NBA

Hornets baller Frank Kaminsky got waaay into the Halloween spirit on Thursday -- owning his "Dark Knight" character for the kids at Hemby Children's Hospital in Charlotte.

The young patients kicked it with other members of the NBA Justice League, too -- Malik Monk as The Flash, Cody Zeller as Superman and Dwayne Bacon as Green Lantern -- but Frank "The Tank" stole the show with his epic Christian Bale impression.

The kids got candy. Kaminsky and his boys got to be kids again.

Justice was served in Buzz City.

John Wall wasn't too bummed out after losing his "No Mercy" game against Lonzo Ball's Lakers -- hitting up Warwick nightclub ... and telling TMZ Sports there's no bad blood.

The Washington Wizards star vowed to punish the rookie for all the trash talk his dad, LaVar Ball, had been spouting off leading up to Wednesday's matchup at Staples Center.

But Wall and the Wizards came up short -- losing to the Lakers in overtime -- and after the game, he took out his frustrations at the club!

Wall says he's not holding a grudge with the Balls -- or anyone for that matter -- and focused his energy on having a good time.

As for LaVar ... he celebrated the victory by taking a bow to the crowd. He's loving this.

Lamar Odom hit up an L.A. strip club Tuesday night -- where he threw money and danced around the place until 2 AM ... which begs the question -- is this a terrible idea for him?!

Odom has been super candid about how drugs, partying and sex all played a huge role in the 2015 drug overdose at a Nevada brothel that nearly killed him.

So, when we saw this video of Odom partying at Crazy Girls ... it made us wonder if a strip club is really the best place for him to be hanging out these days.

Ex-NBA commissioner David Stern says anti-weed rules in pro sports are antiquated -- and he thinks it's time the NBA and other major leagues give the green light to the green stuff.

"I'm now at the point where, personally, I think [weed] probably should be removed from the ban list," Stern told ex-NBA player Al Harrington during an interview for Uninterrupted.

FYI, Harrington is now a marijuana entrepreneur who's invested more than $3 MILLION in his weed business. Harrington says he started using Rx weed during his playing days and saw real results.

So, he asked Stern how he felt about weed -- and the ex-Commish is VERY open to the idea of finally allowing players to smoke.

"I think we have to change the Collective Bargaining Agreement and let you do what is legal in your state," Stern says.

"If marijuana is now in the process of being legalized, I think you should be allowed to do what's legal in your state."

Stern says back when he was the commish, public perception was that weed is a gateway drug to harder stuff ... but Stern says the perception has changed radically.

Ex-NBA star Ben Gordon was sending threatening videos to people in the days before a violent standoff with a woman in his NY gym ... TMZ Sports has learned.

FYI, Gordon was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation over the weekend after cops responded to his business, Of Our Own -- a sports rehab and recovery center.

According to the police report, Gordon's girlfriend claimed Ben had locked her in the gym -- and was going berserk with a blade. Cops eventually went inside the gym, found Gordon in the bathroom and took him into custody. He was then transported to a nearby hospital.

But we know Ben's strange behavior has been going on for months -- he sent a video to several people he calls "bitch n*****" ... and dared them to "pull up" at his gym. He claims the men are wrongfully taking credit for launching the Of Our Own gym.

Michael Rapaport is finally coming clean about his beef with LeBron James ... saying it all goes back to how The King treated his 2 sons back in the day.

"When they ran into LeBron, he dissed my kids," Rapaport said on The Breakfast Club. "He gave 'em the f**kin' Heisman and turned his back to them."

Mike thinks 'Bron held a grudge against him 'cause their friends of friends had a bad falling out ... and took it out on his boys.

Rapaport couldn't believe it -- and says that makes LBJ the worst celeb he's ever met.

"It has nothing to do with a 10 and an 8-year-old ... don't play me and my kids."

"Out of all the athletes, out of all the celebrities, out of all the rappers I've ever met -- especially with my kids -- that was the only motherf**ker that ever did that. And I was like, 'Hell f**kin' no.'"

Charles Barkley ain't shy about what he'd do to Lonzo Ball if they played in the same era ... saying he'd try to take the kid's head clean off as punishment for his father's antics.

"I would've been goin' at his head, no question. Would've been talkin' to him the whole time about his daddy," Barkley told TMZ Sports.

Chuck actually REALLY likes Lonzo ... but 100% agrees with Kenny Smith, who told us LaVar Ball has put a target on his son's back.

"His dad has put so much pressure on him, he makes people not like him. Now he's got everybody not liking his son and he's gonna have to deal with that."

Sir Charles also had a pretty funny take on Lonzo's 1 big game for the Lakers -- saying it didn't count because it came against the crappy Phoenix Suns.

Speaking of the Suns ... Barkley also trashed Eric Bledsoe for tweeting that he wanted off the squad.

"Someone's paying you $15 million a year -- you shouldn't say, EVER, 'I don't wanna be here.'"

"You don't go on the Internet. You don't do that ... that was just bad."

Marcin Gortat thinks it's hilarious LaVar Ball said his Wizards should be afraid of Lonzo Ball ... telling LaVar that his teammate, John Wall, is gonna "TORTURE" the rookie.

The Big Baller Dad issued a warning to the Wiz -- who are set to play Lonzo's Lakers on Wednesday -- after L.A. dropped to 1-2 on Sunday ...

"They better beware, 'cause Lonzo ain't losin' again. Not in the same week!"

The Polish Hammer wasn't havin' none of that -- letting LaVar know Wall's comin' for 'Zo just like Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley did in the Lake Show's season opener.

Fake Klay Thompson's making fans outta real-life NBA ballers -- 'cause ex-Kings star Hedo Turkoglu says he's on the bandwagon!

"It is ridiculous. It is funny, though," Hedo told TMZ Sports in the Beverly Hills.

FYI, a prankster that looked A LOT like Klay sat courtside for the Warriors' season opener ... and the Internet loved it.

Turkoglu did too ... and told us Thompson ain't alone 'cause he comes across Hedo imposters all the time (he was kidding ... we think).

On a more serious note, we got the former King to talk about his former squad's prospects ... and he had pretty high hopes.

Imagine "My Super Sweet 16" ... for a 3-year-old!!

That's how things went down for LeBron James' daughter, Zhuri -- who got an AWESOME "Moana"-themed bash this weekend ... complete with singers and bouncy houses!!!

There was hula dancing, balloon palm trees and a full dessert bar -- with "Moana"-themed treats!

King James ain't the only one going all-out for his kids over the weekend ... DJ Khaled rented out LIV nightclub at Fontainebleau in Miami for his son Asahd's 1st birthday.

To be a kid again ...

Lonzo Ball should thank Clippers PG Patrick Beverley for giving him the business Thursday night ... 'cause in the long-run, it's really a good thing -- so says Master P.

We got P -- a HUGE NBA fan -- droppin' knowledge on Lonzo's debut at LAX ... telling us the Lakers rookie will only get better when grinders like Beverley beat him up.

The good news for Lonzo ... he's gonna get it all season long -- there's a LONG LIST of NBA stars looking to take a piece of his ass.

Lonzo Ball needs to back up his dad's trash talk or it's gonna be a looong season ... so says Kenny Smith.

The "Inside the NBA" star says LaVar Ball's antics have "put a bullseye" right on Lonzo's back -- and Patrick Beverley ain't gonna be the only one who's gonna take a shot.

The good news for Lonzo ... Kenny says it's "just one game" and he'll shut up the haters if he bounces back strong.

John Wall saw this coming from a mile away ... telling us back in Feb. that NBA players like Patrick Beverley are gonna come for Lonzo Ball all season long to "leave a statement."

He was right.

Back when LaVar Ball was first firing up the Lonzo-hype machine, we spoke with Wall about how LaVar's braggadocious statements could affect the Lakers rookie on the court.

Wall told us LaVar's comments would add "fuel to the fire" for Lonzo's opponents, explaining:

"A lot of people try to leave a statement, you know let 'em know how the league is ... especially if they're gonna be going against him for the next couple years."

Beverley was DEFINITELY trying to send a message Thursday night -- beating up on Lonzo the entire game in a dominating Clippers victory.

And it sounds like it ain't gonna get easier for Ball as the season moves along ...

Kobe Bryant went all Globetrotter during a Nike photo shoot -- hitting a sweet bounce shot while one of the models captured the whole thing on video.

Mamba was with Neymar, Winnie Harlow and mega-designer Riccardo Tisci to shoot a NikeLab X RT collection promo ... when Winnie handed him the rock.

Kobe did Kobe things ... made the shot (nothin' but net) ... and the place went crazy!

He wasn't done though ... Kobe then took a shot from wayyyy downtown (behind the HALF COURT LINE) and hit again.

Kendall Jenner had the best seats in the house to support her man Blake Griffin on Thursday night -- sitting courtside as BG's Clippers beat up on the Lakers at Staples Center.

And to prove that supermodels really do eat ... she indulged on a giant caramel apple for all to see!

Kendall was just one of the many superstars in the arena -- Flea, Gal Gadot, Floyd Mayweather and, of course, Jack Nicholson were all on hand for Lonzo Ball's pro debut.

Oh, and check out this bonus pic we've unofficially titled, "Belly, Boobs, Billionaire."

Good times ...

What did Snoop Dogg think of Lonzo Ball's NBA debut??

"I think his father put him in the lion's den with some pork-chop drawers on."

Snoop kept it all the way real on Kevin Garnett's "Area 21" post-game show -- after Lonzo managed just 3 points against the Clippers in the Lakers' home opener.

Check out the clip -- Snoop thinks Lonzo can be good, but he needs to change his attitude ASAP or he'll continue to get stomped by guys like Patrick Beverley.

KG ain't ready to throw in the towel on Lonzo either -- but says Ball is already at a crossroads and needs to make some serious life choices.