NBA

LeBron James Jr. LISTEN UP ... you're about to get some life advice from a former NBA All-Star who's been EXACTLY where you are, and knows exactly what you need to do.

The former hooper is Baron Davis, who attended the prestigious Crossroads school where James is currently enrolled ... and was a fantastic basketball player there back in the '90s.

We got Baron out in L.A. and asked him if he had any sage words for BJ that might help him navigate life at Crossroads, and he answered immediately.

"Get into the arts," Baron says. "Everything else, all that school's got to offer. You're going to be great at basketball, so just enjoy it."

When we asked if he should SPECIFICALLY take drama classes Baron said, "He should do all that."

It makes sense ... Baron rolled in the drama circles at Crossroads and made lifelong friends with Kate Hudson and Cash Warren, and started a production company with Cash later on.

Good news, Lakers fans ... by Neil deGrasse Tyson's very scientific calculations and estimations -- LeBron James has five more years left in the NBA!!

America's favorite astrophysicist was out at LAX -- and with the Association's season tippin' off in just a few weeks -- we had to ask ... how many more games does LBJ have in his 33-year-old body?

That's when Neil broke out his big brain and informed us -- it'll be five more years.

So, what exactly is the science that led him to that number??

Wanna hear Kawhi Leonard's laugh in public ever again??

Well, stop freakin' making fun of it then -- so says comedy legend Tom Green.

The famous funnyman was out in Bev Hills when our photog played Kawhi's infamous robot-like giggle for him ... and Tom saw no humor in it whatsoever.

"This is a little pro tip here," Green told TMZ Sports ... "If somebody is laughing and having a good time, don't hate on their laugh!"

Green would know a thing or two about it -- dude's killed the comedy game for decades ... and he tells us anytime there's a weird laugh in his crowds -- it's still a laugh!!

"Don't make fun of people's laughs," Green says.

"Because then everybody starts to get self-conscious and think, 'Oh, maybe I better not laugh loudly either.'"

Kobe Bryant sprang into action Thursday after witnessing a car crash in Newport Beach -- helping out one of the drivers after a Tesla got hit outside his local Starbucks.

The retired NBA superstar was driving through the area in his blacked-out Range Rover when he saw a car run a red light and slam into the Tesla. Kobe stopped to make sure the driver was okay.

A rep for Bryant tells us ... the Tesla driver told Kobe his phone was damaged in the wreck, so the Lakers legend offered to take pics on his cell instead.

You can see Kobe snapping away in pics obtained by TMZ Sports.

The good news ... we're told no one suffered any serious injuries in the crash. Cops responded to check in on the situation but no arrests were made.

Remember, Kobe's buddy Shaquille O'Neal did a similar thing back in April -- hopping out of his ride to tend to a crash he witnessed in L.A.

See, these guys have more in common than ya thought ...

When in France, right?

Michael Jordan proved he's too classy to drink beer with the normies at major sporting events -- instead, he sips from his own bottle of fancy wine.

MJ was in the VIP suites at the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Reims game in Paris on Wednesday -- where he watched Neymar dominate in a 4-1 victory at Parc des Princes stadium.

He also apparently brought in his own bottle of red. Guessing they waived the corkage fee.

Jordan was treated like the legend he is during the game -- since PSG recently teamed up with Jordan Brand for a collaborative range of threads. The team prez even presented MJ with his own custom #23 jersey.

Jordan took in the game with his pal, Ahmad Rashad -- no word if he let the ex-football player dip into his wine.

No word on what brand Jordan was drinking -- but the guy's a billionaire so you know he ain't sippin' the cheap stuff.

We're assuming Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and Shawn Bradley won't be back for LeBron's "Space Jam 2" ... so the movie is gonna need some new Monstars.

And, NBA Hall Of Famer Ray Allen is gonna tell us who they should be.

If you remember, the Monstars were the alien race that sucked the talent out of those NBA stars, then used their skills to try to beat Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, and Bill Murray in a hoops game for the fate of the world.

We got Ray Allen out in NYC and wanted to know who the NEW Monstars starting five should be ... now that Jordan is out, and LeBron is in.

Gordon Hayward just confirmed what you already knew ... he WAS kinda disappointed when pink balloons popped outta his baby gender reveal box earlier this summer.

You'll remember ... the Celtics star -- a father already to 2 girls -- went instantly viral in July when he couldn't hide his ... excitement ... over adding baby girl No. 3 to the fam.

"Is daddy happy?!" His wife, Robyn, asked as the pink balloons flew up.

"Daddy's always happy," Gordon says, booting one of the balloons.

Well ... Gordon hit the barbershop for a vid with YouTuber BluMaan and explained he is and always has been, in fact, trying like hell to add a baby boy to the family.

"Desperately trying to get a boy in there," Hayward says.

Just one problem now ... Hayward tells BluMaan he's gotta decide whether gambling for a FOURTH time is worth it.

"Three girls is a lot to deal with," he says.

LeBron James says his move to join the Lakers was strictly a basketball decision -- and had NOTHING to do with his budding Hollywood career.

... so, you believe him?

King James just spoke with reporters at Lakers Media Day where he was decked out in his full #23 Purple and Gold uniform.

During the Q&A session with reporters, he was asked if he ultimately picked the Lakers over other (better) teams so he could be closer to Warner Bros Studio ... where he has a major development deal.

Remember, LeBron has movies coming out -- "Space Jam 2" and a new "House Party" flick -- and is working on other TV shows and a "Shut Up and Dribble" documentary narrated by Jemele Hill.

But, Bron says he's a ballplayer first -- and joined the Lakers because he felt it was the right fit for him on the court ... even though they sucked last season.

Is it cold in here ... or is Enes Kanter just thinking about the playoffs??

The NY Knicks star and LeBron James' nemesis was asked about the team's postseason goals at media day on Monday ... and the dude might've overshared juuuust a bit.

"I like it a lot, man. Because I've been to playoffs before, and then that should be everybody's goal," Kanter says. "It's the playoffs. When I think about playoffs, my nipples get hard."

Kanter immediately apologized for the TMI comment ... but it's too late. It's out there and we can't un-hear it.

"I'm sorry, that's the thing. It's the playoffs. That's what we play for."

If you're wondering why Kawhi Leonard is trending on Twitter today ... it's because his laugh is freaking some people out.

The NBA star was officially introduced by the Toronto Raptors at media day on Monday -- when the usually serious dude broke out in laughter.

First, people aren't used to seeing Kawhi laugh ... so there's that.

Second, it was a little weird and now people are comparing him to a robot.

Kanye West just added another big name to the list of people willing to help his social initiatives in Chicago ... ex-NBA star Quentin Richardson, who says he totally down to work with Mr. West.

Richardson is a Chi-Town native ... and lost his brother to gun violence there back in 2005. So, when we saw him at LAX we had to ask if he'd be down to work with Kanye to help turn things around.

"Anybody asking me to come back home and help out ... I'm always down."

West is making a new home in Chicago, and working with Windy City giants like Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa and GLC to address inner city issues, and QR says West is doing the right thing.

Paul Pierce says the Celtics-Lakers rivalry is officially back on ... with Kyrie Irving playing the Bird/Pierce role -- and LeBron James playing the Magic/Kobe role!!

We got Paul out at LAX this week and, as one of the key players in the historic NBA clash -- he declared to TMZ Sports the two teams can finally have a real tiff again now that Bron's in L.A.

"It's on. It's on," the Celtics legend tells us. "The rivalry is back. For sure. It's official."

Pierce tells us LeBron and Kyrie will fill the leader-of-the-team roles well ... and he seems stoked to see it this season.

By the way ... if you were wondering if Pierce has any inkling to come back to the NBA and be a part of that rivalry one last time -- he says no chance.

Michael Jordan played a little help defense Friday ... packing boxes full of food for Hurricane Florence victims.

The Hornets owner was front and center on the assembly line -- boxing up cereal and other goods for people affected by the storm that barreled into the East Coast last week.

It's a cause Jordan's clearly been affected by ... 'cause the NBA's best ever also donated $2 MILLION to the relief efforts Tuesday.

BTW ... M.J.'s shirt -- a Hornets logo sandwiched between North and South Carolina -- is for sale, with all the proceeds going to Florence victims as well.

John Salley has a clear side in the Kanye West vs. Nick Cannon feud ... telling TMZ Sports West was 100% within his rights to send shots at Cannon for talking about Kim Kardashian West.

Ye fired off on Nick Thursday ... saying NC has no right mentioning Kim's name in interviews, and talking about her body ... even though Nick and Kim dated back in the day.

Cannon fired back, saying he's NEVER disrespected Kim but has answered questions about her honestly, and will continue to do so.

We got Salley leaving Catch in L.A. and asked him which side of the fence he falls on ... and he said it all goes back to a rule he learned during his NBA playing career.

"Everything was open except wives and fiancees."

Salley goes on to say Kanye is "kinda right" to be pissed at Nick Cannon, and that he thinks West's warning shot is enough that no one will talk about Kim Kardashian in a sexually objectifying way again.

Shirtless J.R. Smith made his return Thursday night ... and we all have Baker Mayfield to thank for it -- 'cause the Cavs star WENT CRAZY after the rookie led the Browns to a win!!!

It all went down at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland ... where J.R. had luxury box seats to see the Baker-led Browns finally win a game for the first time since 2016.

You'll remember ... the last time J.R. celebrated a massive Cleveland victory -- he went topless in public for hours ... rockin' no shirt for the entire Cavs' championship parade.

Well ... about midway through the second half of the Browns-Jets game -- J.R. promised to make another shirtless appearance if they pulled out the comeback.

And then Baker did it -- AND OFF WENT THE SHIRT!!

"It's over! Let's go! Let's go!" a topless J.R. screamed after the win. "We outchya! No shirt shorty! We out here!"

Wilt Chamberlain's rookie card just sold at auction for more than 600 TIMES what he once scored in a basketball game ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned somebody paid over $60k for it!!

The ultra-rare card was a 1961 Fleer piece -- graded in PSA 9 Mint condition -- featuring the NBA legend in his Philadelphia Warriors jersey.

Unclear who the new lucky owner of the card is ... but PWCC Marketplace tells us 56 total bids were placed before Thursday's winner was crowned.

We're told the same card of Wilt -- who's famous for dropping 100 points in a single NBA game back in 1962 -- previously sold for $45,000 in May 2017.

By the way ... apparently anything Wilt's previously graced is going for big money these days -- remember when his old mansion hit the market for $18.99 MILLION in June?!