NBA

Anthony Hamilton says the NBA wanted a pre-screening of his All-Star game National Anthem performance -- most likely to avoid another Fergie-ish disaster.

Anthony came on "TMZ Live" to break down the reasons why he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" the way he did -- which got rave reviews Sunday night ahead of the tip-off. AH says Colin Kaepernick actually played a role in how he arranged it.

Check out his explanation ... it's interesting, especially now that Kap has settled with the NFL.

We also asked him about the elephant in the room -- his predecessor's widely mocked version from last year. He says the league had some specific guidelines, including getting a preview of his rehearsals for the gig.

Turns out the NBA's got good taste in music ... because Anthony won over the crowd in Charlotte -- his hometown, BTW -- and also everyone watching at home ... based on the immediate reaction on social media.

No shirts were taken off, twisted around hands and spun like helicopters at NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte ... and Petey Pablo is pissed.

Remember, Pablo's 2001 hit, "Raise Up," is all about North Carolina pride -- and the NBA even used the song in an All-Star game promo.

But Pablo, who's from NC, wasn't invited to perform during the ASW festivities -- and it's clear he's upset about it, calling out the NBA, TNT and the Charlotte Hornets on social media.

"To all my fans thank you guys for all the love and support. You will have to ask @NBA @NBAonTNT @hornets @NBAAllStar why I wasn’t added as a performer this year for all star.

"I guess they just wanted to rock the building and not tear the whole roof off."

Instead, ASW featured performers like Meek Mill, J. Cole and constant tributes to the Curry family (Steph, Seth and Dell all have deep ties to NC).

The players didn't seem to miss Petey -- as evidenced by this pic of LeBron James and his teammates coming out of the locker room at halftime to watch J. Cole perform.

Lakers' head coach Luke Walton says he doesn't know ANYTHING about reports of friction between him and LeBron James ... telling TMZ Sports, "LeBron and I get along just fine."

The 38-year-old head coach had just touched down at LAX where he let us ask some Lakers questions -- and couldn't have been nicer about it.

On how the season is going so far, Luke told us he thinks it's "good" but points out how injuries to guys like LeBron, Lonzo and others have had an impact.

Still, Luke is optimistic -- telling us, "We'll be alright."

In fact, Walton told us he still thinks the 28-29 Lakers (currently in 10th place in the West) could make the playoffs ... saying, "We have some work to do, but we can do it."

ESPN's Jackie MacMullan recently reported about tension in the Lakers locker room between players and the head coach ... saying in late January, "It's clear to me ... that LeBron's camp would prefer a coaching change. They're not too subtle about that."

Luke cracks a smile when we asked about those reports -- probably because there's more to the story he's just not ready to say publicly yet.

Talk about a complete 180 for the National Anthem performance at this year's NBA All-Star Game ... sorry, Fergie.

Anthony Hamilton took the reigns Sunday to do his own rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and he absolutely killed it ... even with a slowed-down version -- unlike his predecessor.

The soul singer took his time, and hit every note he needed to ... and the crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Even more telling ... no NBA players were laughing. You'll recall ... Fergie had guys like Draymond Green and others giggling on the court.

Fergie eventually came out and apologized for her performance after it was roasted by just about everyone, saying she tried her best.

No question ... Anthony's got Fergie beat. But the real question now is, who did better ... AH or Marvin Gaye??? In case you didn't know, MG belted out what many consider to be the best rendition of the National Anthem during the 1983 NBA All-Star Game.

Louisiana legend James Carville says if Anthony Davis doesn't wanna be in New Orleans he can GET LOST because the Pelicans deserve a player that actually WANTS to play for them.

He also cannot stop talking about the surging LSU Tigers basketball team.

Carville is a Louisiana sports superfan, so when we got him out we had to ask about the Bayou state's latest pro sports drama ... AD trying to make his way to L.A.

That's when James gave it to Davis ... saying if the beauty and majesty of magnolias, swamps, amazing food, and rich culture aren't good enough for the superstar, he can kick rocks.

"If he wants to go, go. I don't want to have somebody who doesn't wanna be here, but I want to get something for him."

JC wasn't finished talking basketball ... and decked out in all LSU gear asked our camera guy if he saw that LSU had beaten Kentucky in Kentucky ... a rare feat for the Tigers ... James was downright giddy.

Lakers super fan Ice Cube says Scottie Pippen is WRONG when he says LeBron James doesn't have the clutch gene ... but RIGHT when he says LBJ is no Michael Jordan ... or Kobe Bryant.

Pippen took some shots at LeBron recently ... actually, he pretty much destroyed the guy on "ESPN First Take," saying the King turns into a peasant during crunch time in games.

We got Ice Cube at LAX and asked the lifelong NBA fan if there's any truth to Scottie's scathing critique, and the West Coast legend said no ... and yes.

"I think he does have the clutch gene, but not too many people in the world got the Kobe and Jordan gene."

So ... LeBron is clutch, just not Kobe or Jordan clutch. So, he's not like a high-priced Gucci clutch bag (no disrespect to T.I.) he's more like a Coach clutch bag (no disrespect to Coach).

Makes sense ... Cube went on to say LeBron shouldn't sweat Scottie's opinion, because he's got 3 rings and it doesn't matter, but we think Cube forgot one thing.

Two powerful NBA families are set to be linked by marriage -- with Steph Curry's brother, Seth, proposing to Doc Rivers' daughter, Callie ... and she said YES!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Blazers guard popped the question to his longtime girlfriend in front of their families at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Charlotte on Thursday ... with brother Steph and father Dell present.

Doc, Austin Rivers and the rest of the Rivers gang was also on hand for the special moment.

It was the perfect op for Seth to get down on one knee ... considering it was Valentine's Day and everyone's in town for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Callie tweeted about the big day, saying "2.14.19 was a DAY. so thankful & blessed & loved & happy & positive & complete."

Holiday basketball games are gonna be AWESOME!!!!!

Glen "Big Baby" Davis won't go to jail after he was allegedly caught with a quarter-pound of weed ... TMZ Sports has learned the ex-NBA star cut a deal in his case and is officially off the hook.

The former Celtics PF was busted back in February 2018 after cops say they found 126 grams of marijuana on him along with $92,164 in a briefcase at his Maryland hotel.

He was arrested and hit with 7 charges -- including a felony count of drug possession with intent to distribute ... which carries a maximum of FIVE YEARS in jail.

But, Davis reached an agreement with prosecutors last month to avoid time behind bars ... agreeing to pay the maximum fine of $15,000 in exchange for having the charges dropped.

Technically, the case was placed on the "Stet docket" -- which, in Maryland, means the case is essentially inactive, but not entirely erased. The case can be reopened if Davis missteps in the next 3 years. It's NOT a conviction. Davis did not have to enter a plea.

Davis' attorney, Margaret Mead, tells us it was a "reasonable resolution" to the case ... adding, "He wants to make a comeback and he's certainly not a drug dealer. He's not any of those things."

Davis played in the NBA from 2007 to 2015 -- winning a ring with the Celtics in 2008 -- and piled up 4,111 career points.

Forget candy, jewelry and teddy bears ... Cookie Johnson says Magic's secret to Valentine's Day is simple -- FLOWERS AND DINNER!!!

"He goes more out for birthdays and things like that," Magic's wife tells TMZ Sports.

Of course, Magic doesn't usually have the chance to ball out on Feb. 14 ... Cookie says the couple is almost ALWAYS on the road for the day at the NBA's All-Star festivities.

Things don't appear to be changing this year ... Cookie was actually on her way to the big event when we got her at LAX on Wednesday morning.

But, it seems Magic's V-Day plans are working all right for the couple ... Cookie and the Lakers GM have been together for decades -- and she's just fine with MJ's annual game plan.

"We do a nice dinner, something like that."

Ya hear that??? It ain't too late to return that necklace!!!

Ben Simmons and Kendall Jenner just learned how tragedy can bring a couple closer together ... because lovebirds spent some quality time moments after Ben was assaulted on the hoops court.

By a vicious, savage, disrespectful, jaw-dropping dunk.

It happened during the Knicks vs. 76ers game Wednesday night, when Knicks rookie Kevin Knox delivered a two-handed destruction to Simmons that shook social media to its core (which is pretty easy to do).

It happened in front of a packed house of celebrities including Regina King (who almost got bulldozed by Joel Embiid), Tracy Morgan, Karrueche Tran, Justin Long and Maluma.

Kendall was there too, and after the game she and Ben hit the town with some pretty long (but beautiful) faces, probably contemplating Ben's basketball future, while dealing with post-dunk PTSD.

Here's the play ... please don't allow any young kids, people with cardiac conditions or small dogs to watch.

America almost lost a legend Wednesday night ... but thankfully, Joel Embiid's hops saved the day.

Golden Globe-winning actress Regina King had courtside seats at MSG for the Sixers and Knicks game ... but it might've been TOO close to the action considering what went down in the 3rd quarter.

Embiid went chasing after a loose ball that was heading for the stands, forcing him to jump over RK in the process ... and you can tell by King's face -- she was SHOOK.

Embiid ended up kicking the dude behind King square in the chest ... but he appeared to be just fine.

King tweeted about the scare ... saying, "Yoooo. Thank you God and @JoelEmbiid for your athletic abilities. Crisis averted."

You can't ball like Steph Curry ... but you can at least be romantic like him -- 'cause Ayesha Curry is giving TMZ Sports the superstar's Valentine's Day secrets!!!

We asked the real chef Curry to spill the beans on her hubby's go-to V-Day plans while out in New York on Wednesday ... and she gave us a rough outline of how it goes down in the Curry household.

Ya gotta hear it straight from her -- there's some steak ... some wine ... and "lots" of secret ingredients!!!

Zion Williamson is SO good ... a shoe company could sign the guy to a $100 MILLION contract when he leaves Duke -- so says Jay Williams.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Blue Devils legend out in NYC when he told us Zion is so insanely talented, he should get the biggest sneaker contract since LeBron James.

"He has that marketability. That smile. And, who else is 6'7", 285 with a 43-inch vertical that can entertain you like that? Nobody."

Of course, LBJ famously signed a 7-year, $90 million Nike contract back in 2003 before he entered the NBA. But, most guys coming out since haven't come close to those figures.

In fact, DeAndre Ayton's deal with Puma last year was worth just a reported "multi-million dollars."

Translation ... NOWHERE near 9 figures.

But, Jay says Zion deserves a deal at least as big as LeBron's ... and seeing as it's been nearly 16 years since that contract -- doesn't seem it'd surprise him if that was in the $100 MILLION range!!!

Sounds like Floyd Mayweather wants to be the next big sports agent -- and he's already making his pitch to sign future NBA superstar Zion Williamson.

Floyd already runs Mayweather Promotions -- and reps a bunch of young boxing stars. But, Floyd tells us he's been working with NBA agent Alonzo Earle and he has serious interest in signing basketball players.

So, what's the pitch? Floyd says he can teach young superstars like Zion to not only make a ton of money during their careers, but he'll make sure they're financially set in RETIREMENT too.

"If Zion signs with me, you got my word that he gonna have a comfortable life when he's on the court and off the court ... if he did."

To prove his point, Floyd busted open a backpack filled with about $500,000 in cash.

Don't worry, Floyd says he's not worried about being robbed because he's smart when it comes to personal security -- with TMT bodyguards like Jizzy Mack and Badou, in addition to undercover police officers.

Floyd will obviously have competition when it comes to signing Zion -- every major agency in the world is trying to land the Duke superstar ... including Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports.

NBA legend Chris Bosh -- an 11-time All-Star -- tells TMZ Sports he's "done" playing pro basketball and is focusing on the next phase of his life ... HOLLYWOOD!!

After the 2-time NBA champ told Bill Simmons he'd no longer be pursuing a basketball career, we asked why he decided to finally hang it up.

"It was just time, man," Bosh told us while leaving Toast in L.A. ... "Time to do other things. Maybe be in some movies or something."

We asked if Bosh was taking acting classes -- "Yeah man, acting. Music. The whole nine, bro."

The 34-year-old already has a pretty solid IMDb page -- with acting credits on shows like "Parks and Recreation," "Wrecked," "The Odd Couple" and "Entourage."

Plus, he's an accomplished musician too -- remember, he jammed out on guitar with Buddy Guy back in 2017.

Of course, Bosh hasn't played an NBA game since the 2015-16 season when he was diagnosed with blood clots.

But, with all these big career plans -- we asked Bosh if there was ANY way he'd reconsider and play ball again.

Former NBA star Al Harrington says some nights in his NBA career were better than others ... and those are the nights he was guarded by white guys because on those nights he could do "something special."

Harrington -- who played 15 years in the NBA and averaged close to 14 points a game for his career -- appeared on "Van Lathan's The Red Pill" podcast and talked about his life.

Most of the conversation was about Al's Viola Lifestyle cannabis brand which he thinks will change the world (no one knows more about weed) but eventually, the conversation turned to the NBA.

When asked if Al felt any difference when he was up against white players versus black players, Harrington kept it all the way real.

"I might have that look in my eye with them ... I feel like Imma do something special."

Before you jump down Al's throat, he's not the first guy to say it ... Larry Bird, patron saint of the white hooper actually said in an interview he'd get INSULTED if an opposing team put a white dude on him.