NBA

LeBron James is getting the highest possible praise from Muhammad Ali's ex-wife -- who's anointed the NBA star the "Muhammad Ali of basketball" for the way he's addressed racism in America.

Khalilah Ali -- who was married to Muhammad from '67 to '76 and has 4 kids with the boxing legend -- tells TMZ Sports she was extremely impressed with Bron's reaction to the racist vandalism at his L.A. home.

She says Muhammad would not only be proud ... he'd be a huge fan.

"I think Ali would be very supportive of him because Ali went through the same thing in the past," Khalilah says.

"He would really look up to James."

Drake might be the rap king of the 6 but the "Swag Daddy" is none other than Raptors star DeMarre Carroll, who proved it to us by wearing a pair of insane joggers when we got him at LAX.

Carroll told our guy his joggers were Dolce & Gabbana ... and while we scoured the Internet trying to find them, we couldn't, which tells you all you need to know about his swag.

He also told us that among his Raptors teammates he's known as the "Swag Daddy," a name he's apparently earned for his impeccable style.

Impeccable, and expensive, the cheapest pair of joggers we could find on the website was around $400 ... that's expensive lounging, at least for us swag orphans.

1:22 PM PT -- Enes has expanded on the arrest -- saying, "I woke this morning to the news of my father being arrested by the Turkish government."

"The police raided our home in Istanbul, something that is happening to many innocent families across Turkey just because they are members of Hizmet, inspired by Scholar, Fethullah Gulen."

"My father is arrested because of my outspoken criticism of the ruling party. He may get tortured for simply being my family member. There are countless stories that Amnesty International has published about rape, torture, and sodomy in the Turkish prisons following the alleged failed Military Coup attempt on July 15, 2016, that is blamed on innocent individuals of Hizmet. You may clearly see that benefactor of this failed coup was the Turkish Government."

OKC Thunder star Enes Kanter says his father has been arrested in Turkey -- and fears he could be tortured by government officials.

Kanter didn't get into details but tweeted, "MY DAD HAS BEEN ARRESTED by Turkish government and the Hitler of our century. He is potentially to get tortured as thousand others."

Kanter himself is a wanted man in Turkey -- the government has accused him of being a member of an armed anti-government terrorist organization.

Enes is currently in the United States and says he wants to become an American citizen. His father still lives in Turkey.

Kanter has been publicly critical of Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for a while -- and has mocked him over social media.

Add NBA star Rudy Gay to the list of people completely disgusted by the racist vandalism at LeBron James' house ... telling TMZ Sports that type of ignorance has no place in 2017.

We broke the story ... LeBron's Brentwood home was vandalized early Wednesday morning by racists who spray painted the n-word across an entrance gate.

James touched on the matter in a press conference, reminding the world that even rich and famous black athletes can still experience racism.

The slur has been painted over and the cops are investigating -- but when we got Gay leaving Warwick in L.A. he was outraged that the incident could still happen in today's day and age.

Charles Oakley is digging in for war -- rejecting a plea deal in his NY Knicks assault case because he'd rather go to trial in an effort to clear his name.

Oakley was arrested back in February and charged with assault, harassment and criminal trespass for getting physical with security who tried to remove him from Madison Square Garden.

Oakley believes he was defending himself and did nothing wrong.

Prosecutors offered a deal called an ACD (Adjournment Contemplation Dismissal) -- which means if he stays out of trouble for 6 months, the arrest would be completely expunged from his record.

He would not have to plead guilty to any crime as part of the deal.

But moments ago in court, Oakley rejected the deal -- instead choosing to go to trial because he feels he shouldn't have to accept any form of punishment.

On his way out of the courtroom, Oakley said he feels like "Superman" -- and likes his chances at trial.

You know you're a baller when ... you sit courtside at Game 1 of the NBA Finals in the Bay Area -- then hop in a private jet so you can be in L.A. in time for dinner.

That's what Jay Z did on Thursday -- and we've got the footage.

Jay and Kevin Hart had a blast together at the game -- after flying to the Bay Area together on a private jet. After the game, he took his own plane back to L.A.

We later saw Jay walking into Craig's in West Hollywood around 10:30 -- and we're told he hung out there until 2 AM. Our sources say he was chatting it up with Young Thug.

#ItsGoodToBeRich

Rihanna was ON FIRE during Game 1 of the NBA Finals -- allegedly heckling Kevin Durant, bowing to LeBron James ... and talking trash to haters on the way out of the arena.

FYI, RiRi is a HUUUUGE Bron fan -- and can be seen bowing to #23 while sitting in her courtside seats at Game 1 on Thursday night. She later dabbed at someone who reportedly told her to sit down.

But the craziest part of the game was when Rihanna seemed to have screamed "BRICK" at KD during a free throw. He made the shot and stared in her direction as if to say, "Got something to say now?"

KD was asked about the incident by BSO's Robert Littal in a post-game presser -- but insisted he didn't remember throwing the eye-daggers in Rihanna's direction.

Sure ...

After the game, Rihanna snapped back to a Cavs/Bron hater -- "It doesn't matter bitch. The King is still the King."

Listen up, sports bettors ... Ex-NBA star Gilbert Arenas is about to make you a lot of money!! ... Maybe.

The man who claims to have put HALF A MILLION DOLLARS on the Cleveland Cavs to win the NBA Finals last year is doubling down on LeBron James and Co. ... telling TMZ Sports, "you can't bet against the King."

LeBron James and the Cavs went big the night before Game 1 of the NBA Finals -- teaming up for a big dinner at a famous S.F. steakhouse ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The team hit up EPIC Steak -- the same place SF Giants star Hunter Pence had his crazy "Game of Thrones" themed wedding last year.

James and the rest of the team ate like kings -- feasting on steak, shrimp, meatballs, filet mignon and wild striped bass.

We're told some of the players had wine to compliment the meal -- but don't freak out, no one got even remotely close to being lit. They left around 11:30.

After dinner, the guys were in a great mood -- dancing and singing as a team -- before getting back on the team bus.

Ex-NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested in L.A. on Thursday morning after allegedly freaking out at his apartment complex and pulling multiple fire alarms ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told 34-year-old Gordon -- who played for the Bulls, Pistons and Bobcats -- was apparently locked out of his apartment and went into meltdown mode ... pulling fire alarms inside the building.

LAPD and L.A. City Fire responded -- but there was no fire. Instead, they found Gordon and arrested him for falsely activating a fire alarm, a misdemeanor.

He's been taken into custody.

Here's video of Hassan Whiteside that's gonna make you all gooey with the fuzziness inside ... the Miami Heat star surprising his mom in the most awesome way ... WITH A BRAND NEW HOUSE!

Whiteside pulled off a pretty elaborate ruse on his mother ... pretending they were just showing up to the 6 bedroom home in Charlotte, North Carolina for a viewing, then springing the keys on her at the end.

Mom's reaction? Priceless.

She busts out a little dance in celebration while another member of Whiteside's family literally flips -- (watch the video, she actually flips with excitement).

Dave Bautista is really, really, REALLY mad at whoever spray painted the n-word at LeBron James' L.A. home ... blasting the racist perpetrator as the "scum of the Earth."

In fact, the "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" star was getting angry even talking about it with TMZ Sports -- and took a breath to calm down.

TMZ Sports broke the story, LAPD units responded to Bron's home around 7 AM on Wednesday. No arrests have been made so far.

Charles Barkley is going to bat for his old friend, Tiger Woods -- saying people like Jack Nicklaus who say Tiger needs help don't REALLY know what they're talking about.

Barkley appeared on 97.5 FM The Fanatic Philadelphia on Wednesday and was asked for his thoughts on Tiger's DUI. He's clearly upset with people assuming Tiger has a serious substance abuse issue.

"Even Jack Nicklaus, somebody I really respect, talking about, 'Tiger really needs help.' Well he don't KNOW that. We don't know if Tiger has a drug problem."

Barkley added, "He just had a bad reaction [to prescription medication]. He wasn't out there drinking and driving."

Barkley says the "haters" are "in heaven right now because they get a chance to dump on the guy."

Barkley and Tiger were very close friends before 2009 -- and would regularly hit Vegas together. But Tiger cut him off after his marriage fell apart.

Jerry West insists he knows NOTHING about the Clippers reportedly trying to steal him away from the Golden State Warriors ... but watch the video -- and pay attention to that smirk!

West is currently an executive board member for the Warriors -- but ESPN's Marc Stein reported the Clippers are actively courting him to L.A.

So, when we saw West in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, we had to ask him straight-up -- what's the deal?!

In an obvious response to the intense hate he got for baring his gross feet on TV, Shaquille O'Neal took a trip to the nail shop ... and got a full monster foot makeover.

It was kinda like that scene from "Dumb and Dumber" at first (see below) -- but Shaq decided to end his session with a layer of sparkly toenail polish.

No word on how much he paid the woman for the foot job ... but it wasn't enough!!!

LeBron James says the racist vandalism at his Brentwood home proves one thing -- no matter how much money or fame he has, "Being black in America is tough."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... someone spray painted the n-word across the front gate of Bron's $20 million estate. Cops are hunting for the perpetrator.

LeBron spoke about the incident Wednesday afternoon at a media event for the NBA Finals -- saying his family is safe ... and that's the most important thing.

He also said the incident proves that "racism will always be a part of the world and a part of America."

LeBron also referenced Emmett Till -- the 14-year-old black kid who was brutally beaten to death by racist white people after they accused him of whistling at a white woman.

"I think back to Emmett Till’s mom actually. It’s one of the first things I thought of. The reason she had an open casket was because she wanted to show the world what her son went through as far as a hate crime and being black in America."