NBA

Shaquille O'Neal says there are pretty clear (unwritten) rules when it comes to hitting the clubs before an NBA game -- the worse the opponent, the later you can rage!

"If you're playing against a good team the curfew is 2 AM."

"If you're playing a bum team you can stay out a couple extra hours."

It's a relevant question considering Russell Westbrook rolled up to a Miami nightclub at 1:30 AM on Monday morning ... hours before the Thunder played the Heat.

Westbrook ended up posting a triple double as OKC went on to smash Miami 115 to 93 ... so, it all worked out. Shaq says he used to do the same shtick back in the day.

"When I played teams that were not good I stayed out til 5 or 6, still had 30 (points)."

Chad Kroeger and Phoenix Suns power forward Alan Williams walk into an Arizona bar, and you can guess what happens next ... a one-on-one serenade sesh down memory lane!

The Nickelback frontman and Suns star were spotted hanging together last week at the Bottled Blonde bar and grill in Scottsdale, AZ, where Chad reminded Al of just who he really was by crooning the first few lines of the band's smash hit, "How You Remind Me."

It wasn't long before Alan started singing along, and then lauching into a full-on 2001 teen rock body thrash. He also appeared to be in disbelief that Chad was actually there with him ... nothing says "OMG, Chad Kroeger is singing to me!" like what Alan's doing here. No shame, buddy.

And just for old times' sake ... here it is again. Try to resist jamming out, if you dare.

Russell Westbrook rolled into LIV nightclub in Miami at 1:30 AM on Monday morning ... hours before the OKC Thunder are set to play the Miami Heat.

So ... the question -- big deal or nah?

Some people think it's a problem when pro athletes party on game day (remember when Jason Kidd got pissed at the Bucks for hitting the strip club before losing to the last place Lakers?).

Others like Magic Johnson don't care as long as the players perform on the court or the field (he gave Yasiel Puig a party pass back in 2013).

The issue here ... it's a crucial time for the Thunder. They're currently 7th in the Western Conference, but haven't clinched a playoff berth yet.

Meek Mill got some surprise visitors in prison this week -- Philadelphia 76ers stars Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin organized the visit ... hoping Meek could provide some inspiration for the rookie stars so they can make a push for the NBA playoffs. Rubin's been a huge supporter of Meek while he's been locked up, visiting often and bringing along other players, like Joel Embiid.

One source with knowledge of the situation tells us ... "the conversation was very positive and Meek's spirits are still high. He is also proud of the 76ers."

Meek also dished out some "words of wisdom" for the guys.

Remember, Meek also received a ton of support and love from the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run -- so, maybe he's the key to success?!

Lady Baller Alert ... Lonzo Ball and his girlfriend are having a baby girl!!

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Zo's H.S. sweetheart Denise Garcia is pregnant with a Baby Baller. Zo talked with Mike Trudell about his kid on the way on Thursday, revealing the baby is due July 16.

We're told the pregnancy is going well and the baby is looking healthy. Denise's family is excited to meet the baby. Zo says adding a girl to the BBB empire is gonna be a big change.

"It’s crazy. My whole family is all boys. We only have like two girls in the whole family," Ball says. "It’s just my mom and her mom. My dad has five brothers (and two sisters), I have my two brothers (obviously). All boys."

Dennis Rodman is GOING IN on LiAngelo Ball ... telling TMZ Sports the dude sucks at hoops and has a snowball's chance in hell of making the NBA.

"He's not good at all," Rodman says ... "He's awful."

We pointed out LiAngelo dropped 72 points during a game in Lithuania on the day he announced he'd be entering the 2018 NBA Draft ... but that didn't seem to impress Rodman one bit.

"Teams over there [in Lithuania] just pretty much suck."

Still, Rodman says he gives LiAngelo a 10% chance at getting drafted "just because of social media."

On a positive note, Rodman says he's still sober and feeling great.

He's also excited for his son, Dennis Rodman Jr., who's a baller in his own right ... and getting offers from some of the biggest college programs in the country!

Here's former NCAA stud Derrick Williams answering a question that always gets asked -- but to some here at TMZ Sports, it doesn't make any damn sense.

We got Williams at LAX and after talking to him about the turmoil his Arizona Wildcats program is going through -- we wanted to know if he thought Villanova could beat an NBA team.

Before you drag our camera guy, we should say this came after 'Nova obliterating Kansas in their Final Four matchup ... looking every bit like the most dominant team in COLLEGE basketball.

Obviously, Derrick understands that COLLEGE hoops is a different game than the pros, because he says "No way" ... which is obviously the right answer.

BTW ... the worst team in the league right now is the Phoenix Suns, and they're pretty bad so MAYBE if 'Nova got hot from 3 ... they could lose by 30 instead of 40.

Villanova or Michigan??

Nick Young doesn't give one single "f**k" who wins the game ... telling TMZ Sports he doesn't care for NCAA basketball.

Swaggy P hit Nightingale nightclub in West Hollywood after his Golden State Warriors beat up on the Phoenix Suns earlier in the day ... so, we tried talking to him about March Madness.

But, Young told us straight-up, "You know, I don't give a f**k about the NCAA."

He didn't explain why ... but maybe it's because his USC Trojans didn't get an invite to the tourney this year.

Interesting note ... Swaggy's not the only one who's turning the channel -- ratings are reportedly down 3% from last year.

For those who DO care ... Villanova takes on Michigan in the NCAA Championship Monday night.

Before Larsa Pippen went egg huntin' with the kiddies on Sunday, she hit the sunny shores of South Beach to brighten up everyone's Easter weekend.

And yes, there was plenty of cake to go around.

No sign of Scottie or the kids ... but seems like Larsa was enjoying her solo outing.

The 40-something mother of 4 frolicked in the sand rockin' an itty bitty bikini ... looking absolutely incredible, as she usually does.

LiAngelo Ball will be suiting up for an NBA team next season, and it ain't just 'cause of his talent -- so says Shareef O'Neal.

We spoke to Shareef -- a top NCAA prospect -- after LiAngelo dropped 72 POINTS in an exhibition game out in Lithuania earlier this week ... and asked if he thought the middle Ball bro was NBA-bound.

Reef told us he did, but not because of Gelo's breakout performance.

"I think he's gonna make it on a team just 'cause his brother's already there, and I feel like just the platform that that family has he can make it on a team," O'Neal told TMZ Sports.

Anthony Davis thinks he pulled a fast one by revealing that he DIDN'T shave his unibrow -- but if we're being honest, he actually wasn't fooling anyone ... like at all.

Davis posted a follow-up photo Sunday -- April Fools Day -- which showed that he hadn't done the deed ... shaving his iconic uni. He captioned his pic, "Come on y'all!! Y'all knew I wasn't cutting it lol. #AprilFools We got ya!! @redbull"

Thing is ... tons of people online weren't buying what he was selling Saturday -- a video of himself getting ready to to shave the brow ... but then the camera conveniently cutting out at the moment of truth. Next thing you know, the brow had been split into two.

Anthony Davis' famous unibrow is now broken in two ... unless this is a slightly early April Fool's joke.

The NBA star, aka "The Brow," posted a vid of himself shaving off the middle section of his moniker, but the footage is a little sketchy.

The camera cuts away from the NOLA Pelicans forward and you don't see him actually shave off the brow. When it cuts back the unibrow is no more.

Davis had been hyping the shave for a few days now. He put a poll on Twitter asking fans whether he should shave it or not. It was a close call but 51% gave it a thumb's up.

Wanna know what it's like to ride Shaq like a damn roller coaster?!

Wonder no more, normies -- 'cause we got Steve Aoki at LAX, and he recounted the harrowing experience of hoppin' on the Diesel's shoulders at his private Ultra party!!!

The main takeaway -- "I was like, 'Holy s**t, it's really high up there,'" Aoki told TMZ Sports.

FYI, the 7'1'' NBA legend was handing out free rides at the 1st ever Shaq's Fun House over the weekend ... which had a ton of celebs on deck including Aoki and Rob Gronkowski -- who also climbed aboard the Big Aristotle.

Damian Lillard's half brother is hospitalized after being shot multiple times in Oregon last night ... and cops believe he was the victim of a targeted attack.

Cops in Clackamas County say Jahrell Lillard, 20, was gunned down by 2 men in a parking lot around 9 PM last night. According to witnesses, 5 to 10 shots were fired. Officials believe JL was the victim of a targeted attack.

After he was hit, Lillard was able to escape ... and run into a Macy's Home Store before police say he collapsed just inside the store entrance.

The shooters fled the scene.

Lillard was transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.

Steve Nash says Zion Williamson should have no regrets about his injury at the McDonald's All-American game this week ... telling TMZ Sports it's all part of the game.

Zion -- who's quite possibly the most popular H.S. hoops player since LeBron James -- hurt his right thumb while trying to brace a fall in the 2nd half of the all-star showcase on Wednesday.

We asked Nash if it's too big of a risk for young H.S. prospects to play in meaningless games before getting the chance to cash checks ... and Nash shoots down the idea.

"You're a basketball player ... You have to play every day to be the best you can be and to compete. People get hurt."

It turns out Zion's parents say he's gonna be okay ... but it was a scary incident for the Duke commit.

Master P's kid Mercy says he isn't scared of ANY young baller in his age range ... even the much hyped LeBron James Jr., telling TMZ Sports he thinks he could take LBJJR down.

We got P, Mercy and star high-school hooper Hercy out in L.A. ... and talked to the kids about their basketball skills 'cause both of them are super highly ranked for their age range.

Hercy told us he's looking at colleges, with big schools like USC already offering him.

Mercy seemed to have his sights set on his peers, saying he isn't scared of anyone in his age (he's 12) or even older, including LeBron's son.

"I'm not gonna put myself under anyone else, but he's good, I watch him."

Of course, we had to (full-court) press him ... and of course, he had to keep it real, saying he thinks he can handle Bronny -- an Internet legend -- if it ever came down to it.

We got videos of both of the kids, and while we'd never pit middle school athletes against each other, we gotta ask the question ... if you're picking up for your squad, who you got?