NBA

Well, we know where Creighton University basketball stud Doug McDermott WON’T be celebrating if he wins National Player of the Year – the school cafeteria.

The 6'8" 215-pound scoring machine was out in New York yesterday and told us that CU’s culinary game could use some serious, serious improvement ... 'cause it's "terrible."

The good news for Doug -- he probably won't have to eat it too much longer since he's a surefire 1st round pick in the NBA Draft.

When LeBron James tweets, Samsung listens ... especially when he's complaining about a HUGE problem with his cell phone -- since LBJ is a pitchman for the company.

The drama began earlier today when 'Bron tweeted, "My phone just erased everything it has in it and rebooted. One of the sickest feelings I've ever had in my life."

We spoke to a rep for Samsung who essentially told us the company scrambled the jets to remedy the problem that blasted to LeBron's 12 MILLION followers.

"We are following the situation," the rep tells us ... "We have a team looking into it. There should be more information soon."

LeBron, probably realizing he made a pretty huge boo boo, deleted the tweet ... and replaced it a short time later with some new info: "Close call. Wheew! Got all my info back. Gamer! Lol."

Anthony Davis did the unthinkable for his 21st birthday ... he woke up WITHOUT a hangover -- TMZ Sports has learned the NBA superstar didn't take a single sip of alcohol at his b-day party.

Davis celebrated the big 2-1 on Tuesday ... and to celebrate, his friends and teammates threw him a party at Desi Vega's Steakhouse in New Orleans on Monday night ... before hitting a local sports bar called Walk-Ons.

We're told 95% of Anthony's New Orleans Pelicans teammates attended -- along with his friend (and fellow Red Bull endorser) Lolo Jones.

But when the clock struck midnight, and Davis was legally allowed to booze ... we're told Anthony stuck with iced tea and sodas -- and told employees he was serious about sobriety because he wanted to be fresh for practice in the morning.

Pretty mature for a 21-year-old.

Fun Fact -- We're told New Orleans rap legend 5th Ward Weebie also came out to Walk-Ons and performed at Anthony's party ... and even led the crowd in a rendition of "Happy Birthday."

51-year-old Michael Jordan could still DESTROY some NBA players ... despite the fact he hasn't played in the league in more than a decade ... so says Charlotte Bobcats big man Al Jefferson.

Now that Al plays for MJ's team ... we had to ask if he's ever challenged his boss to a little 1-on-1 when no one was looking.

"Nah, he might beat me ... embarrass me man ... hurt my confidence!"

Al could have a point -- after all, MJ was seen DUNKING at a shoot-around session a couple of months ago.

Baller.

"Basketball Wives" star Jackie Christie thinks pregnant women with ornery cats should kill the kitties by hanging, choking or other means if necessary.

It's pretty shocking ... our photog asked Jackie (in the dark blouse) and her friend, Sundy Carter (who appeared in "Bringing Down the House" and "Soul Plane") about what a pregnant woman should do with a temperamental cat.

Both women have no mercy for fearless felines. In fact, Jackie actually thinks cats can suck the soul out of babies and even kill them.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis is adjusting pretty well to life in L.A. ... crushing it on the court -- and also at the nightclubs ... and TMZ Sports has the video proof.

We spotted Davis leaving DBA nightclub last night ... with (at least) THREE hot chicks in tow.

After they got in his waiting SUV, a bunch of other chicks flocked to Glen's ride ... like skeezer moths to a rich and famous flame.

Aside from chick wranglin', Davis also talked basketball -- telling us his L.A. Clipppers are gonna win the NBA championship.

Matthew Stafford's girlfriend is a MONSTER on the basketball court ... sinking 3-pointers like the female Reggie Miller (only she's way hotter than Reggie) ... and she's got the video to prove it.

The Detroit Lions QB hit the gym with Kelly Hall recently ... and fed her the rock over and over as she hit 4 threes in a row from various spots on the court

Aaaaand ... when she was done heating up the hardwood, Kelly put on her yellow bikini and hit up Mexico with the girlfriend of NFL draft prospect Blake Bortles (in the purple bottoms).

Maybe Brent Musburger was right ... it's good to be the quarterback.

Sacramento Kings rookie Ray McCallum Jr. says he hasn't just come to terms with the bright pink "Hello Kitty" backpack he's gotta carry around ... HE'S PROUD OF IT!

RMJ was heading toward the team bus in NYC over the weekend when our photog was blinded by the pinkness -- and Ray explained why he and fellow rookie Ben McLemore are obligated to rock the look.

That's when Ray started braggin' about his backpack -- and said his bag was BETTER than Ben's.

Ben strolled by with his bag a few minutes earlier ... but didn't wanna talk about it.

Seems like someone's got a case of bag envy.

Ex-high school basketball stud Aquille Carr -- who famously turned down a scholarship to Seton Hall for a career overseas -- now has his sights set on the NBA, telling TMZ Sports he’s training hard for the upcoming draft.

Carr's journey hasn't exactly been smooth sailing ... the 20-year-old left high school to supposedly take a gig with a European team, but that didn't work out and he got an opportunity on an NBA D-League team.

But Carr (5'6", 148-lbs) was recently released from the D-League squad (although the team praised his talent) ... and now, Aquille says he's confident he'll be drafted by an NBA team in June.

In fact, Carr says he's been back East working with trainers to develop his NBA game -- with an intense focus on shooting and playmaking.

He also tells TMZ Sports he’s learned from his past mistakes, which include a 2012 arrest for domestic assault -- "I don’t look back on my past. I’m on to better things, learning, working hard and trusting in god more."

Carr, nicknamed "The Crimestopper" because of a reported dip in Baltimore crime during his high school games, says it was his recent experience in the D-League that had the biggest effect on his future plans -- "It helped me mature more, playing with guys that are in the NBA now, living that lifestyle, I learned a lot."

As far as the NBA competition he’ll be up against ... Aquille doesn’t seem to be intimidated.

We asked who’d win in a one-on-one game between him and the NBA’s number one little man Nate Robinson ... and Aquille didn't hesitate -- “Aquille Carr The Crimestopper, no doubt.”

We'll see.

Dennis Rodman now knows what we all figured out from the beginning ... his trips to North Korea were NOT a good idea.

Rodman appeared on ESPN today where he was brought to tears when talking about the negative reaction he received following his visits with Kim Jong-un ... particularly the time he sung the man "Happy Birthday."

But Rodman said he believes that one day he will be vindicated and that relations with North Korea will improve, and when they do, "Watch all these people kiss my ass."

LeBron James just hooked his childhood friend up in a HUGE way ... pulling some strings to help get one of his boys' rap songs on the new NBA 2K14 soundtrack ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke to Sian Cotton -- who's been close with 'Bron since they were kids. In fact, Sian says they've been having rap sessions together since they were 9.

Sian says LeBron hasn't just been supportive of his aspiring rap career -- but when LBJ learned he'd be on the cover of 2K14, he did everything he could to help get Sian's track "Almost Home" on the game.

"I'd been submitting my stuff to 2K, and then I found out LeBron was gonna be on the cover," Sian said.

Sian says he was gonna hit up James to help him out -- but when he grabbed his phone he already had a text from the Heat star that said, "'I wanna get you on the game."

"He thought of me before I could say anything."

Eventually, LeBron called him back with the good news -- "He said 'the people from '14 have been calling you. They picked your song!"

During last night's game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls, ESPN's Jon Barry either dropped a very causal F-bomb or ... well, we really don't have another option.

As Grizzlies center Marc Gasol drained a midrange jumper, Barry remarked, "four f**king jumpers he's knocked down."

It's possible Barry said something else (one site postulated he was trying to say "flat-footed" jumpers), but it's clear he got a little tongue-tied.

Dear Ty Lawson,

We get it. The Lakers are terrible. First, they lost to the Clippers on Thursday by a whopping 48. Then last night in Denver, you made Lakers guard Jodie Meeks FALL DOWN ON HIS ASS with an ill crossover dribble.

The video above (which was posted by the NBA's official account) shows the move from every angle imaginable.

This isn't the first time you clowned the boys in purple in gold. Last year you

to our cameras after beating the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Blink and you'll miss it ... but when we asked comedian Bill Bellamy about the best celebrity basketball players he's seen, check out the surprise in his voice when he brings up a white guy.

Bellamy drops the words "actually good" before mentioning the guy's name (hint: he's part owner of an NBA team) and there's some definite subtle reverse racism in the way he says it.

For Sale: Vlade Divac's beach house in L.A's Pacific Palisades. The retired NBA star is asking $3.25 million for the home.

Here are some of the highlights.

-- 5 bedrooms ... to flop in.
-- a wine cellar ... to flop in.
-- yoga room ... to flop in.
-- walk-in closets ... to flop in.
-- outdoor dining area with ocean view ... to flop on.
-- 4.5 bathrooms ... to poop in.

Divac -- who reportedly made more than $93 million during his career -- bought the place back in 2003, but according to Realtor.com, he had offered it as a rental for $13k-per-month.

The home is expected to draw as many offers as Vlade did fouls. #flopjokes.

Question: What do Phil Jackson and the Dalai Lama talk about when they get together?
Answer: "Tibetan stuff."

That's what Phil told TMZ Sports yesterday when we asked him about the quality time he spent with his holiness in Los Angeles last week.

"I didn't give him any Zen advice ... he gave me all that Tibetan stuff. It was wonderful."

Jim Carrey was also in the room when Phil met with Mr. Lama at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. There's also a photo of Lama appearing to bless Eva Longoria that night.

Smooth, Dalai ... smooth.