NBA

Gilbert Arenas is gunning for his ex-wife in court for repeating an STD claim about him that already cost her $110k ... TMZ has learned.

The ex-NBA star filed a defamation lawsuit against Laura Govan, as well as her attorney, Maya Shulman, over a December blog post about the longstanding war between the exes. In the post, Shulman said Laura was "stating a fact" when she accused Gilbert of giving her an STD.

As we reported, Gilbert won a hefty defamation judgement against Laura over that very allegation. In the new suit, he says Laura and her attorney clearly didn't learn their lesson -- and the December comment constitutes another instance of smearing his good name.

He says Shulman dug her own grave when she issued a retraction -- in the comments section of the blog -- admitting she doesn't "know any 'fact' that supports" Laura's STD claims. Gilbert says it proves she knowingly made a false statement.

He adds the retraction didn't come until 2 weeks later, and was NOT prominent on the site. He's suing both women for damages.

Michael Jordan is too old to compete in Ice Cube's new 3-on-3 league for retired NBA players ... so says Allen Iverson, who tells TMZ Sports MJ's teeth are a little too long to still get it in on the court.

We got Iverson out in NYC at the official news conference for the BIG3 summer league (AI's gonna be playing and coaching) and wanted to know if we could look forward to Michael Jordan showing up.

Why ask Iverson? Allen made his NBA bones against MJ back in '97 crossing over His Airness in a moment most saw as Iverson's arrival, and the beginning of Jordan's departure.

Iverson says Jordan won't get his shot at revenge ... because at 53 he thinks Father Time is playing lockdown defense on MJ.

Thank you, Iverson ... if Michael wasn't thinking about playing before ... we GUARANTEE he is now.

There will be no Kenyon Martin/George Karl peace summit ... the ex-NBA star says the guy is a "clown" and his explanation he gave for the hurtful things he said in his book is BS.

Kenyon was out in NYC hyping up BIG3 when we asked for his thoughts on Karl. He told TMZ Sports he regretted the way he spoke about Kenyon's father situation in his new book.

It's clear Martin isn't even close to forgiving Karl and has absolutely no desire to work things out with his former coach.

Rajon Rondo didn't get on the team bus with the rest of the Chicago Bulls to travel from the hotel in D.C. to the Verizon Center Tuesday ... but the team insists it has NOTHING to do with his beef with head coach Fred Hoiberg.

TMZ Sports spotted Rondo getting into a private car at his hotel before the Bulls played the Wizards -- while the team bus was parked right outside.

The timing is interesting since Rondo has voiced serious displeasure with Hoiberg over his recent 5 game benching.

But a rep for the Bulls tells TMZ Sports there's a perfectly good explanation for Rondo traveling solo.

"On game days, Rajon often goes to the arena early before the team bus departs the hotel. We have few players who will do this when they want to get in extra work pregame."

Rondo played 27 minutes in the Bulls' loss to the Wizards but went off on Hoiberg after the game -- saying his benching was "bulls**t."

Cool moment in the TMZ offices when Boosie Badazz met Metta World Peace -- and bro'd out right on the "TMZ Sports" TV show.

Turns out, the Louisiana rap legend is a HUGE Lakers fan -- and told Metta he remembers watching him hit that famous 3 pointer in Game 7 of the '10 NBA Finals while he was locked up in prison.

At the time, Boosie was locked up in the Louisiana State Penitentiary on drug charges ... and says Metta's shot was a bright spot during his incarceration.

Metta was equally stoked to meet Boosie ... saying the Lakers are always bumping his music in the locker room. Metta also told Boosie he was a "champion" for turning his life around after prison.

There's A LOT more on the "TMZ Sports" show Tuesday night on FS1 -- including Metta's take on the new George Karl video, Lamar Odom's possible coaching move and Mike Tyson's diss track.

The Answer is returning to the court!!

Allen Iverson has committed to be a coach/player in Ice Cube's new 3-on-3 basketball league -- joining a list of ex-NBA stars that includes Kenyon Martin, Jermaine O’Neal and Jason Williams.

The league -- founded by Cube -- is set to kick off in June.

Iverson is 41 years old ... but does he still got game? We'll find out!

George Karl is finally expressing remorse about the controversial comments he made about Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin ... saying, "I think I said that the wrong way."

Karl came under fire for a passage in his new book that said guys like Melo and Kenyon didn't know how to act like men because they didn't have fathers in their lives growing up.

Kenyon blasted Karl as a coward and terrible person.

We saw the ex-NBA coach in NYC moments ago and asked if he regretted what he wrote. He wouldn't go as far to say, "Yes" ... but he doesn't exactly defend his work either.

Ex-NBA player Orien Greene -- a 2005 2nd round pick -- was arrested in Florida on Monday morning after officials say he snuck into 2 homes and rubbed a sleeping woman's butt.

Yeah ... creepy.

According to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports, the 34-year-old ex-Boston Celtics player entered the first home early in the morning and went to the master bedroom where he encountered a 56-year-old woman lying in bed.

Greene then left without further incident and went to a 2nd home across the street ... where he allegedly went to the bedroom and saw a 40-year-old woman sleeping in bed.

Greene allegedly kissed the sleeping woman on the neck and "rubbed her butt."

The woman woke up and started yelling ... Greene allegedly booked it and went to his girlfriend's house (which is in the same neighborhood).

Lamar Odom says he's still intent on returning to the NBA ... but on the sidelines ... telling TMZ Sports he's reached out to Lakers coach Luke Walton about a spot on the staff.

Odom's been intent on getting back in the league, saying at Kobe's farewell game that he fully expected to one day be back on an NBA roster.

It's seems he's changed his focus ... because when we got him out in L.A. on Monday he told our camera guy his return will still happen ... but as a coach.

Odom says he's serious and has already spoken with Luke about his future with the franchise.

If you think it's impossible, you're dead wrong ... Odom's still one of the most well-liked players in Lakers history ... and was lauded for his IQ on the court during his playing days.

Charles Oakley straight -up OPEN HAND SLAPPED Charles Barkley in the face during a 1999 off-the-court encounter ... so says ex-NBA champ Chucky Brown.

In fact, Chucky says he watched the entire thing ... and says Barkley got punked hard.

Chucky gave the blow-by-blow on the "Jerseys & Dress Shirts" podcast with MJ and Dale "The Lawyer" ... explaining how it unfolded in a hallway before an NBA player's union meeting.

In case you didn't know ... Oakley and Barkley had bad blood for years. They famously fought on the court in a pre-season game in 1996.

Brown says Barkley refuses to acknowledge the incident. We're reaching out to his reps anyway.

The entire interview airs January 13.

Chris Bosh has found a way to fill the time now that he's not playing in the NBA -- he KILLED IT as a special guest guitarist with blues legend Buddy Guy!!

Bosh hit up Buddy Guy's Legends blues club in Chicago Sunday night and got onstage with the 80-year-old guitar god himself. Did a pretty good job, too.

CB had major support from the crowd -- which included his wife, along with good friends (and ex-teammate) Dwyane Wade and Gabby Union.

Some real talk from Craig Sager Jr.

Being the son of a legendary NBA reporter could be "pretty frustrating growing up" ... but CS2 says he finally got the relationship he wanted thanks to one final project before his dad passed away.

Craig opened up about his father to TMZ Sports ... telling us how the decision to co-author a book about the sideline reporter's battle with cancer brought them closer together than ever before.

It's an emotional story with a great ending.

He's only been out of rehab for a few hours, but Lamar Odom says he's already thinking about his next professional move ... a new reality TV show.

Odom completed a 35 day stint at a San Diego treatment center on Thursday and immediately hit up Beverly Hills to celebrate with a mini-shopping spree.

He looked and sounded great -- and touted the rehab experience as "life-changing."

We also asked about the Kardashians and his ex-wife, Khloe -- and Lamar told us things are as cool as they can be with his former in-laws.

You know you're rich when ... you just DOWNGRADED to a $5 million beach pad.

That's what L.A. Clippers superstar DeAndre Jordan just did -- the same day he sold his $11.75 million Pacific Palisades mansion, he scooped up another beach pad for more than half the price.

Jordan's new spot ain't too shabby ... a 4,600 square foot home with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms in a private guard-gated community.

Movie theater? Check. Swimming pool? Yeah. Guest suite? He's got that too.

It's not like he can't afford the bigger spot -- DJ's in the middle of an $87 MILLION contract.

Enjoy the new digs!

How cool is this?

"Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo hit the game-winning shot against the Knicks in NYC Wednesday night ... and then GOT OFF THE TEAM BUS to celebrate with Greek fans who were chanting his name.

Giannis was born and raised in Greece -- and played pro ball there before being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. His career has been on the rise ever since.

Fast forward to last night ... there were a TON of Greek fans in the crowd, some holding Greek flags, and they all went INSANE went Giannis hit the buzzer beater that won the game in the 4th.

After the game, he got on the team bus to leave when he noticed a group of fans holding a Greek flag and cheering for him ... so he got off the bus to sign autos and take pics.

Another NBA star shooting down ANOTHER claim from George Karl's book -- this time it's Doc Rivers who says George is wrong ... the league does NOT have a doping problem.

Karl wrote in his book, 'Furious George,' that it's "obvious" players in the league are doping ... saying:

"How are some guys getting older—yet thinner and fitter? How are they recovering from injuries so fast? Why the hell are they going to Germany in the off-season? I doubt it’s for the sauerkraut."

So, we asked Rivers what he thought about the very serious allegation ... and the Clippers honcho was quick to shoot it down.

But the question remains, why is Karl going H.A.M. on the league?