New York Knicks

Metta World Peace says he seriously considered retiring from the NBA when he was dropped from the Lakers ... because he REEALLLY wanted to drink mudslides on a beach in Florida.

Mudslides are, in fact, delicious.

"I was thinking about just going down to like Destin, Florida ... 'which is one of the best beaches in America that's not too expensive to travel to," Metta says.

"So I was thinking about going to Destin, Florida or maybe going to Sarasota and just enjoying the beach. Sitting back ... mudslides. I loooove some mudslides."

So, why didn't he hang 'em up? 33-year-old Metta says he still has 3-5 good years left in the league ... and he's really excited to play with the New York Knicks.

NBA legend Michael Jordan tried to win entrance into Kennedy's vagina during a steamy dice game back in 1995 ... so says the former MTV star, who claims she was a virgin at the time.

Kennedy -- who was a huge MTV VJ back in the '90s -- details the encounter in her new book "The Kennedy Chronicles" ... explaining how she was having dinner with MJ and Russell Simmons at the Bowery Bar in NYC, when Michael broke out some dice.

Before long, Kennedy says, Jordan decided it was "time to play for something" ... and said, "If I win, you come back to my hotel room with me tonight."

Kennedy says she freaked out because she was a virgin --and imagined MJ's giant penis would "eviscerate me from the inside out" ... so she asked if they could play for Knicks tickets instead.

And that's when Jordan allegedly reminded Kennedy he had a wife -- and offered her Nets tickets as a consolation.

"Sure, he'll filet my vag like a sea bass if he won at dice on a men's room floor," Kennedy writes ... "but as soon as I want basketball tickets he's a Promise Keeper? Whatevs."

Kennedy says she won the dice game anyway -- so her vag was never in any real danger.

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

Carmelo Anthony knows ... the 2003 NBA draft was LEGENDARY -- with 4 of the top 5 picks putting together Hall of Fame careers. There's just one exception ...

Anthony was arriving at LAX yesterday when we talked about his incredible draft class -- which includes NBA superstars LeBron James (#1 overall), Carmelo (#3), Chris Bosh (#4) and Dwyane Wade (#5).

So what happened to the #2 guy taken in the 2003 draft? Let's just say no one's clearing out space for a Darko Milicic plaque in Springfield, Mass.

Miami Heat parties are so ballin'... even their most hated enemies will bow down for a chance to hang with the champs -- just ask #1 Knicks fan Spike Lee!

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh hosted a sick bash at Club Bamboo on South Beach Friday night -- with a ton of celeb guests.

Drake and Timbaland were there -- as well as actual Heat fan Flo Rida.

Spike famously sits courtside, covered in team gear, for almost every NY Knicks home game at Madison Square Garden -- especially when they're playing rivals like the Heat.

But we think Spike deserves a pass on this one though. His precious Knicks haven't won the title since Spike was 16 (in '73).

Don't mess with Black Jesus ... or YOU WILL PAY ... just ask Knicks stud J.R. Smith, whose ass just lost a $48,000 lawsuit involving a diamond necklace that features an Afro-American rendition of the Messiah.

A jewelry company called Lemmerman's sued Smith, claiming he ordered a bunch of bling back in 2010 -- including a diamond chain, two Black Jesus pendants and some earrings -- totaling $25,500 ... but never paid.

We're told one Jesus pendant and chain cost roughly $15,000 alone.

Lemmerman's sued for $48,101 -- which includes the jewelry bill plus interest and attorney's fees -- but Smith never responded to the suit ... so a judge ruled in Lemmerman's favor.

Smith has now been ordered to pay the $48,000 asap ... or else. Calls to Smith's people weren't returned.

Kevin Garnett would've laid the smack down on Carmelo Anthony if things came to blows during their post-game standoff this week ... all because of KG's cartoonishly long arms ... so says Marlon Wayans.

Marlon was out in NYC yesterday when we asked about the Melo vs. KG beef -- and his answer ... is ... hilarious.

Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has just been suspended for one game -- WITHOUT PAY -- for confronting Celtics player Kevin Garnett Monday night ... in an epic expletive-filled standoff.

TMZ posted the video ... showing 'Melo waiting for KG in the arena tunnel at Madison Square Garden ... after the two had been going at each other during the game.

'Melo had said KG insulted him on the court and said things that "crossed the line." There are reports that KG said Anthony's wife "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios" ... but neither player has confirmed exactly what words were exchanged.

According to the NBA, Carmelo will serve his suspension on January 10th when the Knicks face the Pacers.

A rep for the league released a statement, saying, "There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable to confront an opponent after a game."

TMZ has obtained exclusive VIDEO of the postgame screaming match between Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony following Monday night's Celtics vs. Knicks game ... and it's clear both guys were ready to fight.

The incident went down in front of the Celtics team bus inside Madison Square Garden -- just a short time after things got physical between the two NBA superstars on the court.

In the video, both men can be seen yelling and approaching each other aggressively as security scrambles to keep them apart.

It's unclear exactly what the guys were saying to each other -- but we definitely heard someone use the n-word a couple of times.

Eventually, security was able to separate the big men ... and KG boarded the team bus.

After the game, Anthony told reporters it all started when Garnett spewed some trash talk during the game that "crossed a line."

"There’s certain things that you just don’t say to men, another man,” Anthony said.

New York Knicks star J.R. Smith was arrested in South Beach last night ... after cops discovered the 26-year-old was a wanted man.

According to reports, Smith was pulled over on a routine traffic stop ... when the officers noticed an active warrant out for Smith's arrest stemming from his failure to address a ticket for driving without a valid license.

Smith was booked into Miami-Dade County jail shortly before midnight. He was released a short time later on bond.

Jeremy Lin is the biggest sensation to hit sports since Tim Tebow burst on the scene -- and wouldn't you know it ... Lin says Tebow is one of his biggest inspirations.

In case you've missed out on Linsanity -- Jeremy has come out of nowhere to be the New York Knicks starting point guard. He's scored more points in his first three career starts than any modern era NBA player ... and he's a devout Christian.

Before dropping 38 on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers last night, Lin -- who said he may become a minister after his playing days -- told 95.7 FM in San Francisco that he's inspired by and really respects Tebow.

Lin explained, "I actually want to be able to do some of the things that he does in terms of the amount of charity work and the non-profit work, and the way he impacts people off the field. I think that is what is most inspiring to me about him."

If this keeps up, church attendance is going to go through the roof.

LeBron James celebrated his girlfriend's 25th birthday last night with a romantic double date in New York ... alongside fellow NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony and his wife ... and TMZ has the footage.

The foursome was all smiles as they left the Waverly Inn in NYC -- but the biggest question ... WHO PAID?

The Waverly Inn ain't cheap -- but LeBron is in the middle of a 6-year $110 million contract and Carmelo recently inked a deal with the Knicks worth $65 million for 3 years.

Mr. Metta World Peace hit the stage at Caroline's on Broadway in NY for his 2nd ever live comedy show ... and TMZ was there to capture the new king of stand up in all of his glory -- even the part where he stopped the show in the middle of his set to hug a woman he recognized.

Stoudemire's agent tells us, "I know there are some reports that he is Jewish, but he is not. He thinks there may be some Jewish blood on his mother's side and he is researching it."

Amar'e -- who just signed a $100 million contract with the NY Knicks -- is currently vacationing in Israel, where he's learning Hebrew and "studying the religions there."