Los Angeles Lakers

Arnold Schwarzenegger is fired up about LeBron James -- and even made the The King a video to welcome LBJ to Los Angeles.

"This is so exciting that you're coming to the city of stars," Arnold said.

"And you'll be, without any doubt, the biggest star of all. On the court and off the court! I love it!"

He's not the only huge star excited about James becoming the newest Los Angeles Laker -- Snoop Dogg also posted on IG welcoming Bron to town.

And, of course, Bron's newest teammate Lonzo Ball had a few words as well -- saying, "Y’all really thought he was gonna pass up the greatest city in the world... #TheKingIsHere."

Kobe Bryant also weighed in, saying ... "Welcome to the family @KingJames #lakers4life #striveforgreatness @JeanieBuss @MagicJohnson."

Call him BallStradamus ... because LaVar Ball told TMZ Sports the LeBron James to the Lakers thing was a done deal way back in February.

Of course, back then there were rumblings about LeBron coming out west, but it was far from official.

Still, when we saw LaVar at a Big Baller Brand pop-up shop, he made it clear that he had no doubts about LeBron's future.

"Who said it was a rumor? Didn't I tell you he was coming here," Ball said in February.

"Lonzo's gonna make him a better player."

LaVar even had a nickname for the new LeBron, Lonzo Ball duo -- and it's more about his son than James.

The King has decided where he's going next in the NBA -- LeBron James is heading to the Los Angeles Lakers ... and for a helluva lot of money.

A press release from Klutch Sports -- which reps Bron -- came out Sunday saying James had agreed to a 4 year contract with Magic Johnson's team for $154 million. Magic is said to have engaged in immediate talks with LeBron the moment he landed in L.A. Saturday.

It's unclear who else might be joining LeBron at this point, but rumors are swirling that Magic and co. are trying to land Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs.

Kyle Kuzma knows all about the rumors that he could get shipped out of L.A. -- but tells TMZ Sports he's not bothered by the trade talk ... and assures Lakers fans he wants to stay put.

The NBA star was leaving lunch at Via Alloro in Beverly Hills on Thursday where he told us he can't focus on front office stuff he can't control -- his only option is to work on getting better as a player.

We also talked about Stephen A. Smith's report that LeBron reached out to Kevin Durant about joining the Lakers together ... but Kuz said he ain't buyin' that one at all.

One thing he is excited about ... Zion Williamson -- the high school prodigy who's playing at Duke next year.

Devin Booker ... DeAndre Ayton ... Josh Jackson ... Elfrid Payton -- that sounds like a team LeBron could get down with, right?!?!

"Zero percent chance," Suns vet Jared Dudley says ... "Bron's not coming to Phoenix."

Well, OK then ... where is he going??

"Cleveland or L.A."

We got Jared on Rodeo Dr. earlier this week ... and despite the Suns loading up on young talent the last year or two -- Jared says there's no way in hell LBJ comes to the desert.

"Zero percent chance. He's not coming to Phoenix."

Dudley says it's OK, though ... in fact, he guaranteed Phoenix will be back in the playoffs in no time.

At least one NBA star is convinced LeBron James has already made up his mind ... with Willie Cauley-Stein telling TMZ Sports the King is coming to L.A.

"He's coming HERE," the Sacramento Kings star told us outside Nightingale Plaza nightclub in L.A.

He also noted that there's no loyalty in the NBA, so anything is on the table when it comes to players and teams making moves.

By the way, Willie is DRIPPIN' in this clip -- with a Gucci bandana around his head, all sorts of diamonds around his neck and a Louis Vuitton x Supreme side bag around his chest.

LaVar Ball has heard the trade rumors involving Lonzo Ball going to the Spurs ... and has a message for the Lakers:

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. It'll be the worst move they ever made."

LaVar went off at his JBA season opener on Thursday afternoon -- when we asked about the rumblings that Magic Johnson could ship Lonzo to San Antonio to get Kawhi Leonard.

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. If they don't wanna trade him, keep him. He's gonna do his thing. I'm not worried about no trades.

LaVar says he's still 100% confident all 3 of his boys will eventually play on the same NBA team, despite the fact LiAngelo wasn't drafted on Thursday.

"He'll come in the back door as a free agent," LaVar explained.

LiAngelo Ball -- who strongly believes he'll be drafted by an NBA team -- is NOT currently at an NBA Draft party. Instead, he's at a big event for his dad's new basketball league.

The former UCLA/Lithuanian league player was courtside at LaVar's JBA season opener at Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.

Remember, 'Gelo previously told us he was getting strong interest from NBA teams -- which may be the case -- but there's no draft fanfare like there was for Lonzo last year ... when he was selected as the second overall pic in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Speaking of Lonzo, he was also at the JBA event, along with his pregnant GF, Denise Garcia.

As for LaVar ... there's plenty of support at the JBA opener from close friends and family members -- but, to be honest, the arena is pretty empty.

Kobe Bryant just got rejected at the rim by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -- which just denied membership to the Mamba ... claiming he doesn't have a good enough body of work.

You know what he does have? AN OSCAR!!!!

Kobe won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball" -- which was based off a retirement letter he published on The Players' Tribune back in 2015.

Kobe is credited as the executive producer and writer of the film.

Worth noting, Oscar winners are automatically considered for membership -- but it's not a shoe-in. The board votes on who gets membership based on a specific criteria.

One of the items on the checklist for producers -- "have the equivalent of 2 producer screen credits and perform the majority of the functions of a producer on theatrical feature films of the caliber which in the opinion of the executive committee reflect the high standards of the Academy."

For the record, Kobe produced the docu-series 'Muse' -- but it doesn't appear that would qualify under the Academy's standards because it was produced for TV.

Still, there are some people who believe the membership denial is due to Kobe's controversial past and the rise of the #MeToo movement.

Despite the fact Kobe was cheered on by the Academy when he won at the Oscars, there has been serious blowback.

Anyone waiting for Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball to get into a full-blown beef is about to be disappointed ... because Lakers guard Josh Hart says everything is cool between the two guys.

Lonzo and Kuzma have been taking shots at each other on social media (and on rap songs) so much that the Lakers brass reportedly stepped in and asked them to stop.

So, we got Hart out at The Peppermint Club in L.A. (where he was partying with his teammate, Julius Randle) and asked him if it's getting outta hand ... and he broke it down for us.

Forget what you thought you knew about Kobe Bryant ... there is no Kobe, or Mamba ... because KB gave us a glimpse of who he has become ...

AND, HIS NAME IS DADZILLA!!

Kobe was seen out in France carrying his littlest daughter, Bianka Bella ... and the pythons jumping out of his torso made it clear that the age of DADZILLA is upon us.

BTW -- we didn't jump to this declaration easily ... this is the second time we've seen DADZILLA. The first time being a trip to Disneyland where the former mortal man looked more jacked than normal.

Now, we know it wasn't a one-off ... but the dawn of a new era.

Mark Jackson says if the Lakers can get Kawhi Leonard ANYONE has to be on the trading block ... and that means any of their young stars ... including Lonzo Ball.

Talk in NBA circles is that Leonard wants OUT of San Antonio ... and IN to the Purple and Gold. But for that to happen, the Lakers would have to trade someone of value.

We got Mark out in Calabasas ... and he said it doesn't matter who that someone of value is, because Kawhi is too much of a beast to pass up on.

"I'm getting a top five player in the world so I definitely would be very aggressive in trying to get a home run hitter in my lineup."

Translating ex-NBA coach speak ... EVERYONE MUST GO!!!

The Game has created a brand new strain of marijuana -- obviously named after LeBron James -- and he's hoping it helps convince the NBA superstar to sign with the Lakers.

It's called "'LA' Bron James -- and created by Game's marijuana company, "Trees By Game" -- and the rapper says there's a very specific reason why he developed this strain.

"[It's] a strain inspired by my city & them trying to bring King James to the LAKESHOW."

FYI, Game is from Los Angeles -- and he's a die-hard fan of the Purple & Gold (and green too).

For the record, Game -- just like the Warriors -- has already smoked James. He liked it.

It's time for TMZ SPORTS DECODES ... starring NBA superstar Paul George, who might've just given the basketball world a huge clue about his future and the future of Mr. LeBron James.

Or did he?

First a little context ... rumors in NBA circles say LeBron joining the Lakers depends on him luring another big name star to Hollywood, and most people think George -- an L.A. native -- is that star.

In order for that to happen, George would have to want to play with LeBron and, when we got him at the Fortnite Celebrity Pro-Am in L.A. and asked him ... he seemed like he was down.

"Yeah, I'm with LeBron every All-Star. Every one of my All-Stars I've been teamed with LeBron ... I like playing with him."

We continued decoding as we asked George if he even likes Los Angeles ... and once again, he gave us more positive feedback than an eastern Tinder swipe.

"I'm from L.A., I can say I love L.A. because I'm from L.A."

What do you get when you love both playing with LeBron and L.A.? Seems like Purple & Gold.

It wasn't quite Pusha T on Drake ... but Lonzo Ball came hard after Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma in a newly released diss track called "Kylie Kuzma."

The rap dropped Monday afternoon ... and Ball goes for the jugular on a few occasions, throwing around disses for two straight minutes.

"Who are you without ZO2? Just another dude with a bunch of tattoos," Lonzo rapped.

"Boy, you talking crazy. Why you trying to play me? You ain't on my level, you ain't famous as my baby."

There's more ... Lonzo goes after Kuzma's style relentlessly, jabbin' at the fleece outfits he rocks and the "Kuzmania" shirts he's been trying to sell.

"You want smoke, you can get it, dressing for attention. Trying to be Russell Westbrook, you just honorable mention."

Zo, Kuzma and Josh Hart have playfully gone after each other all season on social media ... but did Zo's rhymes cross the line??

Nah ... let's keep it comin'!!

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were teammates for 13 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, so when Fisher gets hitched to "Basketball Wives" star Gloria Govan ... Mamba HAS to be there right?

NOT SO FAST.

We got Fisher out at LAX, and talked to him all about who may, or may not be there when he and Govan jump the broom ... and it seems there's a pretty decent chance Kobe WON'T be there.

"I mean, we'll see. It depends on how many people we decide to have there. If we decide it's just family, then it's just family."

So, Kobe's not family?! Weddings come with tough choices ...

Fisher also gave us his feelings on Shaq's ex-wife, Shaunie O'Neal, basically saying she wouldn't -- under any circumstances -- be caught dead at the wedding.

Here's a hint: He doesn't give a damn.