NBA

After an 0-3 start, the L.A. Lakers are in trouble ... but Lil Romeo says he's got the solution -- SIGN HIM.

Here's the thing -- we don't think he's joking ... since Romeo played college ball at USC with his good friend and NBA star Demar DeRozan ... and he's earned a reputation for being one of the best celeb ballers in Hollywood.

"Me and Chris Brown -- the two best celebrity hoopers ... I bet if we were on the Lakers they'd be championship contenders," Romeo told us.

Check out the highlghts ... if the Lakers keep slidin' Romeo ... ya might wanna keep your phone on.

****** WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE ******

Johnny Manziel went on a cursing rant on an NBA referee during LeBron James' homecoming game in Cleveland last night ... and his rage was captured on video.

Johnny Football was pissed off after what he clearly felt was a BAD call, and repeatedly yelled -- from his courtside seat -- "Bulls**t" and "F**k" ... for a solid minute.

LeBron James stunk up the basketball court for his huge homecoming game -- but still pulled out a huge victory for business owners in downtown Cleveland ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with several restaurants, bars and pubs near LBJ and the Cavs' home arena -- and they tell us revenue was up a whopping 80% on average ... from the Lebron-less home opener last year.

The Cavs pulled out all the stops for the King's return -- Imagine Dragons and Kendrick performed -- and it paid off. One biz owner told us they attracted tons of people from the 'burbs who normally wouldn't be there.

In fact, we're told many fans spending money downtown didn't even go to the game ... because cash registers were ringing before, after, and DURING the Cavs' loss to the Knicks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers tell TMZ Sports ... they have NO IDEA why a ball boy was serving players Gatorade masked in a Powerade bottle last night -- but they're gunning to find out why.

Twitter EXPLODED last night during the Knicks-Cavaliers game when a TV camera caught a Cavs ball boy making the switch behind the Knicks bench.

Now the Cavs -- who have a sponsorship deal with Gatorade -- tell us they're investigating why their official drink was poured into a competitor's bottle.

"We are looking into why the Powerade bottles were used. We're trying to figure out what happened."

The team made sure to clarify that the incident did not occur on their bench -- however. it was a Cavs employee who made the switch.

So what the hell happened? "That's what we're trying to figure out."

With her racist husband banned from the arena, Shelly Sterling hit up Staples Center in L.A. last night to watch the Clippers play ... under new management.

As we previously reported, Shelly demanded to be recognized as the team's "Owner Emeritus" and "Clippers' Number 1 Fan" when she sold the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion ... and it seems like Steve is a man of his word.

Shelly sat right on the court during the Clip's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder ... and cheered on all of the people who hate her husband.

LeBron James was welcomed back to Cleveland last night by a huge band of celebs -- including Justin Bieber, Michael Strahan and even Johnny Manziel.

The Cavs lost in Bron's first game back with his hometown team -- but there was one guy in the stands who was happy about the upset ... Spike Lee ... notorious Knicks fan who traveled to Ohio to support his team.

Also in the stands ... Kendrick Lamar, David Beckham, Joe Haden and Kevin Hart.

The NY Knicks are the Lakers of the East Coast ... and not just because they suck -- they drew some of the biggest stars in the world to their home opener last night.

Everyone from Justin Bieber to Spike Lee to Ben Stiller was there ... but the winner of the celebrity showdown was clearly Taylor Swift -- who sat courtside with a hot lingerie model friend.

Taylor and Victoria's Secret stunner Karlie Kloss drank beers and Diet Cokes as they cheered on the Knicks ... who got crushed by the Chicago Bulls.

Of course, Taylor became the new Global Welcome Ambassador for New York after buying a $20 million apartment earlier this year ... so watching the Knicks play seems like it would be a job requirement.

The Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan break-up isn't as friendly and happy and cheery as she says it is ... this according to sources close to Matt, who tell us this thing is pretty damn far from amicable.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Julius Randle got some unexpected support this morning after breaking his leg in his NBA debut -- when two players from the opposing team visited him in the hospital.

Randle broke his right tibia while the Lakers were playing the Houston Rockets in L.A. on Tuesday night -- and was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery.

But before he went under the knife Wednesday morning, he was visited by James Harden and Trevor Ariza ... who stopped by to check up on the 19-year-old.

We're told Randle was touched by the visit ... and was in good spirits overall.

Sucks that Randle is injured ... but a pretty cool gesture from some respected NBA vets.

Carmelo Anthony's Knicks are crushing their crosstown NBA rivals ... in the closet, anyway -- according to one of NYC's biggest names in fashion.

The Brooklyn Nets made the playoffs last season, while the Knicks were sitting at home -- but Sean John President Jeff Tweedy explained why 'Melo still leads his team to dominance on the NY fashion scene.

Cheer up Nets, at least you still have hip hop legend Jay Z as an owner. Oh, right.

Well ... your black unis are very slimming.

There's still a HUGE reason to go to Lakers games this year -- not for the team (they're not great), but for the stargazing ... and Tuesday night some of the BIGGEST showed up at Staples Center.

Kim and Kayne ... Will Ferrell ... Terrell Owens ... Gerard Butler ... Adam Levine, Jack Nicholson and many, many more were all on hand to watch the Lakers get their asses kicked by the Houston Rockets.

The question is ... if the Lakers continue to play horribly (as many experts predict they will) ... will the stars begin migrating over to the OTHER team that plays at the Staples Center -- the Clippers?

"Basketball Wives" star Gloria Govan says a reconciliation with L.A. Clippers star Matt Barnes is NOT out of the question ... telling TMZ Sports the split with her estranged hubby is "definitely amicable."

We broke the story ... Matt separated from Gloria earlier this summer with sources telling us "trust issues" played a part in the split.  So far, neither Matt nor Gloria have filed for divorce.

Now, Gloria tells us the two are still on pretty good terms -- "we're dope" -- and says they're working together extremely well to co-parent their twin boys.

It's an interesting turn of events ... considering Gloria is being sued for allegedly forging Matt's name on official documents to take out a secret $150k loan.

Gloria also says she expects to get together with Matt this weekend to help the kids celebrate Halloween.

L.A. Clippers President Doc Rivers knows recruiting can be tough ... which is why he's already calling DIBS on LeBron James' and Dwyane Wade's kids!!

Rivers was leaving Craig's in West Hollywood Monday night when we asked if he thinks Bron's or D-Wade's sons had a shot to make the NBA when they grow up.

FYI -- LeBron has two boys (10 and 7) who are already generating serious buzz in the basketball world ... and Dwyane's boys have been ranked as some of the top youth prospects in the country.

"I want rights to all their kids," Doc said.

Check out the clip of Wade's kid Zaire -- Doc knows what's up.

We ran into Shaquille O'Neal for 84 seconds in New York City Monday ... and here's what happened:

1) He spoke Hebrew to us
2) He insulted Batman
3) He named the BEST movie he ever appeared in (Hint: It's not "Kazaam")
4) He sneak-attacked Kenny "The Jet" Smith and slapped him in the back of the head.

Again, just 84 seconds ... but it's hilarious.

BTW -- Kenny has now threatened to sue Shaq for $100 million ... so, stay tuned on that one.

Strong men also cry ... just ask Charles Barkley -- who tells TMZ Sports he let the tears FLOW during two emotional movies.

Sir Chuck was out in NYC yesterday when he explained the why two certain flicks got the waterworks going ... and one of his selections isn't exactly your traditional love story.

One more thing ... we asked the former Philadelphia 76er about the famous cheesesteak battle raging in the City of Brotherly Love ... Pat's or Geno's.

Barkley's answer -- well, it was a bit unexpected.

Check out the clip.

The King of the NBA now has a Princess in his realm ... with LeBron James welcoming his first baby girl to the world.

The 4-time NBA Most Valuable Player and his wife Savannah welcomed their 3rd child last week at a hospital in their hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Zhuri James is not the heir to the NBA throne ... LeBron already has 2 boys ... but something tells us WNBA officials are already looking 21 years down the line.

The couple announced the name back in August while on vacation in Greece.

Mazel tov!