NBA's Kermit Washington -- I'M NOT A SCUMBAG ... Pleads Not Guilty to Bilking Charity

Ex-NBA star Kermit Washington claims he's NOT the charity scheming scumbag officials say he is ... pleading NOT GUILTY to charges he stole thousands of dollars from a organization that was supposed to help needy families in Africa.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former All-Star was arrested in May after officials say he used close to $500,000 from the Project Contact Africa foundation to bankrole his lavish lifestyle ... using the cash for things like vacations, rent and jewelry.

Today, Kermit's attorney appeared in a Kansas City court on his behalf and pled not guilty to all of the charges -- corrupt interference with tax laws, conspiring to commit wire fraud, falsification of records and aggravated identity theft.