NBA

Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins will soon make the NBA their bitches ... that's according to Stephen Jackson, who says it's just a matter of time before the duo takes over.

We got Jackson out at LAX, and asked him if the big deal that sent Cousins to New Orleans will end up paying off for the Pelicans ... 'cause right now, the guys are 1-3 since the trade.

Jackson has a message for the Crescent city ... RELAX ... saying Bougie & The 'Brow are gonna be the league's new David Robinson & Tim Duncan once they figure things out.

Caron Butler admits he was" extremely scared" during a "red alert" bomb scare while he was visiting troops in Afghanistan ... but praises the Army for keeping him safe and vows to go back.

Butler just returned from a trip to the Middle East with the USO -- and even watched the NBA All-Star game with soldiers in Afghanistan.

But a few days before the game, troops rushed in and moved Caron to a secure area after getting intel about a potential bomb threat.

"You could tell a lot of people was in like a extreme red alert," Butler says ... "I was extremely scared to say the least."

"But at the same time I knew I was in the good hands of the U.S. Army and they took great care of us over there."

Amar'e Stoudemire says his comments about not wanting a gay teammate in his locker room were SUPPOSED to be "taken as jokes" ... and he's sorry for offending the LGBT community.

"I want to apologize for my offensive comments against the LGBT community. These remarks were taken from a larger interview where a reporter was asking me hypothetical questions, and all my answers had a comedic undertone."

As we previously reported, Stoudemire -- who's playing pro basketball in Israel -- told a local media outlet he would "shower across the street" if he found out he had a gay teammate.

"The answers I gave were meant to be taken as jokes & I am deeply sorry for offending anyone."

Stoudemire continues ... "I am open to creating a dialogue to assist the fight the LGBT community encounters daily and will continue to focus on playing basketball."

Ex-L.A. Lakers forward Devean George has a message for Amar'e Stoudemire -- APOLOGIZE!!

The 3-time NBA champ was clearly disappointed in Amar'e after he heard about the homophobic comments A.S. made to an Israeli media outlet.

"Come on bro, you can't do that," George told us ... "He's too old for that."

He added, "Obviously he should apologize but some people have their opinions and they believe in their beliefs so he can say what he wants to say ... but it's not a good look."

Kevin Durant's gotta get healthy if Golden State wants to win an NBA championship ... 'cause it ain't happening without him, so says Warriors legend Rick Barry.

KD's out "indefinitely" after spraining a ligament in his left knee during Tuesday night's loss to the Wizards. The team announced they'll reevaluate Durant in 4 weeks ... but there's no chance he plays before.

FYI -- the NBA playoffs start in 6 weeks.

So, can the 50-10, 1st place GSW win without their leading scorer?

It ain't looking good ... according to longtime Warrior and HOFer Rick Barry.

"I would think the chances are diminished considerably [without Durant]. I don't think they would have an opportunity to do it without Kevin Durant because he is such an integral part of their success so far this season."

But if they already won a 'ship without KD in '15 ... why can't they do it again?

It's official ... Russell Westbrook's got a baby on the way!!

The NBA star announced his wife is with child and due in May. There have been rumblings behind the scenes for months ... now Russ has confirmed it's true.

Russ and Nina got married back in 2015 -- and have been dating since their college basketball days back at UCLA.

Ex-NBA player John Amaechi -- one of the most famous openly gay athletes on the planet -- has a message for Amar'e Stoudemire ... DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF.

After Stoudemire told Israeli media that he'd refuse to be in the same locker room as a gay teammate, Amaechi told TMZ Sports he's sick and tired of negative role models like A.S.

"These are serious times and we need serious people to lead important conversations, not petulant man-children spouting puerile prejudice," Amaechi told us.

"There is already one too many of those holding court in the media, and the world is poorer for it. Within the world of sport there are plenty of true role models -- on and off the floor -- whose words are carefully chosen to uplift and integrate society not join Trump and his grinning cabal in their 'locker room banter.'"

"In these tumultuous times, these true role models are the men and women whose voices we need to disseminate to every corner, not a braying jackass making a desperate grab for relevance amongst a constituency destined for extinction."

"Lastly, could someone please tell this man to stop flattering himself. It’s embarrassing."

We also spoke with Hudson Taylor, founder of Athlete Ally -- one of the biggest LGBT groups in sports -- who explained the impact Stoudemire's comments have on young basketball players.

He's only been in town for a week, but DeMarcus Cousins is fitting right in with the New Orleans culture ... sportin' panties on his head and drinking from a bottle of Hennessy in the Mardi Gras parade.

Boogie and Pelicans teammate Anthony Davis were honorary grand marshals ... throwing out beads and giving the crowd a bit of "Fire and Ice" action -- party style.

By looking at the crowd's reaction ... it's safe to say Cousins is already a fan favorite.

JaVale McGee's mother is FURIOUS at Shaquille O'Neal -- calling for "Inside the NBA" to fire Shaq for blasting her son on TV and social media.

It's the latest in a bitter feud between Shaq and McGee -- a feud that started years ago when Shaq started mocking the Golden State Warriors player in his Shaqtin' a Fool segment on "Inside the NBA."

Now, with tensions at an all-time high after Shaq WENT IN on McGee again last week -- on TV and on social media -- JaVale's mother (an ex-WNBA star herself) says O'Neal crossed the line.

"He cyberbullied my son,” Pamela McGee told The Undefeated ... "Totally inappropriate. Shaquille needs to lose his job or be suspended. The NBA needs to make a stand.”

For his part, Shaq says HIS mother is also getting involved -- and told him to cut the crap as well.

"I have orders from the top to leave it alone,” O’Neal said ... "My mama."

Shaq says his mother told him, "Stop this silliness. Leave him alone" ... so he listened.

Charles Oakley might not want to return to MSG after his beef with James Dolan, but that won't keep him from watching his Knicks ... sitting courtside as New York visited the Cavs Thursday night.

Oak -- a Cleveland native -- was invited to sit next to Dan Gilbert to have an up-close look at LeBron James and the defending world champs beat up on the struggling Knicks.

Oakley was temporarily banned from the Garden after getting ejected and arrested at the February 8 Knicks game. Dolan later lifted the ban, but Oak says he's not ready to return to the arena.

The Land has continued to show support for the former NBAer ... from making t-shirts to LBJ telling reporters, "Oakley for president."

Shaq's playful beef with NBA player JaVale McGee just went NUCLEAR ... with the two men vowing to fight each other ON SIGHT after a series of menacing and threatening tweets.

McGee's been a target of Shaq's 'Shaqtin' A Fool' segment on "Inside The NBA" for years, and apparently had enough when the broadcast devoted a whole segment to his on court screw-ups Thursday night.

JaVale took to Twitter and blasted O'Neal, asking Shaq to kindly get his umm, peanut emojis out of his mouth ... you get the meaning, right?

Shaq wasted no time firing back ... leveling a direct physical threat at the Warriors big man that had ZERO of O'Neal's trademark levity.

"@JaValeMcGee34 don't be acting like u a g I'll smack the s**t out yo bum ass u da one that be looking stupid with your dumb ass #bumass."

Shaq then doubled down, making the threat a promise saying, "we gonna see how tough you are when I see yo ass."

McGee and O'Neal's rift has threatened to get serious before, including a time JaVale called Shaq a "coon" -- a terrible racially charged insult to a black man -- on LIVE TV ... but it's clear that things have now gotten outta hand.

Neil deGrasse Tyson has a message for Kyrie Irving ... KEEP YOUR DUMB FLAT EARTH BS OUTTA SCIENCE ... saying the world would be a better place if Irving sticks to the court.

Irving caused a stir earlier this week when he appeared on a podcast and said -- completely seriously -- that the earth is flat. That's right kids, your favorite point guard is a flat earther.

We talked to Tyson, one of the smartest men on earth, and he told us he has zero problem with Irving's outrageous claim, as long as Kyrie never does anything remotely having to do with scientific thought.

Chandler Parsons is NOT in an official relationship with reality star Savannah Chrisley, despite reports to the contrary -- they're just "good friends."

Here's the deal ... people went crazy after the "Chrisley Knows Best" star appeared on "Access Hollywood Live" on Thursday and talked about Chandler when asked about her "new boy."

Her father -- who also appeared on the show -- said he's met (and likes) Chandler but expressed concern about his daughter dating an NBA player.

Well, dad ... don't worry.

Sources close to the NBA star tell us they've definitely hung out -- but they ain't exactly boyfriend/girlfriend.

"Savannah and Chandler are just close friends," one extremely connected source tells us.

Bad news for Kevin Durant ... he's NOT banging Amber Rose, that's according to Amber ... who says the hookup the whole internet is talking about never happened.

There were reports Amber and Kevin had hit up The Nice Guy together on Tuesday night, and a potential romance -- and maybe even a brand new power couple -- was brewing.

But, when we got Amber (who's really, really attractive) out in L.A. Wednesday night, she smashed rumors that she's smashing the NBA All-Star, saying they just happened to be at the same restaurant.

Hear that? It's the rest of the NBA breathing a sigh of relief.

If we told you Kevin Durant got straight balled up by "Chappelle's Show" star Donnell Rawlings there's no way you'd believe us right? We didn't think so ...

Turns out it TOTALLY happened ... and Donnell not only told the tale to TMZ Sports when we got him out at the Hollywood Improv Tuesday night -- he also provided VIDEO EVIDENCE!

It went down at a charity game in DC a few years back when Rawlings stole the ball from KD, then pushed the rock hard up the court to drain a smooth three.

Almost as dope as the moment itself? Donnell says he ran into Durant during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and brought it up to him, and KD totally remembered.

Check it out below ... sorry we ever doubted you, Donnell.

Cookie Johnson says her husband's new job with the Lakers is a "natural fit" -- saying Magic Johnson's always bled Purple & Gold ... and she's confident he can bring the team back to greatness!

"He's a Laker through and through," Cookie told us on the way out of Barneys in Beverly Hills ... "I love it."

We also asked the big question on everyone''s mind -- should Magic bring Kobe Bryant back into the fold?

"If it's a good fit, I think so ... if it's a good fit."