NBA

Oprah Winfrey is making a full-court press to get Lamar Odom to sit down and unload ... sources connected with both O and Lamar tell TMZ.

We're told no deal has been made, but there have been serious discussions and we're told Lamar is game if the conditions are right.

As for the topics -- drug use, Lamar's troubled marriage to Khloe Kardashian and his future in basketball.

Lamar Odom ate out last night -- Armenian, of course -- but emerged from the restaurant looking scarily thin ... especially for a guy trying to make an NBA comeback after a months-long drug binge.

Lamar and some friends hit up Gavar Cuisine in Glendale, CA -- and he walked out sporting his customary Nike warmup, white tee, and interestingly ... a rosary.

LO thinks he can kick his drug habit without rehab AND return to game-shape for the upcoming NBA season, so ... if anyone could use religion it's him.

But judging by his gaunt frame ... what he really needs is a couple of double-cheeseburgers.

Lamar Odom is way beyond first impressions with the Lakers ... but, all the same, he got a fresh shave of his head for a meeting with the team on Monday ... TMZ has learned.

Lamar's barber in the Valley, a dude named Enzo, hooked up the troubled NBA star Monday morning -- and even gave LO his trademark star on the back of his head ... which he sported during past seasons with the Lakers.

Our sources tell us Lamar met with Laker execs Monday afternoon to discuss terms of a possible return. We're told things went well -- though nothing's been signed -- and that Lamar's first choice has always been to return to the Lakers.

It's pretty amazing ... a little more than a month ago Lamar was smoking crack and deep in the throes of drug addiction. But as we first reported, Odom has been adamant he can cut off his drug abuse without going to rehab.

It remains to be seen if an NBA team buys that (and we know Khloe Kardashian isn't) -- but as one source put it ... lately Lamar has sounded more like his old self.

On his Instagram, Lamar's barber wrote, "Wish em the best of luck in his meeting wit the Lakers today."

Porn legend Lisa Ann -- famous for her lead role in the XXX movie "Who's Nailin' Paylin?" -- wasn't lying when she said NBA legend John Salley might have THE biggest penis on the planet ... at least, Salley didn't correct her when we asked about it.

FYI, Lisa -- who's seen plenty of penises in her lifetime -- went on Howard Stern last month, and said Salley's sausage DWARFED every other schlong she's ever seen. By a long shot. We won't go into the details, but she basically said it was like squeezing salami through a keyhole.

And Salley ain't denying it ... he was out in L.A. last night when we asked about his big braciola ... and he laughed, saying, "I take all compliments."

AND WE WOULD TOO. Great video.

Kobe Bryant has Chinese envy -- at least when it comes to basketball -- claiming the rules in the Far East make it a real man’s game ... because “out here, you can’t even touch a motherf**ker.”

Kobe's diss to the NBA came during a candid moment in Vegas with Floyd Mayweather earlier this week ... when the two began talking about the differences between basketball in China vs. the NBA.

“They let you play over there,” Kobe said … adding, “out here they change the rules up and sh*t. You can’t even touch a motherf**ker. You can’t touch a n***a.”

Kinda strange coming from Kobe ... considering he has a reputation for begging NBA refs for calls.

Calls to China … weren’t made (c'mon, international calls ain't cheap!)

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins was arrested today after allegedly punching a woman in the face outside of a nightclub in July.

Officials say 28-year-old Perkins and his brother-in-law Quincy Alpough were outside Nox nightclub in Harris County, Texas when they got into an altercation with a woman named Mikeeta Cotton.

Cotton claims she was driving her car in front of the club and got into a fender bender with Alpough's female cousin.

Cotton says the woman attacked her ... and Alpough quickly joined in, pushing her and yelling.

Cotton claims Perkins -- who's 6'10" also entered the fracas and punched her brother in the head ... and then smacked her in the face with a closed fist.

A third person says Alpough elbowed her in the throat -- knocking her unconscious.

You don't go to Italy and not eat the pasta, you don't go to Japan and not try the sushi ... and Dwight Howard knows you can't go to the Philippines and not hit up the karaoke nightclubs.

The 6'11" Houston Rockets star has been in the Philippines to play a couple of NBA exhibition games ... but a few nights before he hit the court, Dwight blew off some steam at one of the country's most famous karaoke clubs.

But the karaoke joints over there aren't like the karaoke joints over here -- Filipinos take their karaoke VERY seriously and the clubs are the epicenter of the nightlife.

In fact, roughly SIX people have been MURDERED in the Philippines over disputes stemming from someone botching Frank Sinatra's version of "My Way" during a karaoke sesh.

Fortunately, Dwight didn't have that problem .. and emerged unscathed after spending his Monday night in the V.I.P. section of the Liberty Island karaoke bar in Manila.

We're told Dwight had a blast -- with dancing and full bottle service. We're told Howard was very cool inside the club and even signed some autographs for some of the staffers.

Dwight didn't play ball until Thursday ... and put up 9 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes against the Pacers.

11:20 PM PT -- Lamar bailed on the flight to NYC. We're told he became uneasy about making the trip after we posted this story about his plans -- and he has not rescheduled.

Lamar Odom is flying to New York later today ... to meet with honchos from several basketball teams, and he's carrying what he claims is proof that he's clean and sober ... sources connected with Lamar tell TMZ.

Our sources say on Tuesday ... Lamar underwent blood and urine tests for drugs, and he tested NEGATIVE for drugs.

This is consistent with what other sources have told us about his time with the Kardashians on Tuesday. We're told he was lucid and showed no signs of being under the influence of drugs.

We're told Lamar has had private conversations with execs from several teams who have expressed interest in him, provided he could show he was clean ... and the purpose of the trip is to meet with them and possibly strike a deal.

Our sources also say Lamar wanted to go to New York to visit his family, and get away from "the negative energy."

And finally, our sources tell us Lamar says he's had his fun with drugs and is ready to re-start his basketball career. Fact is ... he's done that before.

Here is a video of LeBron James flipping a monster truck tire, in an abandoned warehouse, while surrounded by flames and wearing giant gold chains ... and why, you ask? 'CAUSE IT'S BAD ASS.

Also, he was taping a scene for the new Miami Heat intro video (you know, the clip they play in the stadium during player intros).

Sure, LBJ was hamming it up for the cameras during the shoot, but the guy is an absolute beast.

As for D-Wade and Chris Bosh ... they shot intro scenes too. No fire, or tires, or gold chains ... just some smoke and dry ice.

Pays to be the king.

Former NBA player and ESPN analyst Antonio Davis' wife wants out of her marriage, claiming, among other things, her hubby has stolen money from her by raiding their bank account.

Kendra Rae Davis filed legal docs back in June to end their 19-year marriage. Since then she claims Antonio's been blowing through money that belongs to both of them -- she claims that's a bozo no-no while a divorce is pending.

Here are the stats ... She says since July, Antonio has pulled $133,510 from their joint checking account. She says he also bought himself a house using $563,041 of joint funds.

Antonio fired back in a letter to her ... the house purchase was in the works before divorce papers were filed, so tough.

Kendra wants Antonio to pay back the loot -- and pay her legal bills, too.

With NBA training camp officially underway, veteran free agent Jason Collins has finally joined a team -- in a gay kickball league ... TMZ has learned.

The 34-year-old took the field in the Varsity Gay kickball league in Hollywood this week -- playing 1st base for "Team Twerk."

Collins was a little rusty on the field -- dropping an easy pop fly in the beginning of the game, but our gay kickball sources tell us he quickly got his act together and played like a stud the rest of the game.

In the end, Team Twerk emerged victorious -- pulling out an 11 to 5 victory.

We're told Jason isn't fully committed to the team, since he's still trying to sign with an NBA squad -- but he's the go-to substitute when the team is short on players.

Khloe Kardashian had a nuclear confrontation with Lamar Odom that could be the last straw in their marriage ... TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported ... Lamar went to their Tarzana house Tuesday ... to pick up some clothes and speak with Khloe. Now we know what was said ... and what she found.

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Lamar told her he had been sober for 3 days and planned to stay sober on his own ... without going to rehab. We're told Khloe recoiled in anger, telling Lamar he was in denial and needed rehab. She also said she wanted nothing to do with him until he entered an inpatient program.

Our sources say at some point during the meeting, Khloe found a pipe with a stash that looked like crack in a baggie. It's not clear if she found it on his person or the clothes he was picking up from the house.

Sources close to Lamar tell us Khloe went ballistic, calling Lamar a "liar" and telling him, "I'm done with you." Khloe then threw him out of the house.

Our sources say Lamar seemed "out of it" during the meeting and even accused Khloe of stealing his stash.

As for the marriage ... we're told Khloe has "not done anything legal yet," but, as she put it, finding the stash "was the last straw."

Lamar Odom says he's been sober for 5 days ... and he believes he can maintain sobriety WITHOUT going to rehab.

Sources connected to the troubled BBaller tell TMZ ... Lamar believes in what he calls "self-healing" and says he has the willpower to kick his drug habit on his own.

Lamar says he's done it successfully before and is convinced he can do it again.

Toward that end, he is telling people he is removing certain "friends" from his life ... so he doesn't relapse.

Lamar says he's open to getting professional help, but only in private and not in a rehab facility. He has not yet committed to getting such help.

Lamar is very mindful of the fact that training camp has just started. Although he wants to save his marriage to Khloe Kardashian, our sources say his motivation for sobriety seems to be more focused on his basketball career. Lamar believes once he's achieved a level of sobriety, he can re-join a team.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar had a devastating crack problem in addition to an addiction to other drugs, including cocaine. He was in rehab for 3 weeks a little more than a year ago before bailing.

Shaquille O'Neil got one of those dreaded parking boots on his truck -- and all he had to do to get it removed for free was choke out the dude who did the the booting ... TMZ has learned.

Ok, Shaq was playfully strangling Spence Beck of ABS Booting in the video he posted on Instagram Tuesday night -- but it was all the boot man's idea.

Spence tells us a few hours after he slapped the device on Shaq's ride outside an Atlanta restaurant (someone forgot to feed the meter) ... he got a call, and instantly recognized the Diesel's voice.

According to Spence, Shaq played his cop card, saying ... “I’m a U.S. Marshal, I need you to remove this boot."

If you didn't know ... Shaq really was deputized back in 2005 when he helped feds track down sexual predators -- and that was good enough for Spence.

Spence says he told Shaq he'd waive the $75 fine in exchange for a co-starring role in one of Shaq's Instagram vids.

In case you haven't seen the images, 2K14 LeBron is WAYYYYY balder than 2K13 LeBron ... and conspiracy theorists are suggesting the designers are anti-LBJ fans who were just trying to troll the guy.

But we spoke with a rep for the company behind the game ... who tells us the digital art is simply imitating real life -- "We strive for current realism with all our players."

LeBron now joins the ranks of other legendary bald video characters ... including King Hippo, Dhalsim, the guy from Hitman, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Kirby.

Congrats.

L.A. Lakers center, Pau Gasol, is optimistic that Lamar Odom -- his friend and former teammate -- will make a triumphant return to the NBA ... but admits he's still in the dark about what's going on in Lamar's life.

All 7-feet of Pau hit up Katsuya in Hollywood last night ... where he told us he hasn't had any contact with Lamar since he began his crack-fueled downward spiral ... but he still thinks Lamar can come back.

"The main thing is that he's healthy and happy," Gasol told us ... but he also knows what it's gonna take for Lamar -- or any pro-baller -- to be competitive in the NBA.