NBA

Good news, Houston Rockets fans -- you may have lost Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, but all early signs point to your star PG Chris Paul returning next season ... including the fact he's selling his L.A.-area home.

CP3, who's set to be a free agent next season, put his Calabasas property on the market just months after buying a massive mega-mansion in Texas about 30 miles from where the Rockets play ... and he's asking for a cool $11.5 million.

The Calabasas pad -- which Paul bought in 2015 for nearly $9 mil -- is more than 11,000 sq. ft. with 6 beds and 8 baths ... featuring a master bedroom with a private courtyard, a chef's kitchen with a pizza oven, a refrigerated wine closet and a home theater.

The ballin' grounds boast a pool & spa, fountain, waterfall, fire pit, BBQ island ... and a full-size outdoor basketball court. Oh, and Khloe Kardashian is the next-door neighbor.

Dikembe Mutombo says he's gonna show the world just how honored he is to receive the Craig Sager Strong Award ... by actually wearing the crazy Craig Sager-inspired jacket given to the winner.

It was just announced that Mutombo would be the recipient of the 2018 award ... which is given to individuals who display courage, compassion and grace to their fellow man.

We got Mutombo at LAX and asked if he planned to actually wear the jacket, which is a replica of the crazy multicolored joints Sager liked to rock when he was a reporter (NBA coach Monty Williams won last year), and Dikembe said YES.

"I already bought the shoes to go with it!"

BTW ... if you thought Dikembe was done being a real-life superhero, he's not -- telling our guy he's planning on building a school in the Congo to honor the memory of his father, in addition to the hospital he's built for his mother.

Yeah, do more.

If you thought LiAngelo Ball's dunk sesh at the Lakers practice facility was impressive ... wait 'til you see Zion Williamson's "hold my drink" response Tuesday.

The Duke commit -- clearly reacting to 'Gelo 'cause of the "dead legs" caption he shared -- nearly took down a rim trying to top the middle Ball brother's performance.

The first dunk: A self-lob, behind-the-back jam.

The second dunk: Another self-lob, left-handed hammer.

'Gelo's clearly got ups ... but yeah, we're givin' Zion the nod here.

Here's LiAngelo Ball putting on a dunk show ... something we know he can do ... but it's where he's doing it that's interesting -- 'cause the kid is throwing down at the Lakers practice facility.

'Gelo is working hard to get into the NBA ... and told TMZ Sports he had interest from teams when we got him and his dad, LaVar, out at LAX last week.

So, when it comes to the new footage of 'Gelo at the Lakers gym, we're wondering ... did 'Gelo slide in with his big bro, Lonzo, or is the team taking a real look at the middle Ball brother, making LaVar's dream of a Ball-filled Lakers roster closer to being a reality?

So, the Golden State Warriors celebrated their Western Conf. Championship Monday night by bumping Usher on the team jet.

Funny, since Usher happens to be a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavs ... and it's almost like Nick Young and company were trying to send a friendly message -- "We're coming!"

While passing around the trophy, Swaggy P took over music duties -- and busted out Usher's greatest slow jams hits ... from "Nice & Slow" to "U Remind Me" and even "Burn."

Most of the players were diggin' it -- singing along and even dancing.

Serge Ibaka has a plan to stop the yearly butt kicking his Toronto Raptors get from the Cavs -- don't worry about LeBron, worry about ourselves.

For the last 3 years straight, Bron's Cavs have bounced the Raptors from the playoffs -- the last 2 years were a clean 4-0 sweep.

So, when we saw Serge at LAX, we asked what he plans to do to stop the LeBron domination.

"It's not about LeBron, it's about us," Ibaka said ... "We have to learn from this playoffs and work hard this summer and get ready."

That said, Ibaka tells us James is nothing short of "amazing" -- and said the 33-year-old legend isn't just an inspiration to future NBA stars ... but to current ones as well.

Is it weird to root for your sister's ex-boyfriend?

That's what Kylie Jenner did Monday night -- sitting courtside at the Houston Rockets playoff game ... cheering on James Harden.

Kylie was at the Houston Toyota Center with her boyfriend, Travis Scott -- who's from the area and happens to be a huge Rockets fan.

In the end, Harden and the Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors 101-92 -- who now advance to the NBA Finals to take on Cleveland ... where Khloe's current boyfriend plays.

Kylie and Travis weren't the only big stars at the game ... rap superstars Lil Wayne and E-40 were there too.

LaVar Ball doesn't care one damn bit that Lonzo Ball won't be Rookie of the Year, telling TMZ Sports 'Zo's NBA freshman season was still a resounding success.

If you remember, LaVar predicted Lonzo would win the award before the season started, but even though Ball had a decent season with the Lakers, 'Zo wasn't named a finalist for ROY.

We got the Big Baller at LAX ... and wanted to know what he thought about one of his predictions not panning out, and you guessed it ... he couldn't care less.

"Who cares?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Who cares about Rookie of the Year?! Ain't no missed prediction. They all going to the NBA."

As a matter of fact, it seems LaVar has had a TOTAL change of heart ... because now he doesn't even think the award matters AT ALL.

"I don't care who Rookie of the Year is. I don't care who's Rookie of the Year. Rookie of the Year don't mean nothing."

The finalists for the meaningless award are Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum.

How does 76ers stud Ben Simmons feel about rumors LeBron James could join him in Philadelphia next season? Seems pretty into it to us!!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know there's speculation LeBron will bounce from Cleveland next season -- even if he leads them in the Finals to another championship -- and there's a lot of talk he could end up in Philly or L.A.

So TMZ Sports asked Simmons at LAX if he thinks he could coexist with King James in the City of Brotherly Love.

"There's only one way to find out, man," the Sixers star coyly tells us.

John Salley can't understand the criticism over Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea, because he believes his former teammate is in no small part responsible for what could be an historic summit.

We got John Sunday at LAX, and he was clear ... he says Rodman's 2014 trip showed a human side of Kim which he says eventually caused a diplomatic sea change.

John and Dennis are longtime buds ... they played together 30 years ago on the Pistons.

On the other hand, John thinks Dennis should now defer on the diplomatic front to the powers that be.

It isn't Shaq. It ain't Larry Bird. And it isn't Kobe ... but Lamar Odom DOES have a final member in mind for his NBA dream team's starting five.

The first four are obvious: "Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, LeBron," he told TMZ Sports outside of Blind Dragon this week.

But the fifth member? Odom -- who was leaving a launch party for Humbly cryptocurrency in L.A. -- has someone off the wall for that spot.

LeBron James is making his already incredible home even more fit for a king ... 'cause the NBA superstar is adding some crazy renovations to his new Brentwood mansion, TMZ Sports has learned.

ICYMI -- LBJ bought the 15,846 square foot house back in December for $23 mil ... and it came with a theater room, wine cellar, cigar room with air purifying technology and an onyx bar.

But, King James is takin' it even further ... our sources tell us he's adding a basketball court, indoor wine tap (dude LOVES his wine), and is working on the paperwork to get a pizza oven ... while also making changes to the theater and pool.

Remember ... this is LBJ's 2nd Brentwood mansion. After all, he spends his offseasons in L.A. working on his entertainment career (and might be here year-round next season, right Laker fans?).

LiAngelo Ball believes his NBA hopes and dreams are alive and well ... telling TMZ Sports there are definitely NBA teams interested in retaining his services.

'Gelo just killed a private combine at the IMG academy down in Florida ... turning in a 37-inch vertical leap, and draining 3's with ease.

Question is, was it enough to make NBA teams think about taking a flier on the middle Ball brother?

We asked LiAngelo if the workouts had drawn any interest from NBA teams when we saw him out at LAX with LaVar, and his answer was simple.

"Yeah, of course."

There were reports that both the Lakers and the Warriors have agreed to workouts with 'Gelo ... but the Warriors refuted those claims soon after they were made public.

That's cool by LaVar, because he told our guy he'd rather 'Gelo play for a California team a little further south.

Roger Goodell is doing a helluva job as NFL commish ... and that's coming from a guy who ran the NBA for 30 years, David Stern.

TMZ Sports saw Stern in NYC ... and with the debate over the NFL's new rule on the National Anthem protest raging ... we asked the former commish how he'd handle the controversy.

Stern didn't exactly answer the question ... but he did offer a ringing endorsement to the NFL's head honcho.

"I think that commisioner Goodell is doing a great job in difficult circumstances."

He went on to say ... "I think every league needs rules to cover every situation. I don't know what rule I would implement, but there should be a rule that treats everyone fairly, and uniformly."

FYI -- the new regulation has been polarizing. Prez Trump and VP Pence applauded the league ... while others have been super critical of Goodell and the NFL.

Screw the Jumpman logo, Russell Westbrook went FULL FACE to honor Michael Jordan.

The OKC Thunder star was spotted out in NYC during a late-night shopping spree this week wearing a special hoodie that's a collaboration between Jordan Brand and NY-based fashion line Public School.

The back says, "We Need Leaders."

True that.

Jordan and Russ are fans of each other -- not only is Russ signed to Jordan Brand, but MJ sent him a personalized note last year to congratulate him on his first NBA MVP award.

The Milwaukee Bucks are blasting the Milwaukee Police Dept. over the "shameful and inexcusable" way cops abused Sterling Brown ... and they're demanding accountability.

"The abuse and intimidation that Sterling experienced at the hands of Milwaukee Police was shameful and inexcusable."

"Sterling has our full support as he shares his story and takes action to provide accountability."

The team continued ... "Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated case. It shouldn’t require an incident involving a professional athlete to draw attention to the fact that vulnerable people in our communities have experienced similar, and even worse, treatment."

"Racial biases and abuses of power must not be ignored. There needs to be more accountability."