NBA

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson might be shacking up together in a new crib .. kinda.

Khloe and her NBA superstar BF spent their Wednesday house hunting in L.A. We're told they're not buying a house together ... he's looking to rent a place in the Hollywood Hills or the Valley where he and Khloe can stay when they're in the city. She has a house in Calabasas -- Bieber's old house -- about an hour's drive from Hollywood..

We're told Tristan's budget is around $60k a month, and he wants to rent through September.

Khloe's said she'd marry Tristan if he proposed ... maybe this is the first step.

NBA champ John Salley ain't buying into the rumors that LeBron James is unhappy with the Cavs ... but if the King decides to bail on Cleveland again, he's got the perfect destination in mind -- L.A.!!

We spoke with the ex-Laker about the news of LBJ's frustration with the Cavs' lack of off-season moves ... and, although Salley doesn't believe it, he still makes a pitch to get Bron to join the Purple & Gold in 2018.

It's been rumored that King James would end up in La La Land, especially since he owns a home in Brentwood ... and Salley says it would be an "unbelievable plan."

Good news Laker fans ... a new era of Showtime could be right around the corner, that's according to Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie, who says Lonzo Ball has what it takes to be the next Magic.

Lonzo's been KILLIN' it in the Summer League, serving notice to the entire basketball world that he's really, really, good.

Question is, just how good can he be?

Cookie thinks he can be as good as her All-Universe husband, and told us as much when we got her out in Beverly Hills.

We'd say it's unfair to put such Hall of Fame expectations on the kid, but for some reason we think he's used to it.

Draymond Green is livin' it up like the world champion he is ... raging in Ibiza with international soccer superstar Neymar!!

Day Day and his boys -- including Dolphins DE Andre Branch -- have been in Spain this past week, and it's only right he hit up the Barcelona stud to show him around all the hot spots like Ushuaïa at Ibiza Beach Hotel.

In case ya didn't know, Draymond and Neymar are bros ... and the soccer stud even hit up the NBA Finals to watch Green beat up on the Cavs.

The partyin' is fresh off reports that Neymar has accepted Paris Saint-Germain's world-record $257 million transfer fee ... although FC Barcelona's honchos claim their star is going nowhere.

It's interesting ... 'cause Draymond has been rumored to be a HUGE PSG fan and has even been spotted wearing the French club's jersey several times. Sooooo ... maybe doing some recruiting?

Regardless, looked like one hell of a time.

Rock legend Flea -- a die-hard Lakers fan -- says he sees unparalleled GREATNESS in Lonzo Ball ... and guarantees he'll win Rookie of the Year.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist is no bandwagoner -- the guy is a hardcore hoops fan. He regularly attends high school games to scout out the top rising stars in the state. He's also had Lakers season tix for decades.

To say he's impressed with Lonzo's talent is a gross understatement -- you gotta watch the clip, he thinks Ball is already better than the legendary Jason Kidd.

Listen up Ice Cube, one of the greatest athletes of all time is about to ask you for a gig ... Terrell Owens, who is publicly asking Cube for a shot at hoops glory in the BIG3 league.

It's no secret Owens is a baller, his exploits in different leagues and charity games are well documented on Youtube, but when we talked to him, he told us he wants to try it on the pro level.

"I tried to get into that league. I gotta get Ice Cube's number to get my name in the hat to get on one of those teams."

The rub? The BIG3 league has been billed as primarily for ex-NBA and other professional BASKETBALL players to try their hand at. T.O. of course starred in the NFL.

That didn't stop him from making an impassioned plea to try his hand alongside Allen Iverson, Rashad McCants, Rashard Lewis and Kwame Brown, and it's clear he's 100% serious.

Washington Wizards player Kelly Oubre, Jr. ain't throwin' any punches, but he's still going for a knockout ... getting a custom-made, 14k white gold grill with his "K.O." initials on it!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... KOJ decided to treat himself to the white and purple VS+ diamond piece ... and hit up jeweler IF & Co. about a month ago for the job.

We're told Oubre dropped $12,000 for the finished product ... which is pretty tame compared to what other athletes have paid for their blinged-out mouth pieces in the past.

Regardless, the grill looks fresh as hell.

Another day, another enemy for LaVar Ball ... this time it's NFL superstar J.J. Watt who roasted Ball over the ZO2s ... saying they suck, are overpriced ... and most importantly, Watt's shoes are better.

Watt took to Twitter to announce the release of his $99 Reebok training shoe and took the time to call out Ball when he did it ... posting a not-so-subtle shot at the Big Baller Brand boss.

"400 dollars less than some shoes on the market and 100% more effective" ... "And I actually wear them."

LaVar and Lonzo's sneakers retail for $495.

Lonzo's been killin' it in the NBA Summer League ... but only since he stopped wearing the ZO2s ... and switched to Kobe's Nikes and Harden's Adidas kicks.

Shots fired.

Klay Thompson's dad, Mychal, says the Warriors better hope the Carmelo Anthony trade is dead, 'cause if the Rockets get Melo, they'll be a legit threat to dethrone his son's team.

Houston's already stacked with James Harden and CP3 ... so we asked Thompson -- a former NBA stud himself -- if acquiring Melo would make the Rockets the best team in the league.

"You add Carmelo Anthony to Chris Paul and James Harden, you gotta take them serious."

But is it enough to topple KD, Steph, Klay and Draymond?

We also talked to Mychal about Klay's epic dance moves in China ... guess where KK got those moves.

What's next for Chris Bosh? "Basketball and stuff."

That's what he told TMZ Sports outside Coral Tree Cafe in L.A. moments ago -- advising his fans not to close the book on his NBA career just yet.

"Health is great, feeling great," Bosh said ... noting that he's focusing on being a dad while he figures out his next basketball move.

Bosh was waived by the Miami Heat earlier this month after failing a physical -- due a blood clot condition that has plagued him since the 2014-15 season.

DeAndre Jordan is riding hard for Lamar Odom -- not only reconnecting with the guy, but giving him one of the best compliments you can get in team sports.

Earlier this week, DJ and Odom hit the L.A. nightclub scene -- lookin' like old times when they played on the Clippers together.

So, when DJ was leaving the ESPYs on Wednesday night, we asked how Lamar was doing after all he's gone through over the last few years.

"That's my guy," DeAndre said ... "He's one of the best teammates I ever had."

Seems just about everyone in the NBA feels that way about Lamar -- from Kobe to Metta -- and they've all offered to help Lamar get his life back together.

Blake Griffin rolled out the welcome wagon for one of his new Clippers teammates last night -- taking Sam Dekker and his ridiculously attractive fiancee to a fancy dinner in Bev Hills.

BG and his girlfriend/baby mama, Brynn Cameron, hit up Georgio Baldi with Dekker and his fiancee Olivia Harlan early Tuesday evening before attending a Players' Tribune party.

Dekker was drafted by the Houston Rockets but became a Clipper as part of the Chris Paul deal.

Welcome to L.A.

Lonzo Ball's 15-year-old brother, LaMelo, unleashed a sneak water balloon attack on two girls in bikinis -- INSIDE the Vegas home where he's staying -- while wearing a shirt with his own face on it.

Yep.

It all went down Sunday night -- and yeah, Lonzo was inside the home as the water fight broke out. It was a mess. Water everywhere. Ketchup. Craziness.

Unclear if Lonzo is footing the bill for the pad (probably, since he's the only one getting a paycheck) -- but he didn't seem to care as his 15-year-old lil bro destroyed the house.

There was one moment where LaMelo grabbed a loaded pillowcase and swung it at one of the women -- but smartly put it down and splashed her with water instead. Careful, dude.

Jeremy Lin believes Asian people have an uphill battle when it comes to making it in America -- essentially saying basketball players and non-athletes of Asian descent are "underestimated" in the U.S.

The Brooklyn Nets star was giving an interview in Mandarin Chinese to an ESPN reporter when he was asked how he felt about NBA summer league standouts Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang, both from mainland China.

"I’m very happy and hope they can perform well," Lin said.

"In the U.S., a lot of -- doesn’t matter if it's basketball players or people in other professions -- they look at Chinese people or Asians and they surely will underestimate us."

"So I think if we can have more Asian basketball players it will help our masculinity a lot."

It's not the first time Lin has talked about the way Asian men are viewed in American society -- back in April, he gave an interview saying Asian men are viewed differently (and unfairly) from sports to dating ... but has hope that things will change.

Lonzo Ball made a good impression on the woman who signs his checks -- with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss telling TMZ Sports, "The future looks bright."

Buss was leaving Madeo in Bev Hills on Sunday when we asked about all the action in Vegas -- where the Lakers' summer league games are in full swing.

FYI, summer league tix for Lakers games are in super high demand -- they face value for $30 but have been fetching $250 and more on ticket resale sites.

We asked Buss if Lonzo is the reason for the renewed interest in the Purple and Gold -- and it's clear, she's excited about what Ball brings to her squad.

Ball stunk up the court on Friday night in his summer league debut but bounced back with a triple double on Saturday. The Lakers play again Monday night against the Kings.

Jason Kidd could have a new nickname -- Octodad -- 'cause the Milwaukee Bucks coach's ex-wife says he's expecting his 8th child!!

We spoke with Joumana Kidd outside Delilah in West Hollywood -- where the TV host broke the baby news to TMZ Sports ... and said she couldn't be happier for J and his wife, Porschla.

Kidd's oldest son -- Jason Kidd Jr. -- was also out that night (in more ways than one) ... telling TMZ Sports he's just wants to keep the crown as the "gay son" in the family.

It's the first time Kidd Jr.'s gone public with his sexuality -- and told us in a statement, "My sexuality doesn't change me, it only makes me the pink glittery sheep of the family. And I own it."

We reached out to Kidd about the baby news -- but so far, no word back.