Cleveland Cavaliers

The house-cleaning in Cleveland was all for nothing -- because LeBron James is leaving the Cavs to sign with the Lakers in the off-season ... at least, that's what LaVar Ball believes.

The Big Baller was at his pop-up shop in L.A. when we asked about the possibility of Bron coming out West to play with Lonzo when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

LaVar is not only convinced it's going to happen -- he tells TMZ Sports, "Lonzo is gonna make HIM a better player!"

He also loves the idea of having "two stars" on the same team -- and already has a nickname for the duo.

Move over, Ball bros -- Shareef O'Neal says the Lakers are his #1 choice when he goes pro ... and if we were Magic Johnson, we'd start working OT to make it happen.

We got Shaq's son touching down in LAX ... and asked who he'd want to draft him since his NBA career is creeping up.

Shareef told TMZ Sports his favorite team and player were the Cavs and LeBron James, respectively ... but there's 1 thing that puts the Purple and Gold above playing with the King.

Shareef O'Neal -- Shaq's son -- revealed he did not make the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game ... and now one NBA star is boycotting nuggets as a result.

FYI, the Micky D's game features the top high school players in the country -- Shaq was the co-MVP of the game back in 1989.

As you know, 18-year-old Shareef is a top prospect (he's committed to the Univ. of Arizona) -- but, for some reason, he didn't make the McDonald's cut.

LeBron James (the MVP of the game in 2003) didn't approve of the snub ... and spoke out on social media.

"Nephew listen, Even though we all know you should have made that McDonalds game use it as motivation to prove not to those who didn’t vote you in, not to those who is actually in the game but more importantly to yourself that u belong!"

He added, "Keep grinding, studying and working daily! The light is always brighter at the end of the tunnel."

Matt Barnes went harder -- saying McDonald's made a "huge mistake" and that he won't let his kids have nuggets anymore ... "NO MORE NUGGETS!"

LeBron James ain't havin' none of that racist H&M clothing ad featuring a black kid in a sweatshirt that reads, "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle" ... telling the clothing company, "U got us all wrong!"

After stars like Diddy and The Weeknd blasted the company for the insanely racially-insensitive ad -- King James weighed in with the most positive (yet condemning) statement yet.

"@hm u got us all wrong! And we ain't going for it! Straight up!"

"Enough about y'all and more of what I see when I look at this photo. I see a Young King!! The ruler of the world, an untouchable Force that can never be denied!"

"We as African Americans will always have to break barriers, prove people wrong and work even harder to prove we belong but guess what, that's what we love because the benefits at the end of the road are so beautiful!! #LiveLaughLove❤️ #LoveMyPeople"

Khloe Kardashian's first order of business when she got pregnant? Grab a hard hat!!!

Sources close to Khloe tell TMZ ... she had extravagant renovation plans for her Calabasas crib -- the one she bought from Justin Bieber in 2014 -- by turning a bedroom next to her master into a closet big enough for her massive clothes and shoe collection.

But, life happened. As TMZ first reported ... NBA superstar BF Tristan Thompson knocked up Khloe. So, that bedroom-turned-closet is going back to bedroom ... baby bedroom.

Khloe wants the baby's room as close to hers as possible, and that room's the perfect fit.

We're told Khloe is holding nothing back when it comes to the fine details of the room ... buying top of the line furnishings, decor and clothing.

Khloe Kardashian's facing a big challenge in keeping her revenge body -- pregnancy -- but she's still giving it her best shot.

We got the mom-to-be at LAX Wednesday and asked her some tough questions about staying fit during pregnancy ... but even Khloe doesn't have all the answers.

Even so, she tells us she's exercising when she feels up to it and seems to be in great spirits ... all good news for mama and baby. Still no official reveal on whether she's having a boy or a girl, though.

As we reported ... Khloe and Cavs star Tristan Thompson are expecting sometime around late March, and he agrees with us -- she looks bomb at 6 months.

Season 2 of 'Revenge Body' premieres Sunday.

Barack Obama just gave Michael Jordan the royal seal ... telling Prince Harry that he'd take His Airness over King James as the GOAT, without hesitation.

Obama sat down with Harry in a rare interview that aired Wednesday on BBC Radio 4 ... talking about everything from his presidency to Donald Trump.

But, when it came to the Prince's round of rapid-fire questions ... Harry immediately got Barack -- a HUGE NBA fan -- to close the book on the MJ vs. Bron debate.

"Jordan. Although I love LeBron, I'm a Chicago guy," Obama said.

Of course, Barack's pick ain't too surprising given his Bulls allegiance ... even though him and MJ haven't always seen eye-to-eye on everything.

Don't get too comfy, Kobe ... Marco Rubio says "there's no doubt" the Heat are gonna retire LeBron's jersey -- giving the King two numbers up in the rafters (but in different arenas).

We got the Florida Senator out in D.C. ... and Marco told us there are no hard feelings over Bron taking his talents outta South Beach.

"He won 2 championships down there. We went to the finals 4 years in a row. Those were great days," Rubio told TMZ Sports.

So, #6 is goin' up in Miami just like #23 is goin' up in Cleveland.

Maybe not as epic as having 2 jerseys retired in 1 night ... but still pretty legendary.

Tristan Thompson's Kardashian spawn ain't just gonna make him more famous ... it could damn well make him a better basketball player -- so says NBA vet Jim Jackson.

We got J-Jax at Cafe Gratitude in L.A. ... and he told us why knockin' up Khloe might translate to a fiercer Tristan on the hardwood.

"Having a child always settles you down a little bit," Jackson told TMZ Sports. "Maybe a kid settles him down and gives him more focus."

Seems like Jim isn't buying into the Kardashian curse -- basically saying TT should be good as long as he keeps handling business for the Cavs.

LeBron James might just be Nostradamus ... because he predicted Lonzo Ball would run from the wrath of a royal thunder dunk ... and in Thursday night's game, Ball did just that.

LBJ made the prognostication while visiting kids at the Cleveland Clinic (awesome guy) earlier this week when a brave young man named Andrew asked him to dunk on Lonzo.

"He might not be in my way! Once he sees I'm about to take off, he might move out the way."

Fast forward to the 2nd quarter of the Lakers vs. Cavs game on Thursday night -- 'Bron gets a pass from J.R. Smith and barrels towards the basket ... and this happens.

To be fair to Lonzo -- lets be real, he made a smart decision.

J.R. Smith is taking his hoodie beef with Stephen A. Smith to the next level -- dropping brand new "ugly sweater hoodies" for the holiday season ... and TMZ Sports has the first pics.

In the spirit of the "ugly sweater" holiday traditions -- J.R. decided to evolve the look to the hoodie ... complete with the phrase, "Merry Swishmas."

Remember, J.R. and Stephen A. beefed a few months ago when the ESPN star ripped J.R. for wearing a hoodie on the bench during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Stephen A. said, "You've got a lot of those white folks in the audience that are going to think this is Trayvon Martin being revisited and I'm not joking about it. The bench is no place for someone to be wearing a hoodie."

Smith fired back on Twitter saying Stephen A. was "reaching."

J.R.'s reps at New Generation Management tell us the NBA star plans on rocking the new hoodie on Thursday (when the Cavs play the Lakers) and will offer them up for sale on Fresh Brewed Tees.

Wonder what Stephen A. will think?

LeBron James is making himself right at home in L.A. ... buying his second crib in the area. Hear that, Lakers?

The King has chosen yet again the ritzy area of Brentwood for his second crib in as many years. This time he dropped $23 million for a brand spankin' new 8-bedroom, 11-bathroom crib that features an elevator and sweeping views of DTLA.

The 15,846 square foot house was built in 2017 and it's truly fit for a king -- it's got a theater room, wine cellar, cigar room with air purifying technology and an onyx bar. The rooftop terrace also has elevator access.

This crib's considerably bigger than the other Brentwood pad he bought 2 years ago ... dropping nearly 21 million bucks for that traditional-style home.

Add the entertainment industry to the list of things LeBron James is dominating ... 'cause one big-time producer says the King has already earned the title of Hollywood mogul!

TMZ Sports spoke with Morgan Spurlock (the "Super Size Me" guy) about working with LBJ on a new docu-series about the NBA superstar's family foundation's "I Promise School" for troubled youth in Akron, Ohio ... and Spurlock says he's totally pumped to share his story.

"What he does on the court is amazing, but what he's gonna do in that town is gonna change people's lives."

Leslie Jones REALLY likes Dwyane Wade -- or maybe she's just an undercover sneakerhead??

Probably both -- 'cause check out the 'SNL' star fangirling out like a teeny bopper at a Britney concert when D-Wade hooks her up with his game-worn shoes ... after his Cavs took the Knicks' souls Monday night at MSG.

Wade gets down on a knee for the proposal ... and Leslie LOSES IT.

"It's my shoooeees! I get my shoooeees!"

"Will you accept my shoes?"

"YES!"

FYI, Leslie gave away 1 of Wade's Li-Ning kicks -- but NO WAY she was saying bye to both.

LeBron's a nightmare to opponents on the court ... but he was even more frightening at the Cavs Halloween party, 'cause the King's Pennywise costume is sure to keep you up at night.

The Cavs always go over-the-top for their annual team gathering ... and Monday night was no exception -- from Kyle Korver's Willy Wonka (complete with Oompa Loompas!!) to J.R. Smith and his wife, Jewel, going as the Coneheads.

But it was Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian taking the best couples costume award for their Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen outfits from "Game of Thrones."

Check it out ... the party was lit.

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 ...