Los Angeles Lakers

Good news for Kobe ... he'll NEVER be shunned from Staples Center like Charles Oakley was from Madison Square Garden ... that's according to Ice Cube who says a Mamba ban is simply not possible.

Magic Johnson is putting his money where his mouth is ... telling TMZ Sports he will NO LONGER stay at Trump Hotels.

The NBA legend has been a regular at Trump Hotels for years -- especially in New York. But, when we saw him out earlier Monday, he was at ANOTHER high-end NYC spot.

When we asked if he was done with Trump Hotels -- he confirmed he's making the switch.

Johnson not only voted for Hillary Clinton but has come out STRONG against Trump ever since he was elected. Just last month, he said Trump needs to stop "acting like a dictator."

Oh, and good news for Charles Oakley -- Magic says he's definitely welcome at the Lakers games, despite the fact he's been banned from MSG.

Nick Young has been ordered to pay his ex-manager more than $700,000 after doing the exact WRONG THING one should do when being sued.

Long story short ... the NBA star was sued by Andre Chevalier who claims Nick failed to pay him his 2% commission for his role in securing his fat NBA salary and lucrative endorsement deals.

Nick was served with the papers but never responded, and failed to appear in court to fight the case.

So the judge -- sick of waiting around -- entered a default judgment in favor of Andre in the amount of $722,558.

Good for that guy, right?

Of course, Nick can still try to fight the case -- but it's definitely an uphill battle.

Some good news for Derek Fisher ... he doesn't have to be ringless for long.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Fisher's L.A. home was burglarized on Monday and the ex-NBA star claimed $300k in jewelry was stolen including his 5 NBA Championship rings he won with the Lakers.

We spoke with a Lakers rep who tells us it IS possible for Fisher to get replacement rings and the team would be happy to work with the companies that made the bling to get new ones for Derek.

It doesn't mean the Lakers would pay for the new jewelry ... but they would essentially authorize the companies to manufacture brand new keepsakes for Fish.

Hopefully he's got good homeowners insurance.

Smush Parker tells TMZ Sports he's PUMPED Lamar Odom is down to join his team for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 league ... and while he hopes Kobe Bryant comes around, he's not about to beg.

The ex-Lakers player joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Wednesday night on FS1) and told us he's still VERY serious about joining the league. His agent's even been in contact with league officials.

But, with Kobe still mum on the possible reunion with his former Lakers teammates -- Smush says he's already thinking about some of the players who could fill the 3rd spot.

D'Angelo Russell needs to stop acting like a kid and start acting like a MAN if he ever wants to reach his superstar potential ... so says his former Lakers coach, Byron Scott.

Scott appeared on "L.A. Today" on AM570 when Fred Roggin asked if he believes the 20-year-old will ever become the breakout NBA stud he was touted to be coming out of college.

"The jury is still out," Scott said ... "but he's got to grow up."

Scott says Russell has TONS of potential but strongly implied that he doesn't put in the extra work in gym that people like Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade are known for doing.

Translation -- you can't get by with raw talent at the NBA level.

Lamar Odom says he's ON BOARD to team up with Smush Parker and Kobe Bryant for Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm with it!"

Of course, this whole thing started with Smush telling us he thinks he and Kobe could have been the greatest back court in Lakers history if they would have gotten along better during their playing days.

Now, Smush wants to team up with Kobe and Lamar again -- to dominate the Big3 league ... which already includes ex-NBA stars like Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Rashard Lewis and more.

Smush is in. Lamar is in.

Just waiting on you, Kobe ... not like you have a job right now, right?

Ex-Laker Smush Parker wants to squash the beef with Kobe Bryant and team up to compete in Ice Cube's Big3 League!!

In case you didn't know ... Kobe made it clear during his playing days that he wasn't a fan of Smush ... and even told him not to speak to him until he "had more accolades."

TMZ Sports spoke to Smush about wanting to reunite with Mamba and old teammate Lamar Odom ... and he says their triangle offense would dominate against guys like Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Mike Bibby.

When we asked if there would be any hard feelings with Kobe ... Smush says it's all water under the bridge.

Startin' to look like things are serious between Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson and model Hailey Baldwin -- the two hit up one of the hottest restaurants in L.A. together Thursday night .. in a Lambo.

The point is ... everyone in town knows Catch is a place you go to be seen -- especially when you pull up in a whip that costs more than most homes.

So, this could have been the official, "We're Going Public" night.

Clarkson and Baldwin have been spending a lot of time together lately -- and were spotted holding hands on New Year's Eve.

Nick Young's a single man again ... 'cause the Lakers star and his pop singer girlfriend, Paloma Ford, have officially broken up ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources close to the two tell us there was no cheating or secret baby mamas (like the Iggy Azalea situation) ... this time, the two just grew apart.

The two started dating back in September and things heated up quick. But after a few months, both sides agreed that Nick's family should take priority ... especially with his new kid.

We're told Nick and Paloma are still cool and are gonna do the whole "friends" thing. He even has a cameo in her upcoming music video ... and we're told she plans on keeping him in it.

Cool moment in the TMZ offices when Boosie Badazz met Metta World Peace -- and bro'd out right on the "TMZ Sports" TV show.

Turns out, the Louisiana rap legend is a HUGE Lakers fan -- and told Metta he remembers watching him hit that famous 3 pointer in Game 7 of the '10 NBA Finals while he was locked up in prison.

At the time, Boosie was locked up in the Louisiana State Penitentiary on drug charges ... and says Metta's shot was a bright spot during his incarceration.

Metta was equally stoked to meet Boosie ... saying the Lakers are always bumping his music in the locker room. Metta also told Boosie he was a "champion" for turning his life around after prison.

There's A LOT more on the "TMZ Sports" show Tuesday night on FS1 -- including Metta's take on the new George Karl video, Lamar Odom's possible coaching move and Mike Tyson's diss track.

Lamar Odom says he's still intent on returning to the NBA ... but on the sidelines ... telling TMZ Sports he's reached out to Lakers coach Luke Walton about a spot on the staff.

Odom's been intent on getting back in the league, saying at Kobe's farewell game that he fully expected to one day be back on an NBA roster.

It's seems he's changed his focus ... because when we got him out in L.A. on Monday he told our camera guy his return will still happen ... but as a coach.

Odom says he's serious and has already spoken with Luke about his future with the franchise.

If you think it's impossible, you're dead wrong ... Odom's still one of the most well-liked players in Lakers history ... and was lauded for his IQ on the court during his playing days.

John Travolta says he's PUMPED to be the inspiration for Nick Young's 3-point shot celebratory hip-thrusting dance ... telling TMZ Sports, "I love it!"

Nick's dance went viral after he hit a long-range bomb against the Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Lakers star later said God came to him in a dream the night before and told him to dance like John Travolta.

When we told Travolta about the situation at Barney's in Bev Hills Wednesday night ... he made it clear Nick has his blessing.

The L.A. Lakers have reportedly 86'd plans to stay at the Trump SoHo hotel on road trips to NYC ... citing "security concerns" as the reason they can't lay their heads on Trump's pillows.

According to a report by the L.A. Times, the Lakers were concerned about protests happening outside the hotel ... so they opted to take their business elsewhere.

TMZ Sports spoke to the NYPD ... who told us they have no "knowledge of security threats to that location" ... adding it's "all clear down there."

FYI -- 3 NBA teams have publicly ceased business relationships with Trump hotels due to politics ... however, an unnamed source told the Times the Lakers' decision is NOT "politically motivated."

Chris Paul is super happy that his friend, Kobe Bryant, just had his 3rd baby girl -- but he has a message for the NBA legend ... "Keep going 'til you get a boy!"

Nick Young threw a violent temper tantrum after not getting a foul call in a church league basketball game back in August ... and allegedly beat the crap out of an opposing player ... this according to a new lawsuit.

Young is being sued by Luis Solis -- who claims he was playing against the Lakers star in a game on the court at the Shepherd of the Hills church in Porter Ranch, CA on August 18th.

In the court docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Solis claims Young became "enraged" after he thought Solis fouled him ... and the ref missed the call.

Solis says Young flipped out -- and beat him down to the ground. At that point, a bunch of Nick's teammates jumped in and began to kick him while he was down.

Solis says he suffered serious injuries including a concussion -- and claims it's not the first time Young has gotten violent during pick-up games. We're told Solis has not filed a police report but is contemplating doing so.