NBA

The Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night in L.A., but David Foster and his new gf, Katharine McPhee, might not have noticed.

The two had great seats, but it didn't matter because it looked like Katharine was more into David's convo than Lonzo Ball's ball skills.

They've been spotted together all over town the last couple of weeks, and were even snapped smooching. So far no official statement on the status of their relationship, but the body language pretty much says it all.

Gilbert Arenas thinks Lonzo Ball is off to a pretty decent start, but tells TMZ Sports they can't really shine in L.A. just yet BECAUSE THE REST OF HIS TEAM IS SUPER TRASH.

Here's Gil's point ... Lonzo is a passer, and in order for him to tear it up for the Purple & Gold, his teammates have to make the shots he sets them up for, something Arenas says these guys can't do.

"You try to put so much hype around a point guard but your team is bad. He can't make these players good, if they're Hondas they're Hondas. This is not fast in furious where you can put some Nitrous on Ingram and make him a better Honda."

Ouch. Arenas went on to explain that no point guards make all the greats like Shaq and Jordan who they were, and if the Lakers think Lonzo's gonna do that, they're fooling themselves.

Finally, a politician is going to bat for pro athletes who wanna use weed -- saying the NFL and NBA are treating players like 2nd class citizens for taking away their rights to get high (medically).

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) says it's about damn time league commissioners acknowledge that marijuana is BETTER for treating the "really terrible pain" pro athletes endure.

"It's much less damaging than the opiods, the painkillers, the shots, the pills ... and it's time professional sports stops punishing them but works with them."

Congressman Blumenauer says 2/3 Americans have legal access to medical marijuana -- so to ban NBA and NFL players is basically treating them like "second class citizens."

BTW -- shout-out to the great people of the 3rd District in Oregon, your rep is the COOLEST DUDE EVER.

We also spoke with ex-NBA player Al Harrington -- who's actively lobbying the NBA to lift the weed ban -- and asked if there's been any progress since he spoke about the issue with ex-commish David Stern.

6:01 PM PT -- Lamar's rep says he collapsed due to dehydration after an intense workout earlier in the day without the necessary fluids in his system. They also said it was very hot in the club, while adding ... he's "doing great."

Lamar Odom collapsed at his VIP booth at an L.A. nightclub early Sunday morning ... TMZ Sports has the video.

Odom was at Bootsy Bellows on the Sunset Strip when several staffers and patrons noticed the ex-NBA star collapsed to the ground around 2 AM. You can see security rush in to help and he seems to be conscious.

The person who shot the video tells TMZ Sports he saw Odom drinking for several hours before the incident.

The issue ... Odom has a serious history with substance abuse -- he almost died from a drug overdose at a brothel in 2015.

Odom has since gone to rehab and vowed to change his life -- but he's been partying a lot lately ... from strip clubs to nightclubs.

At least one voting block is already behind Mark Cuban's possible 2020 presidential bid -- his players ... with Mavs vet, Devin Harris, telling TMZ Sports a Cuban country might not be a bad idea.

Cuban hasn't officially thrown his hat into the ring yet, but appeared on "OBJECTified" and told Harvey Levin he's considering challenging Donald Trump as a republican next go-around.

Harris has spent much of his 13-year NBA career playing under Cuban, and when we got him out at Warwick in L.A. earlier this week, we had to ask if he's down with M.C. taking his talents to D.C.

Devin doesn't exactly stump for Cuban, but does ask a question that some Americans will no doubt agree with (and others won't of course).

"Can he do any worse?"

Ex-NBA stars Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Henry Bibby claim they got "conned" into joining a new basketball league ... only to get screwed out of thousands of dollars.

Both guys are suing the Champions League -- a 5-on-5 full court league comprised mainly of retired NBA players and coaches.

Monroe and Bibby claim they were promised serious cash to join -- but the money never came.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Monroe accepted a job as Sr. VP and GM of the Gotham Ballers -- and was supposed to get $110k ... but he only got $30k instead.

Bibby says he was supposed to get $60k for coaching the Phoenix Desert Cats -- but never got a cent.

The guys say they were offered stock to make up for the cash -- but they think the whole league is a Ponzi scheme and want their cash, asap.

Tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki is engaged again ... to another athlete!

The former #1 player in the world said, 'Yes' to NBA star David Lee ... 8 months after going public with their relationship.

"Happiest day of my life yesterday saying yes to my soulmate," Wozniacki said ... while posting a photo of her MASSIVE engagement ring.

FYI, Lee has reportedly made more than $92 MILLION during his NBA career -- so ... not bad!

Wozniacki was previously engaged to golfer Rory McIlroy -- but things ended terribly in 2014 when he called things off AFTER they sent out the wedding invitations.

They've both moved on ... and Lee seems like he's in for the long haul.

Congrats!

Rapper ScHoolboy Q's got an ice-cold reality check for Lonzo Ball -- saying the Lakers superstar needs to get the hell out the studio and "STICK TO BASKETBALL."

With Lonzo droppin' more tracks in recent weeks, we had to ask Q if he wanted to get in on the aspiring emcee's career like DJ Mustard and DJ Quik.

His answer -- "HELL NAH! 'Cause I rather see that n***a score some points and get some damn assists."

But Q ain't hatin' ... telling TMZ Sports he just wants Lonzo to be great on the court.

FYI, dude's a huge Lakers fan, but beefs hard with the Dodgers -- straight-up TRASHING the National League champs for chokin' away the World Series.

G.O.A.T. recognize G.O.A.T.

Kobe Bryant just praised the hell out of Conor McGregor -- saying the UFC fighter is an absolute "animal" ... who's a "genius" in the octagon.

The Mamba was in NYC to promote his Body Armor sports drink at an event that included UFC stars like Cody Garbrandt, Dana White and Francis Ngannou ... when the topic turned to Conor.

"Conor's an animal, bro," Kobe said ... "I think his personality, I think his temperament, I think his style, on top of the genius nature in which he fights gives him a great opportunity to really propel the league to another level."

"I love everything about Conor."

Scottie Pippen is finally ready to tear up those divorce docs he filed -- he and Larsa are officially calling off the split.

According to court docs, both sides have agreed to dismiss the case -- they filed Thursday in Florida's Broward County court. The NBA Hall of Famer filed for divorce back in 2016 ... after 19 years of marriage and having 4 kids.

The legal move isn't a huge shock, considering the couple moved to L.A. together back in September ... and we've seen them around town plenty of times. Apparently, things are going well for the Pippens.

The judge still needs to sign on the dotted line to make things officially official ... but the couple has clearly worked things out.

Cuffing season, indeed.

Gilbert Arenas is tired of all the haters saying Jahlil Okafor sucks 'cause the 76ers are trying to cut bait ... telling TMZ Sports the big man's just stuck behind a superstar in Philly.

"He’s not a bust – there’s just a better player in front of him," Gil said, giving props to Joel Embiid. "He’s not a (Hasheem) Thabeet, he’s not a (Michael) Olowokandi – he’s better than those guys."

Basically, give Jah a change of scenery, and the former #3 overall pick can ball out.

Arenas also brought up the Lakers -- saying they have the reverse situation with former #2 pick Brandon Ingram (the starter) and rookie Kyle Kuzma (who's playing behind him).

Yu Darvish might've cost the Dodgers the World Series, but the city of Los Angeles shouldn't hate the guy -- so says ex-NBA vet Al Harrington.

After Darvish blew his Game 7 start at Dodger Stadium, we asked Harrington if he thought Yu was about to become Public Enemy #1 in L.A. ... and the ex-baller went to bat for the embattled ace.

"My man -- he tried. I'm sure he didn't mean to give up 5 runs," Al told TMZ Sports outside Craig's. "This sh*t happens ... it was just a lot."

That said ... A.H. ain't letting Darvish slide for spoiling an epic night of partying.

Gordon Hayward is reliving the night where his ankle snapped on the court ... and says seeing his parents' reaction -- especially his mom's -- might've been the hardest part of the ordeal.

In an interview with "TODAY" ... Gordon opened up about the game when his NBA career flashed before his eyes -- and got emotional talking about the toll it took on his parents, who were in attendance.

"As a parent, you don’t want your child to go through that. And as a parent myself ... I would rather take their pain ... I wouldn't want (my daughters) to go through that."

"I remember seeing my mom, and she’s crying. It’s tough to see your parents cry too."

On the plus side, the Celtics superstar says he's doing a lot better now ... and the support he's gotten from his family has really helped the healing process.

Fun fact: Hayward's interviewer, Matt Lauer, says the All-Star is already swishing half-court shots FROM A CHAIR. Ballllllllin'!

Rick Fox has played in multiple Game 7 situations -- and never lost -- and he's got some serious advice for the Dodgers ... DON'T CRAP YOUR PANTS!!!

The ex-Lakers champ -- who has won 3 rings -- says he's seen what pre-Game 7 jitters can do to a player ... and it ain't pretty.

"I've seen guys throw up in their mouth. Sh*t their pants. It happens, man. It's stressful."

The big question -- WHO CRAPPED THEIR PANTS?

Here's a list of some of the Lakers who were on Game 7 teams with Fox:

Shaq, Kobe, Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, Glen Rice, Robert Horry, A.C. Green, Devean George, Mark Madsen, Brian Shaw, Samaki Walker.

It's a bird! It's a plane!! It's ... a dinosaur???

We asked Warriors baller Nick Young what the hell coulda smacked into the OKC Thunder airplane on Friday night -- making a HUGE crater on the nose of the Boeing 757.

Swaggy P's scientific deduction -- "A dinosaur ... or something."

FYI, a Delta spokesperson said it was probably a bird ... but Young ain't buyin' it.

Classic good news/bad news situation for Lonzo Ball ... good news is that one of the greatest producers in hip-hop history says he's totally down to work with Ball.

Bad news is that this guy ... DJ Quik ... says he'll only do so if Ball can really rap, saying he hasn't heard Lonzo's rhymes yet, and isn't sure about his skills.

You gotta remember, Quik has worked with Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and every other rap legend around, so impressing him might not be easy.