Los Angeles Lakers

LaVar Ball is going to love this ...

There will be no Lakers beef between Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball this season -- at least when it comes to minutes -- 'cause Rajon tells TMZ Sports he'll do whatever it takes to help Zo grow!!

Of course, Rondo and Lonzo play the same position -- point guard -- and there's been some concern the two could clash in a battle for playing time.

But, 32-year-old Rajon says he just wants to be the best teammate he can be -- and if that means sitting behind 20-year-old Lonzo, so be it.

"I'm ready to help develop Lonzo as much as possible," Rajon says.

"If I'm not starting and he's starting, he's going to be ready to go and ready for anybody that comes his way. And we'll be ready to roll."

Val Chmerkovskiy has become the latest in Hollywood to recruit a member of the LeBron family ... with the two-time Mirror Ball trophy winner callin' out Bronny to join the cast of "Dancing with the Stars: Juniors"!

Remember ... L.A.'s biggest celebs have already lined up to work with LeBron now that he's a Laker -- and just a few days ago, Jackie Christie begged Savannah to join "Basketball Wives."

Now ... Bronny's getting the Tinseltown pitch, courtesy of new 'DWTS: Juniors' judge Chmerkovskiy -- who tells TMZ Sports he really wants to see LBJ Jr. on the dance floor.

"It'll be awesome for you," Val says. "You're welcome, you should come on the show!"

It wouldn't be the most farfetched thing we've ever seen ... after all, we already reported Scottie Pippen's 9-year-old daughter is slated to be on the show.

Ever wonder how the NBA's best player would fare in a slow-pitch softball game??

Good, 'cause LeBron James hit the diamond Wednesday night ... and absolutely dominated.

LBJ, fam and friends (including J.R. Smith!) took the field at University of Akron ... when the King made his case to be the G.O.A.T of softball too.

Bron -- the biggest shortstop that's ever lived -- robbed wifey Savannah of a base hit early in the game ... stretched a ground ball to short into a double later ... and even hit this moonshot to center field.

We're told the game was just for fun and lasted about four hours. The King even brought out Swensons food truck for everyone afterward!!

LeBron James' and Luke Walton's former teammate, Richard Jefferson, isn't worried about how the two guys will get along in L.A., telling TMZ Sports he thinks they will "do great" together.

Things got off to a weird start between the 'Bron and Luke ... with reports saying the two men didn't speak for some time after James made his decision to join the Lakers.

That made some people wonder if LeBron was planning to David Blatt Walton ... but, when we got Jefferson out in L.A., he said he expects everything to be just fine.

Remember, Jefferson is great friends with Walton having played college ball with Luke at Arizona ... and he's also one of LeBron's guys, having played his last few seasons in Cleveland.

Shaq is WRONG -- Kobe Bryant is NOT coming back to the NBA ... so says Mrs. Mamba herself, Vanessa Bryant.

There have been rumblings that 39-year-old Kobe is considering a return to the Lakers to join LeBron James for one last shot at a ring before he rides off into the sunset.

And, the rumors got even stronger when Shaquille O'Neal told TMZ Sports over the weekend, "Kobe coming back. You heard it here first."

Now, Vanessa is finally weighing in -- and assuring Laker Nation, Kobe ain't pulling a Michael Jordan.

"Kobe will not be coming out of retirement to play again," Vanessa wrote on Instagram.

"He doesn’t want to play again and frankly we really enjoy spending time together as a family without the crazy game schedule interfering with birthdays, holidays and special events."

Mamba out.

Before Draymond Green's alleged violent confrontation with Tristan Thompson ... the NBA star was partying with LeBron James and Kevin Durant and witnesses say he was in a great mood.

There are reports Draymond and his crew went from LeBron's Uninterrupted party at The Highlight Room to Delilah nightclub ... where Green approached Thompson and was struck in the face by the NBA star.

Some reports say Draymond was trying to apologize to Tristan for disrespecting him after the NBA Finals -- but TT was having nothing of it and had to be restrained.

Witnesses who saw Draymond and LeBron at The Highlight Room say the guys were hanging out and enjoying the evening ... no static, no tension.

We got video of Draymond and LeBron having a conversation before leaving for the next spot with KD -- but unclear what they were talking about.

Austin Rivers can't imagine how hard it'll be for Bronny James to grow up as LeBron's son ... but he's offering advice, telling TMZ Sports, "Just focus on being the best him he can be."

We got Austin -- who lived in Doc's shadow his whole life -- at LAX, when we had to ask ... how is it really going to be for LBJ Jr. to grow up as a famous NBA son in the basketball world??

Rivers doesn't sugarcoat it ... saying it's going to be brutal.

But -- A.R.'s got a blueprint for Bronny to follow.

"Don't focus on trying to be LeBron James," Rivers says. "I didn't focus on trying to be Doc. I just tried to be myself."

Austin seems to think Bronny's got a huge future regardless ... dishing out praise for what he's seen from the King's kid so far -- including giving a high grade for his first-ever dunk.

These are actual words that came out of Shaq's mouth Sunday night -- "Kobe coming back. You heard it here first."

Is he messing with us? Probably. Then again, maybe not??

But, probably.

Shaq was leaving the Budweiser LIVE 5-on-5 charity basketball tournament in Downtown L.A. over the weekend when we asked the 46-year-old if he would ever consider a comeback.

The Diesel shot that right down ... but then cracked a big grin and told us, "Kobe coming back I heard. Kobe coming back! You heard it here first!"

There have been rumblings about 39-year-old Kobe Bryant coming back to the Lakers for one more season alongside LeBron James ... but it's super unlikely.

Then again ... maybe not?

By the way, the basketball event raised money for the Folds of Honor Foundation -- which provides scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military personnel who've been killed or wounded in action.

Move over LeBron ... you ain't the only James wanted in Hollywood -- 'cause 'Basketball Wives' star Jackie Christie is BEGGING Savannah to join the show.

"Come on Savannah," Doug Christie's wife tells TMZ Sports. "We need you!"

Jackie's been a staple on VH1's hit ... and when we got her out at LAX with her NBA hubby -- she was all for sharing the show's limelight with LBJ's boo.

"Savannah, come be on 'Basketball Wives,' we think you're adorable!"

Of course ... Jackie IS one of the few 'Wives' stars still with her NBA connect -- so there might be some angling for a new storyline here.

LeBron James is being offered some hip-hop help from one of the biggest new rappers in the game ... Trippie Redd, who's telling TMZ Sports exactly how he'd use LeBron musically.

We got Trippie in Beverly Hills and wanted his opinion of LeBron's rapping, so we let him hear James' freestyle from a couple years ago.

Trippie took it in ... but didn't just give us a review, he gave us a plan -- a plan on how to make LeBron a viable musician ... and it sounds like he knows what he is talking about.

Redd also told us he's 100% sure Kobe is coming out of retirement to play with LeBron next year, pleading his case to our camera guy.

LeBron James has officially put Kid Ink's Clippers fandom on life support ... 'cause the L.A. rapper tells TMZ Sports he'd root for King James' Lakers in a playoff series with the Clippers!!

The 32-year-old has been all-in with the Clips since he was little ... telling us, "I ride for the underdog."

But, with LBJ in L.A. now ... Kid Ink's doing the unthinkable -- DUMPING HIS OLD TEAM!!

"I've always been riding for LeBron James since high school," he says.

Now ... Kid Ink's not fully ready to commit the L.A. treason ... telling us he atleast won't rock Lakers gear when he cheers on LeBron at Staples Center.

But, you gotta hear the dagger he inserts into Clip City's heart when we ask who he'd root for in a scenario where LeBron has the ball in closing time against the Clippers.

Shareef O'Neal knows it's hard following in his NBA superstar dad's footsteps ... but says Bronny James is thriving under that same spotlight ... sharing a touching message to LeBron's oldest son.

ICYMI -- LBJ recently revealed he regrets naming Bronny after himself because of all the pressure that comes with it ... admitting it was an overreaction to not having his own father growing up.

Shaq's son reflected on Bronny's journey so far on Thursday ... praising Bronny for dealing with the heat like a pro at just 13 years old.

"Bronny ... One kid I can relate to a lot ... we both kind of have it the same way , being the son of an NBA legend isn’t easy and to get all of this at a young age is a real challenge to adjust to."

"Bronny has it a little bit worse than I do, but the difference between him and I, he can back his up at such a young age."

Shareef says he struggled with the hate when he was Bronny's age ... admitting he'd sometimes choke when getting heckled. But, he makes it clear the Lakers superstar's son seems poised enough to tune out the negativity.

LeBron James says he regrets naming his 14-year-old son LeBron James Jr. -- because he's concerned about all of the pressure that comes with it.

The NBA superstar was opening up about his family to Jon Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Odell Beckham Jr. and Maverick Carter in his new HBO series, 'The Shop.'

While James was talking about how much fun he's having watching his kids play youth basketball -- Stewart asked, "How do you give them a piece of mind that they don't have to be you?"

That's when James explained his regret when it comes to naming his kid -- but said it was an overreaction from not having a father while he was growing up.

James said he always swore that he would be the dad he didn't have -- and naming his kid "Jr." -- was the first step.

No, this is not a picture from last season ...

LeBron James and Kevin Love were in the gym together Thursday morning -- smiling like two guys who don't hate each other's guts.

Of course, Bron just ditched Kev and the Cavs for L.A. -- and according to multiple reports, he didn't even text Love before going public with his decision.

And, don't forget ... LBJ and Love's 4 years in Cleveland together weren't exactly drama free -- remember Bron admitted he called out Kevin on Twitter a few years ago?

But, that's all water under the bridge ... because Kevin posted this reunion pic in a Vegas gym ... and captioned it, "Thursday morning work."

Sorry, Lakers fans ... L.A. is still Clip City, even with LeBron in the purple and gold -- so says Clippers guard Lou Williams.

We got the reigning Sixth Man of the Year out at his Lou Williams basketball camp in Atlanta when he told us the Clippers still run Los Angeles ... despite Magic Johnson's huge free agency haul.

"I mean, the Lakers ain't beat us since I've been on the Clippers," Williams tells TMZ Sports.

"So, record-wise, yeah, we are the better team in L.A. until they prove it."

The next generation of the Big Baller Brand empire has arrived -- Lonzo Ball's girlfriend has given birth to a baby girl, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story back in February ... the 20-year-old Zo and his high school sweetheart, Denise Garcia, were expecting a baby baller of their own.

A family rep confirms Zoey Christina Ball was born on Sunday. We're told the baby girl is as happy and healthy as can be.

Lonzo and Denise started dating back when they were kids in Chino Hills.