NBA

Coming to you from his kitchen ... in a tank top ... former L.A. Lakers baller Kareem Rush singing Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" -- and dude can definitely hit the high note!

As we previously reported, Rush is laser focused on growing his music career -- something he's been passionate about for years. In fact, Rush dropped a single back in 2010.

Now, with a new album on the way ... Rush put his pipes on display on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" -- busting out a ridiculously tough song with no warm-up, no backing track and only basement level acoustics.

George Lopez ain't a fan of Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov -- saying he's not just shocked the guy is "bailing" on the team ... but couldn't believe he would do something as "low" as trading the coach.

Lopez was out in D.C. when he heard the news that Prokhorov is looking to sell the team -- less than 5 years after buying the majority share of the Nets for $223 million.

"That guy's bailing on them already?" Lopez asked ... "it's shocking to me."

Lopez also ripped Prokhorov for trading away head coach Jason Kidd to the Bucks last year -- "Trading a player, that's what they normally do. But trading a coach? That's low."

Check out the clip -- Lopez says he's also planning to round up some of his huge celebrity friends like Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria to buy the franchise.

His days with the Lakers are over ... but ex-NBA player Kareem Rush is still gunning to sell out the Staples Center ... as the next big superstar in pop music.

The 34-year-old tells TMZ Sports he's focusing on a singing career -- "I'm a cross between Timberlake and Maxwell."

Rush has been working on his craft for years ... and even dropped a single back in 2010 ... before he officially retired.

But now that he's done hoopin', Rush says he's putting everything he's got into music -- and plans to drop a brand new album later this month.

More than half his body's covered in tats ... which can cost a FORTUNE ... but NBA stud Chris Andersen tells TMZ Sports he hasn't paid a single cent for any of his artwork.

So, how did Birdman get the low, low price of "on the house" when it comes to his ink?

"I'm a walking billboard," Andersen says.

We're guess what he means is ... tattoo artists LOVE having their work displayed on a 6'10", 245-pound canvas that gets seen by millions and millions of people every week.

Translation -- it pays to be famous ... so you don't have to pay.

Payback's a bitch ... so says Kenny "The Jet" Smith who says he's constantly looking over his shoulder -- waiting for Shaq to try to get his revenge for that infamous Christmas tree shoving.

You remember the incident ... Smith tossed Shaq into a tree on the set of "Inside the NBA" ... leaving the Big Fella flat on his ass covered in broken branches.

"I thought it would be funny ... but I didn't know it was gonna be THAT funny," Smith said.

As for Shaq's revenge, Kenny says he knows it's coming -- it's just a matter of time.

Seems Rick Ross is officially off the hook in his $100k NBA bet with Jalen Rose -- with Jalen telling TMZ Sports he's willing to let the whole thing go for some delicious lobster.

You know the bet ... Ross wanted to put up $100k that his LeBron-less Miami Heat would finish the
season with a better record than Bron's new team, the Cleveland Cavs.

Jalen publicly accepted the bet -- going on his Grantland podcast and saying, "You know I'm good for the money, homie."

But according to Jalen, Rick had a change of heart around Xmas time ... with Rose implying that Ross was less-than-impressed with the Heat ... even though they beat the Cavs on Xmas day.

So what happens now? "I think he's gonna take me to get lobster tempura at Prime One Twelve," Jalen says.

FYI -- Lobster Tempura cost around $25 (we called).

Here's the thing ... the Cavs are 19-19. The Heat are 16-21 ... the bet could still go either way.

We'll follow up with Ross and let you know his side.

The Barack Obama comedy tour continued at the White House Monday ... when for the second time in a year, he roasted a pro sports team to their faces. This time, the NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs were in the crosshairs.

Among the targets ... THE ENTIRE TEAM ... with Obama explaining why it's hard to hate a team full of senior citizens.

He also took as few shots at Coach Gregg Popovich and joked about Matt Bonner's aspiring career as a food blogger named "The Red Mamba."

The Comedian-In-Chief did the same schtick last year when the Seattle Seahawks came to visit .

Remember, tip your waitress.

Steve Francis says the reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated ... telling TMZ Sports he's not only doing perfectly OK, but he could still ball up 20-somethings in the NBA if he wanted to.

The Franchise was out in D.C. when our camera guy asked the 37-year-old if he's maintained his skills since he last played in the league back in 2008.

It's an interesting question, considering there have been widespread rumors that Francis was struggling with health issues after some unflattering pics surfaced online.

It got all "Stomp the Yard" in the Staples Center last night ... when Clippers owner Steve Ballmer busted out some EPIC dance moves during the game ... and Magic Johnson LOVED IT!!!

It all went down when Fergie came out to perform during the Clips vs. Lakers game ... when the music took hold of Ballmer's body ... and the body parts began to fly!!!

"That's an owner who can dance and own the team all at the same time," Magic told us on his way out of the arena. "He got better moves than me!"

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant honored ESPN legend Stuart Scott on the court last night ... with a hand-written tribute to the anchor penned on his sneakers.

Anyone hoping for a "Space Jam" sequel (all four of you) is about to be seriously bummed ... 'cause one of the movie's stars is telling TMZ Sports why it should NEVER HAPPEN, and it's all about LeBron James.

Thom Barry -- who played MJ's dad in the movie -- was out in Beverly Hills recently when we asked about rumors that LeBron might pick up where His Airness left off in a new Jam.

If you're a fan of King James, prepare to be pissed at this vid -- Barry throws a couple shots at LeBron (and Kobe too) for even thinking they could slide into Jordan's Jordans on the big screen.

Baron Davis -- former NBA star-turned-Hollywood producer -- just completed his very first project ... and it's all set to be released in just a few months ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Davis has been focused on a career in Hollywood for a while -- and now we've learned he's producing and directing a documentary about the legendary Drew League.

FYI -- The Drew League is one of the most legendary basketball leagues in the country ... it's based in L.A. and huge NBA stars like LeBron, Kobe and Kevin Durant often drop by to compete.

But it's not just basketball players -- guys like Terrell Owens, Matt Leinart and The Game are regulars as well.

We're told Davis' project has been in the works since 2011. Baron is funding the bulk of the project himself ... sources say there is a major celebrity who also kicked in.

We're also told the doc is set to be released during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

Stay tuned ...

It's been a while since Shaq got in the studio and laid down a rap -- but now, the daughter of an NBA owner tells TMZ Hollywood Sports she's confident she can convince the Big Fella to come out of retirement for one last verse.

Anjali World -- daughter of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive -- appeared on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" (Mon-Fri on Reelz) and told us Shaq has been like a mentor to her in her pursuit of a singing career.

"Me and Shaq are hella-cool. He's actually really supportive of my music," Anjali said ... "when I was first starting out he gave me a lot of advice."

So, when we asked if there was a chance she could talk Shaq -- who also happens to be a part-owner of the Kings -- into dropping a verse on an upcoming single, Anjali says she'll have to talk to him about it ... but is VERY confident she could make it happen.

FYI -- it's been 22 years since Shaq's rap debut on "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock) ... which sold more than 500,000 copies.

The Paul Pierce era in Boston is now officially over -- because the former Celtics star has finally sold off his massive 2-story mansion ... but he took a pretty nasty hit on the way out.

Pierce bought the 7,631 square foot pad back in 2003 for $2.4 million ... but after he was shipped out of Boston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 -- Pierce put the home on the market for $2.6 mil hoping to turn a profit.

Things didn't go as planned.

TMZ Sports has learned ... after more than a year on the market, Paul finally found a buyer. But he only got $2.25 mil for the 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom spot ... $150k less than he paid for it.

Doc Rivers is calling BS on reports that his Clippers players don't get along -- telling TMZ Sports, "We all love each other."

Questions have surrounded the Clip squad after a report from an NBA insider that the team -- comprised of stars like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul -- simply "don't like each other."

But last night in L.A., Rivers shot down the report -- telling our guy there's no bad blood in the organization.

He might be one of the toughest guys in the NBA, but Sacramento Kings player Reggie Evans has a soft spot for his kids ... as evidenced by the adorable chain he rocked around NYC yesterday.

Evans -- who was in town to play the Brooklyn Nets -- headed over to the Barclays Center with several diamond-encrusted pictures of his 4 kids.

C'mon ... that's cute and you know it.

Evans was also rocking out a pair of fancy Louboutin boat shoes ... $1,200 a pair.