LeBron James -- Better Than 88% Of Rappers ... Says The Game

LeBron James is "better than 88% of rappers rapping right now" ... so says The Game who tells TMZ Sports the NBA star's first real rap verse wasn't bad for a beginner.

"First time I heard the song -- I thought the first guy [Sian Cotton] was fly. He was snapping a little bit and then LeBron came on and I was like, 'Umm s*** ... aight.'"

TMZ Sports first posted the song, a remix of Jay Z's "f***withmeyouknowIgotit" -- which LeBron and Cotton recorded in Florida last summer.

"The thing is ... he ain't as polished as expected -- but no one is like the God MC on their first rap. I’ve heard a lot worse from CDs and on iTunes and s*** from real artists."

We asked Game if he had any advice for 'Bron, to which he replied -- "Here, tell him this for me ... tell him to work on staying on pocket a little more."