NBA

The Houston Rockets will win a championship without LeBron James -- but if he wants to join the squad and help out -- door's open ... so says U.S. Congressman from Texas Kevin Brady.

LeBron is a free agent ... and Houston is one of the favorites to land LBJ.

So, when we saw Brady -- whose 8th Congressional District encompasses the area near Houston -- in D.C. on Monday, we asked him to make his pitch to King James.

"This is a winning team already. They got a winning culture," Brady tell us. "This is gonna be a championship team in my view, with or without him, but he can play a role. So, if he wants to come, I'll tell you what, people would love him."

FYI -- the Rockets won 65 games this year -- more than any other team -- and took the Warriors to Game 7 before losing.

J.R. Smith's Game 1 blunder wasn't just responsible for LeBron breaking his hand ... it was also the reason the Warriors broke the Cavs -- so says Kevin Durant.

K.D. went on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday night and explained to the talk-show host how J.R. brainfarting and running the wrong way at the end of regulation to start the series essentially ended the Cavs.

"We knew we kind of broke them a little bit with that one," the NBA Finals MVP said.

There's more ... Durant says there will be no summer of drama when it comes to his Bay Area future -- 'cause he ain't about to leave the Dubs' dynasty yet.

As for if LeBron wanted to join up with him, Steph, Klay and Draymond -- K.D. didn't seem so sure about that.

As happy as a lot of folks might've been seeing the U.S. and North Korea meet peacefully, no one was as jubilant as Dennis Rodman ... dude was literally crying tears of joy.

Rodman went on CNN shortly after President Trump met Kim Jong-un Tuesday, where he had streams coming down his face -- albeit behind sunglasses -- and praised the historic summit ... which he's insinuated he had a role in brokering by softening up Kim.

As you might know ... Rodman has been the U.S.'s unofficial spokesperson on all things North Korea for a while now -- even bringing over a basketball team to the country to get on Kim's good side. He also claims he got Trump's book, "The Art of the Deal," in Kim's hands.

Not one, not two, not three ... not even a bunch more championships would make LeBron James as happy as playing with his son in the NBA -- so says the King himself.

James' company, UNINTERRUPTED, released some behind-the-scenes footage from the lead-up to the NBA Finals ... when LeBron shockingly told reporters that playing with -- or even against -- LeBron James Jr. in the league would be his crowning NBA moment.

"You want to ask me what was the greatest achievement of my life? If I'm on the same court as my son in the NBA," James said.

"That would be no. 1 in my lifetime as an NBA player."

FYI ... Bronny's currently a 13-year-old eighth grader ... which would mean LeBron -- who turned 33 in December -- would have to play another six years in the league AT LEAST to have the shot to hoop with his kid.

BUT ... judging by Bronny's skills already -- a 39-year-old LeBron might just get his wish.

It wasn't quite Pusha T on Drake ... but Lonzo Ball came hard after Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma in a newly released diss track called "Kylie Kuzma."

The rap dropped Monday afternoon ... and Ball goes for the jugular on a few occasions, throwing around disses for two straight minutes.

"Who are you without ZO2? Just another dude with a bunch of tattoos," Lonzo rapped.

"Boy, you talking crazy. Why you trying to play me? You ain't on my level, you ain't famous as my baby."

There's more ... Lonzo goes after Kuzma's style relentlessly, jabbin' at the fleece outfits he rocks and the "Kuzmania" shirts he's been trying to sell.

"You want smoke, you can get it, dressing for attention. Trying to be Russell Westbrook, you just honorable mention."

Zo, Kuzma and Josh Hart have playfully gone after each other all season on social media ... but did Zo's rhymes cross the line??

Nah ... let's keep it comin'!!

Dennis Rodman doesn't have an invitation, but he's obviously still excited to be part of President Trump and Kim Jong-un's historic summit -- he just touched down in Singapore.

The NBA Hall of Famer arrived early Tuesday morning in Singapore, surrounded by a horde of reporters wondering if he's going to meet with the world leaders. White House officials have said Rodman will play no official role, and Trump himself said Rodman's not invited.

Still, Dennis has strong feelings about how the meeting's gonna go down once Trump and Kim meet.

Rodman, of course, considers himself a friend to both Trump and the North Korean dictator, and he's one of the few Westerners to have sat down with Kim in Pyongyang.

Blake Griffin was Mali-boo'd up with his new girl on Sunday ... ditching his shirt for a cuddly walk together in Malibu.

The Detroit Pistons superstar and Francesca Aiello -- founder of Frankies Bikinis -- seem to be inseparable since they were spotted sucking face in his Land Rover on Saturday.

There was more of the good stuff during their quality time on Sunday ... with the 2 sharing a smooch after getting back to Blake's car.

23-year-old Aiello is the first girl Blake's been photographed out in public with since his split with Kendall Jenner ... but, by the looks of it, he ain't thinkin' about her anymore.

FYI -- Aiello's a Malibu native ... so no word on whether she's gearing up for a cold winter in Detroit or if it's just a little summer fling.

Either way ... good for these guys.

The greatest-of-all-time argument between LeBron James and Michael Jordan is just like the dodo bird and T. rex ... dead forever, so says Michael Rapaport.

Rapaport's point ... LBJ getting swept 4-0 by the Warriors effectively ends any conversation that he's better than MJ ... 'cause nothin' like that ever happened to His Airness.

"It's over. You're not better than Jordan. Jordan won 6 rings."

We then threw it back to Rap ... asking him if his opinion would change if LeBron got on a hot streak and ended up winning as many rings as Jordan.

"There is no 'let's say.' He got f**king swept."

1:58 PM PT -- Turns out Blake's mystery blonde is none other than Francesca Aiello -- the owner of Frankies Bikinis. Good choice.

Even in the off-season, Blake Griffin's rebound skills are on point -- just ask the blonde chick he was sucking face with in his Land Rover.

The NBA star and his mystery woman are definitely living on the edge. Saturday's date night included riding around on Bird scooters in L.A. ... which, considering Blake's history of injuries, might not have been the smartest option.

A better, safer idea? Sitting in Blake's whip and making out ... which they also did.

No clue yet who the lucky lady is, but she's the first woman he's been spotted with since he and Kendall Jenner broke things off.

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were teammates for 13 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, so when Fisher gets hitched to "Basketball Wives" star Gloria Govan ... Mamba HAS to be there right?

NOT SO FAST.

We got Fisher out at LAX, and talked to him all about who may, or may not be there when he and Govan jump the broom ... and it seems there's a pretty decent chance Kobe WON'T be there.

"I mean, we'll see. It depends on how many people we decide to have there. If we decide it's just family, then it's just family."

So, Kobe's not family?! Weddings come with tough choices ...

Fisher also gave us his feelings on Shaq's ex-wife, Shaunie O'Neal, basically saying she wouldn't -- under any circumstances -- be caught dead at the wedding.

Here's a hint: He doesn't give a damn.

LeBron James recruiting season is officially open, and Joel Embiid is wasting NO time in courting the King to jump to the city of brotherly love.

We got Sixers superstar leaving Craig's Friday night -- a couple hours after the Cavs got swept out of the NBA Finals -- and asked him about the not-so-subtle tweet he fired off as the game was ending.

Joel hinted on social media, but he was way more direct with our photog.

As he walked out, we asked him to explain the "find a new slant" comment ... and he said, LeBron needs to "find a new team ... Sixers!"

Remember, just last week his teammate, Ben Simmons told us he'd love to play with LBJ ... but in a very laid back way. Y'know, like a guy who doesn't want a chick to know how much he wants to hook up?

Every sports dynasty deserves a wild turn up, and Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Golden State Warriors didn't disappoint after winning the NBA Championship ... mostly.

Moments after the Warriors secured the bag -- back-to-back titles, and 3 out of the last 4 -- they doused themselves in super expensive champagne. Steph definitely came prepared for the burn ... with ski goggles protecting his eyes.

Here's the lowdown on the high-priced locker room bash: 300 bottles of Moët & Chandon -- 150 Impérial Golden Luminous magnums, $1,250 a pop in nightclubs ... and 150 Nectar Imperial Rose magnums, $1,500 each!!

Sweet celebration, but we gotta say ... WHERE you win says a lot about how crazy your championship celebration gets. Sure, GSW turned up in the locker room, but where's the awesome nightclub bash with world famous DJs?? See the Washington Capitals for that.

The lesson? Whenever possible, win the title in Vegas!!

Wanna play a game that's more competitive than the current NBA Finals??

Grab some buddies and take a guess at which Cavs or Warriors players are rockin' which tattoos!!

Who has a Michael Jordan jersey tatted on his abs? Who's got a red "It" balloon inked on his right arm? And which Finals MVP contender has his little baby tattooed on his left forearm?

With Kendall Jenner apparently out of the picture, Ben Simmons MIGHT be trying to rekindle things with Tinashe ... because the two hit the same nightclub on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Philadelphia 76ers star and the 25-year-old singer both hit up Poppy nightclub in West Hollywood ... and left right around the same time.

Ben left solo at 1:37 AM on Friday morning and Tinashe left about 20 minutes later at 1:56 AM.

The two had dated for a couple of months before recently splitting -- Ben was seen out a short time later going on dates with Kendall.

But, Kendall was sucking face with Anwar Hadid in New York City earlier this week -- a sign it's probably over with Ben -- and now, he coincidentally shows up at the same club as his ex?

Joel Embiid refuses to trash ex-Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo ... telling TMZ Sports the disgraced exec is a "great guy" ... despite the burner account scandal.

"He was a great guy. He did a great job for us, so I wish him luck," Embiid told us in Beverly Hills on Thursday night.

Shocking response since Embiid is one of the 76ers players who was targeted by the burner account tweets that Colangelo's wife claims she posted.

In fact, we asked Joel if he REALLY believes Bryan had nothing to do with the burner accounts and if he thinks Barbara Bottini truly acted alone.

"I have no idea," Embiid said ... "I'm sure there was an investigation for a reason. But if it was his wife, there's nothing you can do about it."

Embiid didn't seem concerned about the future of the 76ers -- in fact, he told us the Colangelo drama won't slow down "the Process."

"The Process is never starting over and it's never going to be over. There's a process for everything. It takes a lot to get where you wanna go and that's the process."'

UFC superstar Yoel Romero has a big rematch with Robert Whittaker this weekend ... but there's a MUCH bigger opponent he's already got his sights on -- SHAQ!!

TMZ Sports started asking The Cuban Missile about meeting The Big Aristotle at an event in Miami back in May ... and that's when Y.R. revealed he wants to get in the Octagon with the 7'1" giant to give him the whoopin' of a lifetime.

FYI, Yoel is 6'0" and 185 lbs.

Yoel might be teasing about the fight ... but one thing he's NOT joking about is what the outcome would be if he DID end up fighting the NBA legend.

As for Whittaker at UFC 225 ... Romero says he's gonna get his revenge on the loss at 213 and hints he's gonna make sure the outcome is indisputable this time around.

As for Shaq ... dude can fight -- he's been in the ring with both Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley and held his own!