Los Angeles Clippers

The marriage of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom is in crisis, and TMZ has learned ... the core reason is hardcore drug abuse.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Lamar has had a problem for 2 years. It got so bad, last August Khloe pressured Lamar to go to rehab. Lamar went to a facility in San Diego, but he was so resistant Khloe hired private investigators to secretly stand guard at the rehab place to make sure he didn't leave. The P.I.s stood guard 24/7.

Our sources say Lamar constantly threatened to leave and Khloe made several visits to prevail upon him to stay. We're told after 3 weeks, Lamar left for good.

We're told Lamar actually stayed clean once he left rehab and was able to play well for the Clippers this past season. But when the season was over, sources say Lamar slipped deep back into hardcore recreational drugs.

As for reports that Lamar was cheating recently, we're told Khloe is convinced it happened, and she feels she's been hit with a double whammy ... but drugs are the main problem.

As for divorce ... neither Khloe nor Lamar has contacted a lawyer. As one source put it, "Khloe is more concerned about saving Lamar than ending her marriage."

We're told the situation has become dire. Sources tell us ... within the last 2 days, the entire family staged an intervention, trying to convince Lamar to go back to rehab, but he wouldn't have any of it.

In fact, on Wednesday morning, right after the failed intervention, Khloe threw Lamar out of the house and as you see from the pic (above), one of Lamar's friends is loading Lamar's stuff in his car as Lamar watches.

Los Angeles Clippers' superstar Chris Paul hasn't even been President of the Players Union for a full 24 hours yet -- but he's already put together a list of players' demands to take to the NBA, TMZ has learned.

Paul edged out veteran shooter Roger Mason and others to take the position -- and NBA sources tell us the players went with CP3 because they feel he's got the cojones and the clout to effectively take on the league.

Sources tell us ... Paul is taking his new role very seriously -- and is already talking to players about his agenda, which includes:

-- Preparing a battle plan to fight any league proposal for HGH testing
-- Eliminating flopping fines
-- Forbidding any dress code additions/changes

After more than a decade in the league, NBA star Matt Barnes FINALLY signed the mega-contract he's always wanted ... telling TMZ, "I've been underpaid for a long time."

Barnes -- who recently inked a 3-year $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers -- was working out at TapouT in L.A. yesterday when we congratulated him on striking it rich.

"It's been a long time coming," said Barnes ... who only made $854,389 last season.

When we asked why he thought it took so long to get such a big contract, Barnes didn't hold back -- saying, "I don't know ... I don't think they liked me."

It's unclear who the "they" is ... considering he's played for multiple NBA teams including the Lakers, the Suns, Orlando and Golden State.

FYI -- back in 2010, Barnes passed on more lucrative offers to sign with the Lakers, hoping the opportunity to play in L.A. would lead him to a bigger contract down the line. It didn't work out at the time, but after the incredible season he had with the Clips last year, it would have been hard for the team NOT to show him the money.

Los Angeles Lakers executive Johnny Buss -- oldest son of deceased Lakers owner Jerry Buss -- has filed for divorce from his wife, who happens to be an ex-Clippers dancer, TMZ has learned.

Johnny -- who's currently the V.P. of Strategic Development for the Lake Show -- filed divorce docs in L.A. County Superior Court ... seeking to end his marriage to Christy Curtis Buss ... a marriage that began in 1991.

Here's the weird part ... in the court docs, obtained by TMZ, Buss states that he and Christy separated back in 2000 ... which means they've been split up for 13 YEARS!

Apparently, Johnny finally felt like cutting the cord ... because he filed the docs himself on June 11, 2013. It's unclear why he waited so long. They have no minor children.

In the docs, Buss blames the split on irreconcilable differences ... but checked the box that acknowledges he'll have to pony up spousal support.

Billy Crystal says the L.A. Clippers won't lose Chris Paul when he becomes a free agent in a few weeks.

Billy Crystal is an L.A. Clippers superfan.

Billy Crystal is also rich and famous.

Therefore, Billy Crystal must know something we don't.

Los Angeles Clippers fans (yes, they have those now) are on edge wondering if star point guard Chris Paul will re-sign with the team this summer ... and TMZ has the answer ... kind of.

CP3 was at Boa last night when our photog asked him the question everyone wants to know ... would Jason Collins make a good Clipper?

Ok, seriously ... then we asked Chris about the possibility of him NOT re-signing with the Clippers ... and his answer of "I hope so" makes us think he heard the question wrong and he really meant he hopes he DOES come back to LA.

With Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers heading into the NBA Playoffs, one question MUST be answered! Or so our camera guy thought, "Hey, ask a stupid question ..."

Former college basketball star Ryan Pearson credits his entire career to Lamar Odom ... claiming L.O. rescued him from the streets when his family was poor and gave him a chance to be successful in life.

Pearson -- who was an Associated Press All America honorable mention during his stint at George Mason -- is now playing pro basketball overseas ... and believes it's only possible because of Odom's charitable support.

We spoke with Ryan's mother, Leslie Pearson, who tells us Ryan first met Lamar at a basketball event when he was 11 years old ... when Pearson's family was struggling financially.

Pearson says Lamar saw potential in him ... and knew he needed help ... so L.O. put him on a "life scholarship" and paid for Ryan to play on a traveling team, so he could develop his game and become visible to college programs.

Leslie says Lamar "paid for everything ... including team travel, team registration fees, buses, and meals. He also funded entire basketball tournaments around New York."

Leslie believes at least some of the funding came from Odom's Cathy's Kids charity.

We're told Lamar also paid for Ryan to attend a private high school so he could get a top-notch education and elite basketball coaching.

Odom's plan worked -- because Ryan was recruited by some of the top basketball programs in the country and eventually selected GMU -- where he majored in sports management.

As for the reports that Lamar is a scam artist who ran a shady charity operation, Pearson says there's no way that's possible ... because Lamar is a "saint" who only ever wanted to help people.

Lamar Odom's charity, Cathy's Kids, never donated a single dollar to the AAU basketball program ... despite L.O.'s claims ... at least that's what the president of the Amateur Athletic Union tells TMZ.

We spoke to Henry Forrest ... who tells us, "Cathy’s Kids has never donated to us. They have never, ever contributed to us. On Sunday morning it was mentioned that Cathy’s Kids has contributed to AAU Basketball teams ... that is an incorrect statement."

Forrest is responding to the "Outside the Lines" report, in which ESPN showed documents seemingly proving $1.3 million of the $2.2 raised by the charity was donated to "AAU team sponsorship."

When asked about the specific programs Cathy's Kids helps to support, Odom told the reporter, "A lot through AAU basketball in my neighborhood where I come from in South Jamaica, Queens."

But Forrest tells TMZ it's simply not true -- though he does say it's possible Odom used the money to finance an independent local team that was allowed to participate in AAU events.

“It is possible that Cathy’s Kids sponsored [an independent] team that registered to play in an AAU event. But teams like this only register to play in our events, they are not affiliated with AAU."

Forrest explains, "AAU doesn’t have anything to do with local organizations that put together independent teams. We don’t manage those teams or deal with those local teams put together. They only register to play."

Khloe Kardashian is finally coming to her husband's defense -- claiming Lamar Odom is not the shady charity scammer he was made out to be in an ESPN report.

Mrs. Odom lashed out in a statement posted on her website ... saying, "It is unfortunate that my husband has been the target of an attack on athletes’ charities, although he has personally contributed approximately $2.2 million to his foundation, Cathy’s Kids, to fulfill its charitable purposes that include helping underprivileged inner-city youth."

Khloe is clearly going after an "Outside the Lines" report that said there was NO evidence that any of the $2.2 million raised by the charity went towards cancer research, as the mission statement for the charity said it would. Instead, the report says a majority of the cash went towards two "elite" youth basketball teams.

During the "OTL" report, Lamar bizarrely explained, "It's my money" ... and now Khloe is trying to clear up Odom's comment ... saying her husband personally contributed "more than 90% of the money raised by the foundation."

She adds, "All of the funds donated by Lamar and the other contributions to Cathy’s Kids were used for one of the foundation’s intended charitable purposes. Not one penny went to help Lamar personally or any member of his family. No charitable funds were misused, and the IRS has repeatedly given Cathy’s Kids a clean bill of health, confirming that there were no improprieties."

"Cathy’s Kids was formed with several purposes in mind, including benefitting underprivileged youth and cancer research. A decision was ultimately made that the charity should focus on one of those purposes -- to help enrich the lives of underprivileged inner-city youth."

Lamar Odom is facing allegations the tax exempt charity he created is being sketchy with its money ... and not donating ANY cash to cancer research, despite the charity's mission statement.

Lamar established the charity -- Cathy's Kids -- in memory of his mother, who died from cancer when he was 12 ... and initially stated that the purpose of the charity was to help underprivileged kids and raise money for cancer research.

But according to official records -- obtained by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" -- there is no evidence any of the money ever went to fight cancer.

There is proof, however, $1.3 million of the $2.2 million that was raised went toward funding two "elite" youth basketball teams -- the insinuation is that the kids on the teams were so good, they were already on college radars for scholarships and other financial help.

Of the remaining $900k, there is no evidence based on available documentation that any of it went to cancer research. In fact, according to OTL, there's no evidence whatsoever of where the money went.

Lamar sat down for an interview with ESPN producers -- he brushed off questions about where the money went by saying it was all his dough, despite the fact the money was raised through solicitations on his website, Khloe Kardashian's website and others.

The Game tells TMZ, he is NOT schtupping Khloe Kardashian ... despite reports to the contrary.

Photos surfaced today showing Game and Khloe -- who's married to Lamar Odom -- hugging it out in L.A.'s Runyon Canyon Park last month ... where Game's been doing a "60 Days of Fitness" program.

You'll recall, Khloe's brother Rob Kardashian is also doing the program ... and Game tells us, Khloe is too, which is why they were hanging out.

The Game says, "The pictures that they see of us out together are because she is a part of my 60DaysofFitness team."

Lil Wayne had no shortage of famous visitors last night -- Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and his wife Jada stopped by Cedars-Sinai to see how the famous rapper was doing.

Cameras also caught Drake, Weezy's protégé, visiting Wayne last night as well.

As TMZ first reported, Wayne was hospitalized twice this week for seizures. His situation was dire last night, but his condition eventually stabilized. According to our sources, Wayne went on a Sizzurp binge between his hospital visits and doctors had to pump his stomach three times to flush the drugs from his system.

San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick may not have a Super Bowl ring, but he still managed to get one perk ... courtside seats at the Clippers game on Sunday.

The 25-year-old brought along a few of his burly pals to watch the Clippers destroy the Detroit Pistons, 129 -97.

Los Angeles Clippers Star Ronny Turiaf is finally playing ball again in L.A. ... and the welcoming committee presented him with THREE traffic tickets in one day.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Turiaf -- who signed with the Clippers back in July after a 5-year absence from L.A. -- was driving in Santa Monica Friday when he caught the attention of cops, because Ronny was blasting music with the windows down.

Police quickly noticed Ronny's whip was one big moving violation -- his front windshield was tinted (violation), he had no front license plate (violation) and he didn't have the proper registration sticker (violation).

Ronny got three fix-it tickets -- meaning he can skate with a small fine if he corrects the problems.

Lamar Odom is in a New York courthouse right now ... battling it out with baby mama Liza Morales over child support and visitation ... and it must be exhausting because Lamar fell asleep on a bench in the hallway.

Lamar told TMZ ... he was exhausted with jet lag, which is why he fell into a deep sleep before the hearing. Cops actually became concerned because the Clippers star wasn't moving, so they nudged him awake.

On Liza's way out of court, we asked her if she happened to see Lamar snoozing ... and she laughed, saying, "He's tired."

In addition to child support and visitation, they're reportedly bickering over whether their son and daughter can appear on their reality TV shows. Lamar is on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Liza was on a show called "Starter Wives."

And get this ... we asked Lamar about being in the same restaurant last night as Kris Humphries. As we reported, they didn't speak ... but Lamar told us he didn't see Kris and would have gone up to him and said, "What's up," if he knew.

Bros before ...