Metta World Peace -- Cops Confront Armed Men at Laker's Condo Complex

Metta World Peace was roused out of bed early this morning when police responded to a report of 4 armed men in the basketball star's condo complex ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us LAPD got a call around midnight about 4 guys -- 3 with handguns and one with a shotgun -- lurking around the L.A. Laker's westside home.

We're told officers called out the suspects over a loudspeaker, and 2 men -- Metta's brother and cousin -- heard the commotion and came out to talk to cops.

Only problem is ... we're told they didn't have any ID, so police handcuffed both men until they could make sure they weren't suspects.

Sources say officers had to wake up Metta -- who quickly vouched for his brother and cousin, and both men were released. We're told Mr. World Peace was very "understanding and professional" ... naturally.

Eventually the "armed suspects" came out and proved to cops they were residents of the complex -- unrelated to Metta -- who were returning home with BB guns used while recording a video.

We're told the 4 men got off with a warning -- presumably about carrying weapons in public -- and possibly about unnecessarily alarming Lakers superstars ... who, let's face it, need all the rest they can get this season.