NBA

"Get Out" star Lil Rel Howery is a Boston Celtics fan ... but he says there's a silver lining to the team losing a couple games, and he's telling TMZ Sports his glass-half-empty theory.

If you're asking why Lil Rel is a Celtics fan in the first place, he says it's because he developed a kinship with Kyrie Irving while the two men were shooting Irving's upcoming "Uncle Drew" movie.

Rel says it's that friendship that makes it kinda okay ... hell, he almost even likes it ... that the C's seem to be struggling to beat LeBron with no go-to NBA superstar.

"I've been watching all these stories about how the team is better without Kyrie and all this dumb sh*t and I was like, ah, no, this is superstar time."

"So, I'm just saying like, Kyrie, that's his team, man. So, don't ever question that sh*t again. It's his f*cking team. He's a superstar. They need to win with him."

Lakers rookie star Kyle Kuzma says he's honored NBA coaches voted him to the NBA All-Rookie 1st Team ... but tells us he wasn't surprised.

"I thought I was gonna get it all year, really," Kuzma told TMZ Sports at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.

"It's definitely a good honor."

The twist ... his teammate, Lonzo Ball (the 2nd pick in the draft), only made the All-Rookie 2nd Team -- so, we had to ask Kyle if that would have an impact on their friendship.

"Not at all," Kuzma says ... "That's my brother."

Bradley Beal's a VERY lucky man ... and the proof is in gorgeous baby mama Kamiah Adams' totally nude pregnancy photoshoot.

The Washington Wizards baller and former 'Love & Hip Hop' star have been dating for over a year now ... and announced earlier this month they were expecting a little bundle of joy together.

Adams is 8 months preggo ... and revealed they're having a baby boy!!

K.A. posted several pics in her birthday suit for the big announcement ... and sent a message to their future son -- "Mommy & Daddy can’t wait to hold you. We already love you more than you can imagine!"

Bradley added a message of his own, saying "@kamiahadams and I promise to love you, protect you, teach you, support you, respect you, and be the best parents we can possibly be!"

Congrats!!

Ex-NBA star Glen "Big Baby" Davis was arrested Friday for felony assault with intent to cause great bodily injury ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the ex-NBA star was being investigated for allegedly getting violent with a man outside of a West Hollywood nightclub back in April.

Sources told us ... 32-year-old Davis was accused of almost hitting a man with his car and, when the man confronted Davis, he allegedly picked him up and slammed him on the concrete.

We're told the alleged victim was hospitalized for severe injuries including facial fractures, a broken tooth and broken ribs.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... Davis surrendered on Friday with his attorney and a bail bondsman. He was booked and released on $50k bail.

People of the Garden State rejoice!!! Chris Christie says you'll be betting on sports in no time ... telling TMZ Sports New Jersey will be making wagers in a matter of DAYS!!

Now that the Supreme Court ruled to eliminate the federal ban on sports gambling ... we asked the man behind the charge when people from his home state will be able to start gambling.

"You'll be betting by June," Christie tells us.

It's a huge turnaround on such short notice ... but CC makes it clear he doesn't want to take all the credit for making it happen.

Kobe Bryant is finally revealing his initial reaction to Kanye West's slavery comments on "TMZ Live" -- and it's the same feeling mostly everyone else had ... "What the hell are you talking about?!"

The Mamba was speaking with L.A. high school students at We Rise LA when 14-year-old Kaya -- a BSO junior reporter -- wanted to know what Kobe made of Kanye's "slavery is a choice" argument.

"Completely disagree," Kobe explained.

"The thing about our country is that you have the right to say whatever it is that you want to say ... that's the beautiful part about living in a democracy."

He added, "Conversely, you also have to take the responses that come after that as well because everybody has the freedom to say what it is that they feel."

"For him, he's one of these entertainers that's always in a constant state of growth ... he's always challenging not us as people but really himself. He's doing a lot of questioning internally himself."

"I just take it for what it is and completely disagree."

If Dwyane Wade wants to be a big Hollywood actor, Chris Bosh is ready to buy a ticket ... telling TMZ Sports his friend has the looks and physique to be a real star actor!!!

"He's buff and a good-looking dude," Bosh said about his old Miami Heat teammate ... "He can do what he wants!"

Remember, just a few days ago Wade told us he wants to costar in "something romantic" with his movie star wife, Gabrielle Union, who's been in roughly 40 movies herself!

So, when we saw Bosh leaving Il Pastaio in Bev Hills (after taking pics with fans) ... we had to ask what he thought of his good friend's new career goals.

Shannon Sharpe wanted to rub Skip Bayless' nose in LeBron James' greatness Monday morning -- so, he put on the goat head, ditched his sleeves ... and even busted out a Black & Mild!

... and it was HILARIOUS (and weird).

Sharpe LOVES Bron -- Skip's a lifelong doubter -- so ... after James brought the Cavs back to life with a dominating 30-point win on Saturday, the ex-NFL star was hyped about it on FS1's 'Undisputed.'

Matt Barnes will "absolutely not" be in attendance when his ex-wife, Gloria Govan, marries Derek Fisher ... so says Gloria, who claims the ex-NBA stars are still NOT on great terms.

Remember, Barnes congratulated Govan and Fisher after they got engaged back in April -- saying he's happy for the couple because his kids have grown to love him.

But Govan says the relationship between the former Lakers teammates is still not great -- and Matt's presence would be "really awkward."

"[Matt] and Derek aren't cool," Govan said ... "They're cordial. I wouldn't say 'beef' but they don't talk every week."

It's about what you'd expect ... considering Matt and Derek famously fought back when Derek began dating Gloria a few years ago.

Govan closed with some advice to Matt ... don't waste your time buying a wedding gift either, because "I will throw that gift away."

Can Bone Collector really ball at the NBA level at 37 years old? He thinks he can ... and tells TMZ Sports he's seriously making a push to get a shot with a pro team.

Bone Collector -- real name Larry Williams -- famously killed EVERYONE on the AND1 mixtapes back in the day -- but says he still balls out all the time with a stable of NBA stars, including Steph Curry.

"I think I'll be a good 6th-man addition to a team," B.C. says ... noting that he looks up to guys like 41-year-old Vince Carter for inspiration.

Watch the video ... dude's still as confident as ever -- telling TMZ Sports he's still breaking ankles in the gym and bragging, "Nobody can guard me."

11:00 AM PT -- A rep for Russell tells TMZ ... he was hospitalized for dehydration. He was kept overnight for observation, but they expect him to check out today.

11:15 AM PT -- Russell just responded himself, saying he was taken to the hospital last night for dehydration and joked his wife likes to remind him that he doesn't drink enough. He says he's on his way home.

Bill also playfully denied having any heart issues, saying ... "my friends know I don't have a heart to give me trouble."

NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell is in the hospital in Washington state dealing with some apparent heart issues ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... an ambulance was called to Russell's home in the Seattle area Friday night, and the 84-year-old Celtics legend was rushed to a nearby hospital.

We're told Bill was having heart trouble and shortness of breath ... and is still hospitalized. We've reached out to get an update on his condition.

The 11-time NBA champion center was also hospitalized in 2014 after collapsing at a speaking gig in Lake Tahoe, but recovered quickly.

Bill's considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and recently attended Game 1 of the Celtics playoff round vs. the 76ers. Obviously, the crowd went wild.

Lamar Odom looks like he had himself a good time at the club ... tearing it up right by the stage for all to see.

The former NBA star hit up Drai's nightclub at The Cromwell in Vegas Friday night, and fully indulged in the party scene -- bottle and vape pen in hand, dancing with a hot chick ... and more dancing by himself.

Last couple times we've seen Lamar he's told us he's working on 2 different things ... making a basketball comeback, and helping people with ailments get better through his cannabis company.

Chris Paul is speaking out about the Texas school shooting that happened roughly 35 miles from Houston on Friday ... and he's calling for change to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

“First and foremost, aside from the playoffs going on, which is minor compared to what is taking place down in Santa Fe," Paul said Friday morning at Rockets practice.

"Our prayers going out to the victims and the families having to deal with that situation."

FYI, 10 people were killed and several more injured at Santa Fe HS when a shooter opened fire inside the building.

"We have a lot of fan support there. Those people come out and support us night in, night out. So, this is very minor compared to what those people are dealing with.”

WHY!?!?!?!?!

Phoenix Suns guard Elfrid Payton looks like a completely different person now ... 'cause the dude just chopped off his signature hairdo ... and we really don't know what to do anymore.

The NBA baller might be most known for his Weeknd-esque hairstyle ... but that didn't stop him for following in the R&B singer's footsteps and parting ways with the beloved locks.

FYI -- the 24-year-old's barber teased last month that he might've done the deed ... and now we have confirmation that it wasn't a late April Fool's joke.

While we're mourning the loss of the locks ... Suns fans are probably rejoicing ... 'cause there have been several instances where his 'do got in the way of his game ... and many people have wanted him to get a new look for years.

Now we wait to see if it makes a real difference on the court ... or if it was all for naught.

But seriously ... pour one out for Elfrid's hair.

Dwyane Wade's trying to get that Hollywood money ... telling TMZ Sports he's trying to do a movie with his wife, Gabrielle Union!!

The Miami Heat star and Gabby hit up Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday night -- and you gotta check out the paparazzi crush that waited out front for 'em ... it was almost like a Hollywood red carpet.

So, naturally we asked Wade if he's got any interest in following his wife into the movie business.

"I'm trying to get [a movie]," Wade said ... "but she won't put me on!"

He continued, "I'm trying to do a love movie. Like something romantic."

We did some digging ... Wade's got SOME acting experience -- remember that cameo on Disney Channel's "Austin & Ally" ... we do!

Brad Stevens might be the best young coach in the NBA ... but is he on the level of Bill Belichick?

He's certainly on the way ... according to Celtics and Patriots superfan Mark Wahlberg ... who told us "that's a very, very good comparison."

TMZ Sports saw Wahlberg in L.A. ... and asked if the Celts head coach was "the new Belichick of Boston."

(Yeah, we know Boston is a part of New England -- but you get the point.)

It's high praise for a guy who's only been on the job for a few years ... considering B.B. has 5 'chips and is believed by some to be the best damn football coach ever.

But, Mark says there is still 1 thing Stevens has left to do.