NBA

Shareef O'Neal -- Shaq's son -- revealed he did not make the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game ... and now one NBA star is boycotting nuggets as a result.

FYI, the Micky D's game features the top high school players in the country -- Shaq was the co-MVP of the game back in 1989.

As you know, 18-year-old Shareef is a top prospect (he's committed to the Univ. of Arizona) -- but, for some reason, he didn't make the McDonald's cut.

LeBron James (the MVP of the game in 2003) didn't approve of the snub ... and spoke out on social media.

"Nephew listen, Even though we all know you should have made that McDonalds game use it as motivation to prove not to those who didn’t vote you in, not to those who is actually in the game but more importantly to yourself that u belong!"

He added, "Keep grinding, studying and working daily! The light is always brighter at the end of the tunnel."

Matt Barnes went harder -- saying McDonald's made a "huge mistake" and that he won't let his kids have nuggets anymore ... "NO MORE NUGGETS!"

Matt Barnes is sounding off on everything from NBA fighting, to the NBA refs sucking, to calling Austin Rivers an arrogant punk ... and he doesn't care who knows it.

The recently retired NBA star went off on the NBA refs on Tuesday night -- telling TMZ Sports straight-up, "Now that they can't fine me, the refs are terrible!" The refs got too big of egos."

He also said why NBA fighting can be good for the league.

As for his former Clippers teammate, Austin Rivers ... buckle up.

"Austin kinda rubs people the wrong way," Barnes told "Mad Dog Sports Radio" ... "He talks a lot of trash and doesn't really back it up. I think people are probably tired of that."

Barnes says Rivers "carries himself like he's a 10-time All Star and he's not that and that kind of arrogance rubs you the wrong way."

"And then if you're talking trash on top of that there are some guys that's not gonna have it and I know Trevor [Ariza's] one of 'em."

Dennis Rodman wasn't exactly going incognito before his DUI arrest -- with cops saying he was driving like a maniac and blaring music from his car before being pulled over.

TMZ Sports obtained the police report from the Jan. 13 incident -- in which the Newport PD says Rodman was swerving all over the road around 10:50 PM.

Once pulled over, cops say Rodman reeked of booze -- so he was arrested for DUI.

According to the arrest report, Rodman is listed at 6'8" and 235 lbs (up from his listed playing weight of 228). He lists his occupation as "self-employed."

As we previously reported, Rodman was on probation at the time of his arrest and will likely be thrown in jail as a result.

Despite tempers flaring and a locker room standoff, Houston Rockets player Eric Gordon says the incident with the Clippers is simply, "No biggie."

Yeah, right.

Gordon hit up Catch in West Hollywood after the heated battle with the Clippers in which several Rockets players -- including Chris Paul -- reportedly tried to fight Clips players in the tunnel and locker room area after the game.

Gordon told TMZ Sports he doesn't expect any suspensions and really played the whole thing down as no big deal.

One of the Rockets players reportedly involved in storming the locker room was Gerald Green -- who was also at dinner with Gordon after the game. He looked calmer, but still upset.

Nearby ... Clippers star DeAndre Jordan hit Poppy alone -- but he wasn't his usual talkative self for obvious reasons.

Wanna know what's worse than betting on the Steelers and the Saints Sunday??

Losing both bets to a giddy Nick Young ... and having to pay up with your whole team watching!!

That's exactly what happened to Draymond Green yesterday -- after the Warriors superstar went 0-for-2 betting football with Swaggy P on their way to Cleveland.

Draymond almost seemed in denial following the crazy ending to Vikings-Saints. Swaggy, of course, was PUMPED.

Dennis Rodman's DUI problems have gone from bad to worse ... because he was on probation during his arrest on Saturday -- and it likely means he'll be thrown in the slammer.

The probation stems from a plea deal Rodman struck over a July 2016 wrong way crash -- where he was going the wrong way on an Orange County, CA freeway, struck a car and allegedly fled the scene. Witnesses also saw him drinking at a karaoke bar before the crash but he was not charged with DUI for that incident.

However, Rodman was placed on 3 years probation with the condition he stay out of trouble. It was a good deal for Rodman, considering he was facing up to 2 years in prison.

So, what happens next? Officials will likely revoke his probation in the wake of the new arrest and he could be sent to prison for the full 2 years he was originally due to serve in the wrong way crash case PLUS any additional time for the new arrest.

Rodman's rep has told TMZ Sports the NBA player needs rehab -- but it could be too little, too late.

Everyone in Philly was feeling competitive AF this weekend during the Eagles' playoff game against the Falcons ... including 76ers star Joel Embiid.

Embiid got a little rough with an Eagles fan Saturday during a tailgate at the game, when the guy pushed the NBA star and intercepted an incoming pass to him in the lot.

Safe to say, Embiid wasn't having it ... he shoved the dude right back.

Embiid -- who's 7 feet tall -- doesn't usually back down against fans who challenge him in sports. He definitely didn't hold back while playing one-on-one with folks 2 summers ago.

Kid Rock had a group of youth basketball players yellin' "bawitdaba" after a recent Pistons game ... and all he had to do was hook 'em up with some free hot cocoa!!

Here's what happened ... a Canadian youth hoops team was leaving the Pistons vs. Rockets game this past weekend when they spotted the rocker inside his Made in Detroit restaurant.

The American Bad Ass noticed the team gawking through the window, so he invited the whole group in and ordered 15 hot cocoas on the house!!

The team's coach thanked the Detroit native for the gesture ... who then told him to pay it forward.

Mark Wahlberg wants to direct the movie based on Caron Butler's life ... and guess who's super stoked to hear that??

CARON BUTLER!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Tuff Juice about Marky Mark wanting to tackle Butler's story of a drug dealing childhood to becoming an NBA All-Star in his directorial debut ... and he says it's a dream come true.

Butler says Wahlberg is his top choice to direct the flick ... even with HUGE names like Peter Berg and Spike Lee being interested in joining the project.

The NBA is slapping back at Rodney Hood ... hitting the Utah Jazz star with a hefty $35,000 fine for smacking a cell phone out of a fan's hand Wednesday night.

Hood was ejected after his 2nd technical foul during the 3rd quarter of the Jazz vs. Wizards game. When he was heading to the locker room, Hood unleashed his anger on the fan's phone.

It's not the first fan confrontation that has resulted in a big fine this season, but it is the biggest. Kyrie Irving was fined $25k for yelling profanity at a spectator.

Matt Barnes' next move towards becoming a billionaire?? Settin' up business meetings with Hall of Famer Joe Montana!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the retired NBA star -- who recently told us he has a plan to join the 3 comma club by age 50 -- and he reveals how the 49ers legend might have a role in reaching that goal.

Barnes met with Montana at his investment firm earlier this week to discuss future collaborations ... and it must've gone well, 'cause he says they plan to meet again soon.

How great is it to be NBA player Dejounte Murray?? Let this clip of the Spurs baller and his insanely gorgeous GF hittin' up an L.A. hot spot do the talking.

The 21-year-old and Insta model Jilly Anais went on a hot date Wednesday night at Mastro's in Bev. Hills for a romantic night ... and while Dejounte's outfit stands out, all eyes were on Jilly.

The couple have been together for about a year now, and they seem to be inseparable ... posting pics together on social media all the time.

T.I. says he does NOT want in on Diddy and Steph Curry's bid to buy the Carolina Panthers ... 'cause owning a team ain't all it's cracked up to be.

The rap star broke it down for us out in Beverly Hills ... telling TMZ Sports he wouldn't wanna blow his bankroll when the league rules with an iron fist.

"I don't wanna spend a bunch of money on something that I can't do what I want, when I want," T.I. said.

"If I spend tens of millions or hundreds of millions, I want full rein and jurisdiction over everything ... you can't do that with the NFL."

The L.A. Lakers have backed out of plans to ink a 10-day contract with Jamil Wilson in the wake of a sexual battery lawsuit in which the player is accused of giving a woman herpes.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the woman claims she's been diagnosed with herpes simplex 2 and believes Wilson gave it to her during unprotected sexual encounters. She believes he knew he was a carrier but concealed it from her in order to gain consent.

The Lakers had reportedly planned on signing Wilson on Wednesday ... but according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the team is hitting the brakes. Woj says the team isn't ruling out signing Wilson somewhere down the line.

Wilson's agent, Steve McCaskill, told ESPN the player plans on taking legal action of his own.

DETOX, BABY!!!!!!!

Dr. Dre has suggested that his long-awaited, dead, then not dead, then dead again album "Detox" might actually be released after all ... and it all went down at a Golden State Warriors practice.

Dre and Jimmy Iovine were watching Steph Curry and Kevin Durant at a Warriors workout on Tuesday when ESPN's Chris Haynes brilliantly asked him if Detox was permanently shelved.

Dre's response -- "I'm working on a couple songs right now. We'll see."

BOOM!!!

Dre has been working on Detox since 2002 -- but seemingly closed the door on the idea in the HBO series, "The Defiant Ones" ... saying he's moved on.

"I never had any connection with [Detox], it didn't work."

He added, "I'm never gonna do that again."

Never say never ...

Wiz Khalifa, T.I. and Josh Smith have some shiny new hardware after an award ceremony where the nominees have way more impact on the public than your average Golden Globe winner.

The rappers and former NBA star attended the Developing Options Awards Banquet ... a Southern California event rolled out by its foundation's CEO, Eugene "Big U" Henley.

Wiz took home the "Epic Man of the Year Award" for his multiple donations -- totaling up to $100k -- to drive the foundation. T.I. scored the "University Iron Man" award for donating to Crenshaw High School's new football field.

Smith got the "Baller-Shot Caller" award for hooking up Snoop Dogg's youth football league and Crenshaw High's football team with new uniforms.

Nipsey Hussle ("Business Cluster Leadership") spearheaded educational classes and, along with rapper Trinidad James ("First Class"), spent thousands of dollars on clothes and shoes to outfit more than 400 inner city kids.

Congrats!!!