. Pamela's claim has already been tossed out.

As for Laquetta ... Jordan filed legal docs claiming her kid's paternity has already been established. Some other guy's the baby daddy -- not him.

And we haven't even mentioned the picture ...

Lamar Odom is holed up in a private home in a gated community 100 miles from L.A. ... and his life is now revolving around smoking crack and partying with 2 young women -- and he's intimate with one of them.

Multiple sources privy to Lamar's current state tell TMZ ... Lamar has a driver who is regularly shuttling back and forth from L.A. to his rental home with one purpose -- scoring drugs, including crack.

We're told Lamar is so paranoid ... he insists the driver only buy small quantities of crack at a time, so as not to draw too much attention to him -- and that means frequent trips to score the drug.

Lamar almost never leaves the home. He's smoking crack and partying with the 2 women, both in their early 20s. His life now revolves around smoking crack and listening to rap music.

Our sources say Lamar is extremely paranoid about getting caught. He believes people -- not the 2 girls -- are watching him so he's using a phone app that allows him to text people but the texts are automatically deleted once the texts are read. The app also notifies Lamar if they try and screenshot the message.

Lamar's best friend is also staying at the house.

We're told Lamar has been living in 3 different residences in the last 2 months -- partly because he feels if he stays on the move he won't get caught.

As for Khloe ... we're told Lamar isn't worried that she'll leave him. He says he knows she loves him and has stood by him throughout the entire drug saga so he's convinced she won't abandon him now.

Lamar Odom did not send the tweet in which he trashed his father and embraced the Kardashian family ... sources directly connected to the troubled basketball star tell TMZ.

Lamar supposedly responded to his dad, who had blasted the Kardashians for causing all of Lamar's problems, including drug addiction.

Sources who have first-hand knowledge of Lamar's actions tell us ... he did NOT send the tweet. In fact, they say he has no Internet where he's staying and he wants it that way. Lamar, we're told, is unbelievably paranoid about anyone knowing his whereabouts by tapping his phone. He has a 15-second rule in the house -- no one can be on his phone for longer than that.

What's more ... when anyone comes to the house, Lamar has someone confiscate their phone at the door.

Lamar Odom could be a wanted man Friday ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar was arrested last month for DUI. His arraignment is set for Friday. He's not required to show up in court to enter a plea -- his lawyer can do the trick.

Here's the problem. If no one shows up, the judge will issue a bench warrant for Lamar's arrest. And based on what we know, if cops find Lamar ... they will also find plenty of illegal drugs.

As we reported ... Kris Jenner contacted famed lawyer Robert Shapiro to represent Lamar, but that was before Lamar went MIA on the Kardashian family.

TMZ reported several weeks ago ... Shapiro would ONLY take the case if Lamar would seek treatment for his addiction. We are positive ... Lamar is not only refusing treatment, he's deeper into drugs than ever before.

It's unclear if Shapiro will change his tune and represent Lamar. It's also unclear if Lamar has even formally hired Shapiro.

There is one way Shapiro can help Lamar dodge an arrest warrant -- by going to court Friday, and asking the judge to put off the arraignment for a few weeks while Lamar nails down who will rep him.

Lamar Odom is breaking his silence to rip his own father to shreds for claiming that Khloe Kardashian and her mother drove Lamar into crack addiction -- and he's also acknowledging, for the first time, he's in a "dark" place.

In the scathing message Lamar says, "How can a man who has NOT once called me to check on my well being have the nerve to talk so recklessly about his own 'son'. He is my downfall!"

Lamar's angry letter, posted on Twitter, is a response to a published interview with Lamar's father, Joe Odom, in which he claimed the Kardashians cursed Lamar, ruined his career, and put so much pressure on him that he turned to drugs.

Joe also called Kris Jenner "an evil bitch."

Lamar's retort to his dad -- who's also battled drug addiction -- continues, "I have let this man and many others get away with a lot of s**t. He wasn't there 2 raise me. He was absent ALL of my life due to his own demons."

And Khloe's estranged husband fiercely defends her family, saying ... "He disrespecting the ONLY FAMILY that has loved me without expecting anything in return. They are the ONLY ones that have been here consistently 4 me during this dark time."

By "dark time" he could mean separation from Khloe, but as we've been telling you ... Lamar is deep in the grips of drug addiction -- so it could also be his first public admission of that battle.

Lamar added ... his father's "demons may be the ONLY thing he gave 2 me."

As for his current struggles -- addiction, marriage, basketball career -- Lamar says, "Only person 2 blame is myself. Say what you want about me but leave the ones who have done nothing but protect and love me out of this!"

Blake Griffin couldn't have knocked up Matt Leinart's baby mama at a better time -- because now that Matty's looking for a new NFL gig ... well, let's say someone's gotta pick up the financial slack.

Welcome to the club, BG!

Blake Griffin had it bad for his baby mama Brynn Cameron's brother ... and the NBA star even filmed a video to prove it.

A little background: Brynn's bro Jordan Cameron was a standout tight end for USC football back in 2011, and for some reason, Blake really really wanted to make sure Jordan got drafted by an NFL team.

So ... Blake filmed a hype video (and homage to Mars Blackmon) for Jordan -- co-starring Jordan -- before the draft.

Guess it worked ... the Browns picked Jordan -- mazel tov -- but did Blake only agree to shoot the hype video because he was banging Jordan's sister at the time? We can't say for sure (probably).

Former USC basketball star Brynn Cameron has an eye for athletic sperm. You may recall she had a baby with NFL QB Matt Leinart. Well guess whose baby she just had ... that would be Clippers superstar Blake Griffin!

TMZ has learned ... Brynn and Blake are now the proud parents of Ford Wilson Cameron-Griffin, who was born August 1st. The birth certificate lists Brynn as the mother and Blake Austin Griffin as the daddy.

As for the child she had with her baby daddy Matt, 6-year-old Cole lives primarily with her and we're told she's getting a boatload of child support -- we know she was getting $15k a month.

Brynn and Blake were dating, and apparently it went well for a while -- or for at least one night. And, we just found out ... Brynn and Blake are NO LONGER TOGETHER.

Let's just say ... in the baby daddy sweepstakes, Brynn is a Hall of Famer.

3:40PM PT -- We just ran into Leinart and gave him the ole Seinfeld ... "Have you seen the baby?" Matt's response was far from "Mazel Tov!" -- possibly because he had 2 kids with him ... one of whom could be his son with Brynn.

But check out Matt's tee -- it says "Lob Angeles" ... as in Clippers. Priceless.

NBA star DeAndre Liggins just surrendered after being charged with beating his girlfriend and throwing an Xbox at her.

Liggins allegedly ran into the bedroom he shared with his GF in Oklahoma City ... then grabbed her by the hair, pulling her out of the bed. Then, for bad measure, he allegedly punched her 11 to 12 times and then hurled an Xbox and a box fan at her head -- striking her. He then allegedly held her at bay.

What's worse ... the fight went down right in front of their 2-year-old son.

Liggins has been charged with 7 criminal offenses, including domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping.