NBA

Jonas Never -- the guy who painted the new dope LeBron mural in L.A. -- says he ain't pissed his piece got tagged only hours after its completion ... telling TMZ Sports it took just 20 minutes to fix!!

The kick-ass artist spent 12 painstaking hours putting his "King of L.A." LeBron mural on Baby Blues BBQ in Venice ... and just moments after it was finished -- somebody drew all over it.

Jonas tells us it's all good -- it was an easy fix ... but he does have a question for the dude who tagged it.

"I'd ask him, seriously, if they were a Laker fan, I don't get how a Laker fan could be mad about getting the best player in the game right now."

Jonas says they've added some new lighting and security cams to make sure he doesn't have to retouch it again ... but if it comes down to it -- he ain't sweatin' it.

The core of the Los Angeles Lakers -- including Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma -- were courtside at the Lakers Summer League game this weekend supporting the squad.

Even JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were there sitting next to Luke Walton and Rob Pelinka.

The one guy missing? LeBron James.

The four players were having a great time together as the Lakers Summer League squad took on the Philadelphia 76ers.

So, is it a big deal that Bron's not there bonding with the guys? Hell no.

Making sure LeBron is relaxing and getting his mind and body right is WAY more important for the Lakers than attending the Summer League.

It's official ... Yao Ming is a college graduate!

The ex-NBA star got his degree this weekend from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China ... where he first enrolled as an economics student back in 2011.

In fact, the former Houston Rockets star even joked about his 7-year plan while addressing the rest of his class.

"Let me quote a famous conversation that happened on a basketball court 11 years ago, 'This is going to be your league in a little while,'" Yao said according to CGTN.

"Trust me, when a man spends 7 years in university to graduate at age 38, he knows what he's talking about!"

Yao also thanked his parents -- who were sitting in the crowd.

Ming also revealed he considered dropping out of school -- especially due to struggles in advanced math classes.

But, he stuck with it and now Yao's got his diploma!

Now, Yao -- who made roughly $100 million in the NBA -- will try to make it in the real world.

Dirk Nowitzki is a free agent ... but the 40-year-old legend tells TMZ Sports when it comes to the NBA, it's "Mavs for life."

Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks have already mutually agreed to opt out of Nowitzki's contract -- which included a $5 million option.

The team is expected to sign a new, cheaper deal with Dirk -- unless he decided to explore other NBA options.

But, when we spoke with Dirk on the way out of Craig's in West Hollywood over the weekend -- he seemingly shut down all other teams ... and let us know he's riding with Mark Cuban to the end!

Joakim Noah's tenure with the Knicks so far has been a disaster ... but he tells TMZ Sports he hopes the team doesn't cut him, saying, "I love New York!"

The NBA star inked a 4-year, $72 MILLION deal back in 2016 ... and has had about as many fights with Knicks coaches as big plays made since.

But Noah told us out in Malibu this week he wants to stay and turn things around with new coach David Fizdale.

"Coach Fizz is cool, man," Noah says.

It's an interesting statement, considering Joakim was exiled from the team last season after a blowout fight with ex-coach Jeff Hornacek ... but Noah's clearly ready to put that water under the bridge.

Blake Griffin stripped down to his niftiest trunks for a beach day this weekend, but might've been one-upped by his own GF's swimwear ... yeah, bikinis are kinda her thing.

The Pistons power forward hit up a beach in Malibu Saturday with Francesca Aiello -- founder of Frankies Bikinis -- whom he's been seeing since at least last month. Unlike their last 'Bu outing, this time they got in the water ... and showed off their killer bods.

Yes, Blake was looking good in his pink shorts -- but, truth be told ... Francesca seems to have the edge over him here. That just us, though.

LiAngelo Ball says he's going to be a Los Angeles Laker!

... Eventually.

We got Lonzo's little bro at LAX on Wednesday ... and we just had to ask about his dad's prediction that Gelo will join up with Zo in the purple and gold.

"Yeah, I will," Gelo says. "Probably later. I think I will."

Just one problem ... Gelo says nobody from the NBA has called about putting him on their roster -- so sounds like it'll DEFINITELY be later rather than sooner.

LaVar is still confident he'll get to the pros -- and guaranteed at least TWO titles once the Lakers sign Gelo.

Brooklyn Nets star Allen Crabbe tells TMZ Sports ... cutting a 6-figure check to save an L.A. school was a "no-brainer" -- because giving back to the community is more important than ballin' out.

We broke the story ... Crabbe stepped in with a "miracle" donation to Frederick K.C. Price III Christian School in south Los Angeles last month ... saving it from closing permanently.

Crabbe went to school there -- and has several members who still attend -- and felt a moral obligation to help out when it couldn't afford to pay the bills.

"My mom texted me saying, 'Look, nobody has come forward with a donation, can you give this amount?' And I was like, 'Yeah, I'll do it!'"

Crabbe -- who's in the middle of a 4-year, nearly $75 million contract -- says he's blessed to be making such a high salary and says he wants to use that money to give other kids a chance.

You gotta watch the clip ... Crabbe's as humble as they come.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is the most HATED man in his neighborhood -- with neighbors telling TMZ Sports they've called police between 30 AND 40 TIMES on the guy.

Here's the deal ... law enforcement tells us cops were called to Jennings' L.A. valley home in the early hours of July 5 after neighbors complained about an insanely loud rager at BJ's pad.

No arrests were made -- but multiple neighbors tell us they're fed up with Brandon because he treats the house like a nightclub, with crazy parties, blaring music and huge crowds almost every night of the week.

In fact, neighbors tell us they've spoken with Jennings and have pleaded with him to keep it down because the area is filled with families -- kids who have school and parents who work -- but the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The neighbors have taken their gripes to the Nextdoor app -- where they've strategized about how to get Brandon to be more considerate.

The crazy part ... Slash -- the rockstar -- used to live in Brandon's home and the neighbors say he was WAY more quiet and respectful than BJ.

One neighbor, Ivan Kuznetsov, tells TMZ Sports it's not personal ... he just needs to sleep.

"I have nothing against parties. Partying is nice. It's just not the right place with everyone trying to sleep."

We reached out to Brandon for comment -- so far, no word back.

LaVar Ball says he had absolutely nothing to do with word of Lonzo's knee injury getting out, and neither did anyone in his camp family ... because the Balls don't roll like that.

We got LaVar at LAX Friday and asked about the recent report that the Lakers think someone on Zo's side leaked news of his torn meniscus and potential surgery to keep him from getting traded ... he calls BS.

"I don't leak nothing. I always say what's on my mind, so you don't never see me saying, 'I think I should say this now and let it leak.' I don't do that."

LaVar says he's never babied his son or even talked about him being hurt ... so the media should look for leakers elsewhere.

He also touches on Lonzo's relationship with his new teammates -- LeBron and Rondo -- but tells us he's been busy with his own business this summer ... so he doesn't have all the answers.

Well, THAT didn't take long ...

LeBron James hasn't played a minute for the Purple & Gold yet ... but that hasn't kept him from getting the Kobe Bryant treatment ... getting a MASSIVE mural in the streets of L.A.!!

Just days after announcing his decision to bail on Cleveland again, King James has been painted on Baby Blues BBQ in Venice ... donning his new threads and trademark stare.

We're told the artist behind the mural is Jonas Never -- who just completed a piece for the late Anthony Bourdain -- with the help of fellow artist Menso ... and it took about 12 hours to complete.

Clifford Rozier -- college basketball star and Golden State Warriors' first-round pick in 1994 -- has died from a heart attack at the age of 45 ... Rozier's brother tells TMZ Sports.

We spoke to Kobie Rozier -- who told us the former Louisville standout went into cardiac arrest two days ago ... and was put on life support. Kobie says Cliff passed away Friday morning in Florida.

Rozier -- a 6-foot-11 center -- was a consensus first-team All-American in '94 (Jason Kidd and Grant Hill also made 1st team) after he averaged 18.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game with the Cards.

Clifford went on to spend four seasons in the NBA after the Warriors selected him with the No. 16 overall pick in the draft.

Don't sleep on the Clippers -- so says Patrick Beverley who tells TMZ Sports his "superteam" is better than Golden State AND the Lakers ... if they can stay healthy.

Beverley says he and Avery Bradley are the best two defenders in the HISTORY of the NBA -- "that's like two Gary Paytons playing with each other."

He also says guys like Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris could push the Clippers into the upper echelon of the NBA.

As for rumors the Clippers could go after Kawhi Leonard, Beverley says it would be cool to get a star like KL ... but, they don't need him.

LeBron James was FEELIN' HIMSELF in Italy on Friday -- busting out some dance moves while a local band played "I Will Survive" ... and the video is solid!

The Lakers' new $154-million man was relaxing with his wife, Savannah, at a night spot in Capri -- where the house band played the Gloria Gaynor classic.

LeBron fired up a cigar and did a little dancing -- while the other bar patrons pulled out their phones and shot videos and pictures of the King.

James and his wife didn't seem to mind -- by now, they're used to it.

It's funny that everyone else in the club is dressed up in button-up shirts and fancy clothes ... LeBron is wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.

Kendall Jenner and boyfriend Ben Simmons showed up to the same club as his ex, Tinashe, and things had to have been weird for everyone, although Tinashe brushed it off like a pro.

All three hung out at Delilah Thursday night in WeHo, but no one stayed out too late, which should be a sign things likely were awkward inside.

We got Kendall and Ben leaving the club first. After they leave, Tinashe follows and gets into her own car only a few minutes behind.

Then came the real shocker -- we ask if she and Ben are getting along, and Tinashe held up her phone. She says Ben was texting her WHILE he was in the club ... presumably right next to Kendall.

They've partied together ... they're fans of each other ... and now rapper YG says he knows why Paul George ultimately decided NOT to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers -- Kobe Bryant.

It's not a personal thing ... YG says PG knows the Lakers are (and always will be) Kobe's team and Paul would rather create his own legacy in Oklahoma City, which is why he re-signed with the Thunder.

"Make your own legacy, my n****," YG said.

"That's Kobe Bryant's team right there. The Lakers are Kobe's team. [Russell Westbrook] and Paul George got a chance to make the f*cking Thunder their team."

There's more ... YG added, "Paul George ain't trying to be up under the curse of the Lakers."