NBA

It's time for Carmelo Anthony to get the hell outta New York and start winning championships ... so says Caron Butler, who wants to see 'Melo play for a REAL contender this season.

TMZ Sports spoke with Butler about the trade rumors surrounding the 'Melo/Phil Jackson drama ... and he says all signs point to the Knicks moving on and building around young star Kristaps Porzingis.

Things got HEATED between Shaq and Charles Barkley on "Inside the NBA" Thursday night ... but what would happen if the two superstars actually came to blows?

Shaq would straight-up MURDER his ass ... so says their co-star Kenny Smith.

Don't worry, The Jet says everyone is calm and cool now ... but the big men almost went to war last night in a debate over LeBron James.

But Barkley would be smart to step down ... because O'Neal would wreck Sir Chuck ... bad.

Kenny explains why Barkley stands no chance ... and says even HE could beat down Chuck these days.

Matt Barnes will cooperate with the NYPD and turn himself in next week to face misdemeanor assault charges stemming from a nightclub brawl, though he maintains his innocence ... a rep for the NBA star tells TMZ Sports.

We broke the story ... Barnes and his Sacramento Kings teammate, DeMarcus Cousins, were involved in an altercation at Avenue nightclub back in December.

A woman in the club claims Barnes choked her during the melee. Barnes claims he was the REAL victim and he did what he had to do to defend himself.

Now, a rep for Barnes is confirming the NY Daily News report that he'll turn himself in ... but AFTER a 4 game road trip.

Cousins was not charged.

Ex-NBA player Charles Shackleford -- who played for the Nets, 76ers and Timberwolves in the '90s -- was found dead in his hometown of Kinston, North Carolina ... police confirm.

Shackleford was 50.

Cops tell TMZ Sports, "We can confirm Charles Shackleford was found deceased in Kinston this morning."

"The cause of death has not been determined. This incident is still under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available."

Shackleford was a stud in college at N.C. State in the '80s -- but was more infamous for a post-game quote in which he attempted to describe his shooting talents.

"I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I'm amphibious."

Shackleford got into a bunch of legal trouble after his NBA career -- and was arrested in 2010 for selling drugs to an undercover police officer.

LeBron James just took a shot at Donald Trump.

The NBA superstar was talking to the media about the NBA All-Star rosters and was asked his thought about some players turning in "goofy" ballots as a joke.

His response ... "There's always goofy votes. Donald Trump is our president."

LeBron James has previously said he's undecided about going to a Trump White House if the Cavs win the NBA title ... saying, "We’ll have to cross that road, I guess. We’ll see. I would love to have to cross that road."

Ron Artest III just totally DUNKED on his dad, Metta World Peace ... saying it doesn't bother him if Metta roots for his competition, because he roots for his dad's old rival ... LEBRON JAMES.

Ron III just got the biggest win of his high school basketball career when his Beverly Hills High team beat Crossroads, a squad led by prep phenom Shareef O'Neal.

TMZ Sports talked to Metta about the big win ... who revealed a shocking fact that he was ACTUALLY ROOTING FOR SHAREEF OVER HIS OWN SON!!!

We brought it up to Ron III when he joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show Thursday, and his response to his pops couldn't have been more priceless, or more savage.

Rajon Rondo is firing back at Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade over their post-game comments after Wednesday night's loss ... saying their lack of leadership is the reason why the Bulls are losing.

Wade and Butler voiced their frustration to reporters after losing to the Hawks ... calling out the younger players for not caring enough.

Rondo wasn't specifically mentioned ... but clearly took exception, firing back on Instagram by trashing Jimmy & Dwyane as bad leaders when compared to his old Celtics teammates Ray Allen, Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett.

"My vets would never go to the media. They would come to the team. My vets didn't pick and choose when they wanted to bring it."

"It takes 1-15 to win. When you isolate everyone, you can't win consistently. I may be a lot of things, but I'm not a bad teammate."

"The young guys work. They show up. They don't deserve blame. If anything is questionable, it's the leadership."

Here's Atlanta Hawks co-owner Tony Ressler telling TMZ Sports he's 100% riding with the Falcons to win a championship ... because his Hawks probably ain't getting it done.

We got Tony out at Madeo and asked what it would mean for the city of Atlanta to finally win a Super Bowl ... and when he thought the Hawks might raise a trophy themselves.

He said a Falcons 'ship could "only help" the city ... and as far as the Hawks, he says they'll get it done "someday," but it's clear he doesn't think that day is happening in 2017.

Listen, the guy probably ain't lying ... the Hawks are 4th in the East right now, but let's face it, it's all about the Cavs -- and LeBron James -- right now in that conference.

There's no beef between Shaq and Metta World Peace over their basketball star kids ... matter of fact, Metta says he sometimes pulls for Shareef when he plays against his son.

TMZ Sports spoke to Metta about Ron Artest III's H.S. squad going up against Shareef O'Neal's this week ... and he says he's so close to Shareef, he's conflicted about who he wants to win.

FYI -- Shareef is one of the top-ranked juniors in the country ... and Ron III -- who just started ballin' 2 years ago -- is an up-and-coming prospect.

MWP says he's cool with the young ballers being friends OFF the court as long as they're still enemies ON the court.

As for Metta, if being a basketball dad and an NBA player weren't enough to keep him busy ... he told us he just dropped a new hip-hop track.

If you think UCLA superstar Lonzo Ball is a problem now ... just wait until the kid gets to the NBA ... 'cause Lonzo's dad, LaVar, says he's gonna dominate the Association even EASIER than the NCAA.

Lonzo's just a freshman, but has already established himself as one of the best players in the nation ... with some experts saying he could be the first overall pick in June's draft if he declares.

TMZ Sports talked to LaVar -- who's totally a star in his own right -- and asked him how he thinks his son, Lonzo, will do if and when he gets to the NBA ... LaVar's short answer was ... well.

That's not all ... we also talked to Mr. Ball about how you build a family dynasty in hoops (his sons, LiAngelo & LaMelo, are current HS superstars) and the man dropped knowledge to all the parents out there.

Smush Parker tells TMZ Sports he's PUMPED Lamar Odom is down to join his team for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 league ... and while he hopes Kobe Bryant comes around, he's not about to beg.

The ex-Lakers player joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Wednesday night on FS1) and told us he's still VERY serious about joining the league. His agent's even been in contact with league officials.

But, with Kobe still mum on the possible reunion with his former Lakers teammates -- Smush says he's already thinking about some of the players who could fill the 3rd spot.

D'Angelo Russell needs to stop acting like a kid and start acting like a MAN if he ever wants to reach his superstar potential ... so says his former Lakers coach, Byron Scott.

Scott appeared on "L.A. Today" on AM570 when Fred Roggin asked if he believes the 20-year-old will ever become the breakout NBA stud he was touted to be coming out of college.

"The jury is still out," Scott said ... "but he's got to grow up."

Scott says Russell has TONS of potential but strongly implied that he doesn't put in the extra work in gym that people like Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade are known for doing.

Translation -- you can't get by with raw talent at the NBA level.

Lamar Odom says he's ON BOARD to team up with Smush Parker and Kobe Bryant for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm with it!"

Of course, this whole thing started with Smush telling us he thinks he and Kobe could have been the greatest back court in Lakers history if they would have gotten along better during their playing days.

Now, Smush wants to team up with Kobe and Lamar again -- to dominate the Big3 league ... which already includes ex-NBA stars like Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Rashard Lewis and more.

Smush is in. Lamar is in.

Just waiting on you, Kobe ... not like you have a job right now, right?

Remember this day ... the day NFL star DJ Fluker GUARANTEED his L.A. Chargers (still weird) would make the NFL playoffs in 2017.

We got Fluker on the streets of his new home city and asked him about all things Chargers, including what the fans can expect from the team on the field next season.

That's when Fluker went all Joe Namath on us ... assuring, asserting, then outright guaranteeing the Chargers charge their way into the playoffs.

Derek Fisher wants to completely blow up the All-Star game voting process, all because Russell Westbrook -- who's averaging a FREAKIN' TRIPLE DOUBLE -- didn't make the starting squad (which is insane).

We got Fisher out in L.A. and asked him about the snub heard 'round the world ... and Fisher was pretty clear on how he felt about it ... if Russell doesn't start, the voting doesn't work.

Russell Westbrook was PISSED at the Golden State Warriors after Wednesday night's game -- vowing revenge on Zaza and apparently telling teammates to stay away from "bitch ass" Kevin Durant.

The game wasn't exactly the friendliest -- with Zaza Pachulia knocking Westbrook to the ground at one point and standing over him in a menacing way.

After the game, Russell went off to reporters saying, "I'm gonna get his ass back. Straight up."

He added, "I don't know when it's gonna be. But I don't play that game."

There's more ... now video has surfaced from the moments the game ended appearing to show Russell telling teammates to not talk to a certain "bitch ass."

According to multiple reports, the "bitch ass" in question is KD, though it's impossible to tell from the clip alone.

Interesting note ... Westbrook says he and Durant are NOT on speaking terms.