NBA

Maybe HUGE GUYS do have bigger hearts after all ... 'cause Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans just took time out of training from the '16-17 season ... to visit flood victims in Baton Rouge.

Davis, along with guys like Quincy Pondexter, Buddy Hield, and Lang Galloway drove north to the state's capitol Wednesday, bringing joy to families displaced by devastating flooding in the city.

The guys served meals, posed for photos and even played a little hoops with sheltered families ... and by the looks of the pics and vids their gesture was MUCH appreciated.

Oh BTW ... note to all kids wanting to play Anthony Davis 1-on-1 ... he AIN'T gonna take it easy on you.

The O'Neal reign in the NBA ain't even close to being over -- with Shaq telling TMZ Sports BOTH of his sons are bound for the league.

You've heard about 16-year-old Shareef O'Neal for a while ... he's one of the top high school players in the country. But Shaq says his other son -- 13-year-old Shaqir O'Neal has legit skills as well.

There's more ... Shaq says he's also super impressed with 14-year-old Jaxon Williams -- son of ex-NBA star Jason Williams (aka White Chocolate).

The kids were all mixin' it up on Shaq's personal court recently -- and you can they're all insanely talented.

John Salley says he STRONGLY believes marijuana can extend the careers of pro athletes -- claiming if he smoked weed while he was playing in the NBA, "I'd probably still be playing."

The 52-year-old was out in L.A. over the weekend -- and explained why it's time for the NBA, NFL and even the NCAA to drop the antiquated anti-weed policies and let the athletes get high already.

LeBron James is the newest resident of Warner Bros. Studios ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the King now has his own house and parking space on the legendary studio lot.

Sorry, Spike ... hip-hop star Fat Joe is officially the biggest freakin' Knicks fan in the world ... 'cause he says he'd give up FIVE MILLION DOLLARS if it meant his squad could take home the Larry O'Brien.

We got Joe out in NYC and posed a very simple, very easy question of choice to the rap legend ... would he rather have the Knicks win a championship ... or be handed $5 million in cold hard cash?

If the Stanley Cup can go on a donut run ... so can the Larry O'Brien trophy!

Cleveland Cavs stud Tristan Thompson grabbed the NBA championship hardware and took it on a little getaway to Canada ... where he's been giving it a tour of his home country.

But the best part ... he took Larry to Tim Hortons ... a famous coffee and donut shop chain up north where Sidney Crosby brought the NHL's biggest prize back in July.

"I saw Sidney Crosby brought the Stanley Cup to @timhortons so only right I brought Larry!" Tristan tweeted.

Maybe Peyton will road trip with the Vince Lombardi Trophy next ... not like he's got anything else to do.

Kobe Bryant says it's a "huge blessing and a huge honor" to have 8/24 deemed "Kobe Bryant Day" in Los Angeles ... and gave a heartfelt speech to his friends, family and fans at L.A. City Hall.

"I never ever thought that this day would ever be possible," Bryant told the purple and gold wearing crowd.

The clip is great ... Kobe also addressed his 2 young daughters and told them it would be their responsibility to tell their soon-to-be-born little sister about why their dad has his own day.

"She's gonna have no idea I was actually okay at playing basketball."

Wednesday will officially be declared "Kobe Bryant Day" in Los Angeles ... 'cause it's 8/24 (his two jersey numbers) ... and even the Mayor of L.A. is pumped about it.

Bryant will be honored at L.A. City Hall later today -- but before that goes down, we asked L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti how fans should celebrate El Dia Del Mamba.

Steve Largent did it ... so did Heath Shuler and Jack Kemp -- and now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is calling on MORE pro athletes to run for political office.

The NBA legend recently appeared on "SI Now" and made the case for Dwyane Wade to run for mayor of Chicago ... claiming he's smart and tuned into the city and could really make a difference.

So, when we saw KAJ in NYC Monday -- he told us it shouldn't stop with Wade -- saying people like Kobe Bryant should also consider politics ... because athletes have the popularity to be great leaders.

With Kobe Bryant launching his own $100 million venture capital fund, he's right on pace to be the next Magic Johnson of the business world ... so says Damian Lillard.

The Portland Trail Blazers superstar says Kobe's got all the right skills to follow Magic's lead -- he's smart, driven and a winner.

Carmelo Anthony is the single greatest Olympic basketball player in history ... so says his Knicks teammate Brandon Jennings ... who says Melo is no doubt the international GOAT.

We got Brandon out in L.A. Sunday and asked about Anthony taking home his record-breaking 3rd gold medal ... and if it puts him ahead of other greats who've donned the red, white, and blue.

Brandon says Melo has done more than enough to prove he's the MAN on the world's biggest stage.

One thing's for sure ... Michael Jordan is gonna be annoyed by this.

Oh, and get this ... Jennings also explains why he has ZERO desire to play for Team USA.

Karl Malone came through with an assist John Stockton would be proud of -- hooking up 5 members of the National Guard on Louisiana flood relief duty with free food and cigars.

Malone was at Walk-On's Bistreaux in Baton Rouge on Thursday -- when he ran into Staff Sergeant Doug Sevier and 4 of his fellow responders.

We're told Malone -- who's from Louisiana -- thanked the guys for their service ... and refused to let them pay their tab.

But the coolest part, Staff Sgt. Sevier says Malone went to his car and grabbed 6 cigars from his personal collection -- and handed them out (with one for himself, of course).

"He was very, very easy to talk to," Sevier tells TMZ Sports. "He was engaging and seemed to genuinely care what each of us had to say. It was an extremely positive experience."

NBA star Dwight Howard is a huge UFC fan -- so when we got him leaving UFC 202, we had to ask ... who would win if you stepped into the Octagon with LeBron James??

Howard ain't no bitch -- and says he'd put his money on himself.

Look, he was just joking around ... but let's check out the tale of the tape:

Dwight -- 30 years old, 6'11", 265 lbs with a wingspan of 7'4".

LeBron -- 31 years old, 6'8", 250 lbs with a wingspan of 7'0".

So, who YOU got???

Check out the clip ... Howard also says he's a big WWE fan and would be down to follow Dennis Rodman's lead and do a little wrastlin' himself at some point.

"I'll get out there and scream and yell and suplex sombody! RKO outta nowhere!"

Ex-NBA star Jerry Stackhouse says claims that Michael Jordan would taunt him back in the day by singing Anita Baker lyrics to him are BS ... and he called the guy spreading the lies to rip him a new one.

We got Stack at LAX and asked about his former 76ers running mate Roshown McLeod's claim that His Airness had serenaded Jerry with some Anita Baker during an NBA game to throw him off.

Cool story ... but Stackhouse -- who had a reputation as one of the league's most terrifying players -- says the whole story is a Ryan Lochte (shame on you) ... and he had to call his boy and let him know.

Check out the clip ... and tell the truth, people.

Good news for Blake Griffin ... his girlfriend is pregnant ... again!

It cost more than $350,000 when he bought it roughly 10 years ago ... but now, Gilbert Arenas has relegated his fancy Maybach to off-road duty ... and it SUCKS on the trails.

Mr. No Chill documented his luxury breakdown on Snapchat ... telling the harrowing tale of a Maybach that lost a paw on his ranch ... and the trusty hands that helped him get on the road again.

WARNING -- Gilbert definitely goes racist ... saying the guys who came to his rescue are "illegal Mexicans" who he's been hiding ... ever since Donald Trump threatened to "send 'em back."