NBA

Ex-NBA superstar Steve Francis called police "groupie motherf**kers" during his DWI arrest back in November ... and DARED cops to lock him up after they confiscated his gold chain.

One of the biggest producers in rap says it's no accident LeBron James got Kendrick Lamar's album early ... telling TMZ Sports he's done the same thing for 'Bron ... out of respect for his hip-hop ear.

Rudy Gay is taking Jay Z all the way in a lyrical battle of the Carters ... telling TMZ Sports even though Lil Wayne is part of the Roc Nation family now ... Hov is still the best lyricist down with the crew.

Tunechi recently announced he was joining Roc Nation (even though he's still under contract to Birdman) meaning he's now on the same team as Rudy, who's down with Roc Nation Sports.

We got Rudy out in L.A. and asked him if there's a new top rap dawg at the Roc now that Wayne is throwing his diamond up, and Gay does the smart thing ... he goes with the boss.

Gilbert Arenas says he didn't mean to say darker skinned black women aren't beautiful (although that's exactly what he said) and is apologizing for his insulting remarks ... sorta.

This started when Gilbert commented on a meme encouraging women with more African features (darker complected) to be proud of their beauty, saying he didn't think they had much of it at all.

"How black we talking?? Not to be funny can you name a beautiful black woman on the outside ... not brown skin ... like Tyrese black."

He was immediately dragged for his dumbass statement on social media ... and kinda walked it back ... but not entirely, and not without dissing another darker black woman ... Lupita Nyong'o.

"I thought I was saying if you're mixed you're not considered black and beautiful and my kids are dark skinned so I perceived it how I wanted to. I was trying to defend all shades of black but that's what the post was also doing."

"As for Lupita she ain't cute to me sorry ... just like I'm not cute to 95% of you."

Classy as always.

[h/t Baller Alert]

Khloe Kardashian's safety is clearly a high priority at Quicken Loans Arena -- because there was a personal security detail assigned to her on Wednesday when the Cavs played the Raptors.

The reality star was in the crowd to support her boyfriend, Tristan Thompson -- but when it came time to leave, she had an arena security officer escorting her out -- and another officer keeping fans at bay.

We're told when nature called, a female security officer even escorted Khloe into the VIP restroom.

Khloe is becoming a fan favorite in Cleveland -- one witness tells us she took a bunch of pics with fans ... you can see her stop to pose with one very excited lady in our video.

Plus, she's also becoming friends with Cleveland Browns star Joe Haden and his wife. They not only socialized during the game, Khloe (along with her sisters, Kim and Kourtney) hit up a local amusement park with the Hadens the night before.

Joel Embiid seems pretty confident he'll lock up NBA Rookie of the Year -- telling TMZ Sports he's got a pretty good shot of taking the award over guys like Dario Saric and Malcolm Brogdon.

Of course, Embiid had a stellar first 31 games, before an injury ended his season. But the way Saric and Malcolm played this season ... it might be close.

But on the way out of Catch in L.A., the Philadelphia 76ers star told us straight-up, "I have a pretty good chance of getting it."

Great news for Sacramento Kings star Rudy Gay -- his recovery from a torn Achilles injury is going GREAT ... with Gay telling us he's 1 MONTH ahead of schedule!

As we previously reported, Rudy ruptured his tendon in a game against the Pacers on January 18 and underwent surgery a few days later.

Obviously, the Kings' season is over and Gay won't be in the NBA playoffs -- HOWEVER, he could choose to become a free agent on July 1st and sign a fat new longterm contract with another team.

So, when Gay says he's feeling great and should start running soon -- he's really probably talking to other teams ... letting everyone know he'll be healthy and worth every penny!!!

LeBron James is continuing to give back to his hometown in a HUGE way ... this time, he's opening his own public school for at-risk kids in Akron.

LBJ and his Family Foundation announced the plans to open the I Promise School ... with the goal to open its doors to 3rd and 4th graders in the Fall of 2018, and expand to 1st - 8th graders by 2022.

The project will focus on youth in similar situations the Cavs superstar experienced growing up.

"This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most -- those that could fall through the cracks if we don't do something," LeBron says.

Khloe Kardashian says she's DEFINITELY down to marry Tristan Thompson ... even though he hasn't exactly proposed yet.

Ex-NBA superstar Steve Francis pled guilty to 1 count of driving while intoxicated stemming from a crazy Nov. 2016 arrest ... but he ain't going back to the slammer.

Francis appeared in a Houston courtroom Tuesday and pled guilty to the misdemeanor DWI charge. In exchange, he got 3 days in jail -- but the judge gave him credit for time served so he won't go back.

He was also fined $1,000 and his driver's license has been suspended for 1 year.

As we previously reported, Francis was initially pulled over in a black Chevy Tahoe for speeding -- but during the stop, the cop noticed he reeked of booze. Francis was also verbally abusive and allegedly vowed REVENGE on the arresting officers.

How do you rebound from blowing a 26 point lead in the 4th quarter? If you're LeBron James ... you hit the club!!

Bron -- along with J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson -- hit up LIV nightclub in Miami hours after the Cavs lost to the Atlanta Hawks in ATL.

It was a shocking loss since the Cavs were up 26 points going into the 4th quarter. The game went into overtime where the Hawks put 'em away.

But after the final buzzer, the guys got on a jet and flew to Miami and partied with the likes of boxing star Adrien Broner.

The Cavs play the Miami Heat on Monday -- but LeBron will reportedly sit the game out to rest up.

Before Karl-Anthony Towns and his Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Lakers this weekend, he was rollin' on Rodeo Drive with his smokin' hot girlfriend, Kawahine Andrade.

If you don't know her ... you're welcome for this.

Kawahine is a fitness model with an insane physique. She often flaunts it on the 'Gram. You should probably click the follow button.

Couldn't happen but notice Kawahine and Karl-Anthony were right by the Cartier store ... which specializes in diamonds and rings.

Just sayin' ...

DeMarcus Cousins just threw some shade at ex-UCLA star (and possible #1 NBA pick) Lonzo Ball ... hitting him with the dreaded "never heard of him" when we got Cousins out in L.A.

We asked Boogie for his top NBA draft prospects, and he went with De'Aaron Fox & Malik Monk ... two 1st round locks from his alma mater, Kentucky, the team that ousted UCLA in the tourney.

But it was when our camera guy asked about Ball -- the most talked about player in the draft -- that the shot came ... and it was a clear one.

Donald Trump and LeBron James are brothers from another mother, according to a congressman from LBJ's home state that says the two men have more in common than the King might think ... or like.

It's no secret Bron's been critical of the prez, even hinting that he might not show up at the White House to meet the top man if the Cavs should win the NBA title again this year.

We got Representative Bill Johnson of Ohio out in D.C. -- a big fan of both men -- and tried to mend fences by asking if there's anything Trump and James actually have in common.

Clippers sharpshooter J.J. Redick says he won't miss on keeping Blake Griffin & Chris Paul in L.A. ... and says he'll do everything he can to keep them from bolting LA LA land.

We got Redick out in BH and asked him a series of questions about the state of Clippers hoops ... which is up in the air with both Chris and Blake being free agents this summer.

Lots of people say it might be time for the Clippers to break things up and start over, but when we asked J.J. if he'd do everything in his might to stop that ... his answer was a simple "yes."

NBA player Tony Allen LOVES him some LaVar Ball, like he REALLY loves him ... so much that he tells TMZ Sports he thinks he would've been the first pick in the NBA draft ... had Ball been his dad.

We got Tony out in L.A. and when we brought up Ball to him, the former NBA champ couldn't stop gushing, saying he wished there were more dads like LaVar in the black community.

Allen then says he longed for that type of support -- he had a relationship with his dad, but was raised by a single mom in Chicago -- claiming Ball's controversial parenting would've made him even greater.

"If my daddy would've been like that, I'd have probably went #1."