New York Knicks

Rest easy Knicks fans ... Kristaps Porzingis' torn ACL is healing just fine, thanks to some expert medical attention from a smoke show blonde in a lab coat -- and by lab coat, we mean bikini.

The NBA star is yacht partying this weekend with a mystery chick off the coast of Ibiza. Porzingy's ACL injury could reportedly keep him off the court for the first 2 months of next season -- but maybe these pics are a sign he could be back sooner.

After all, Dr. Two Piece is giving him the thumbs up. How bad could it be? Not to mention, he's even feeling good enough for a leap into the ocean!

For reals though ... KP has been rehabbing his knee in Spain with Real Madrid's actual medical staff.

The NY Knicks made the "right choice" in hiring David Fizdale as the head coach ... but it wasn't the "best choice" -- so says Kenny Smith.

Of course, Kenny was in the running for the gig -- but the Knicks ultimately went with Fizdale, who has more experience as a head coach in the NBA.

"I think they made the right choice," Smith tells TMZ Sports ... "maybe not the best choice. I'm the best choice."

He then doubled down ... "They made the right choice, but not the best choice."

It's been more than a year since Charles Oakley was arrested at the Knicks game ... but he's still pissed at owner James Dolan and SCOFFED at the idea of making peace with the guy.

We spotted Oak leaving the BTIG Charity Day in NYC and asked how he felt about David Fizdale taking over as head coach for his former team.,

"I hope he do a great job," Oakley said ... "[that's] all I can say!"

But when we turned the conversation to Dolan -- you can tell right away, Oak is still furious over the Feb. 2017 arrest.

"Why would you bury the hatchet with someone who dragged you out of the place?"

Of course, Oakley was arrested for getting physical with security who tried to remove him from MSG after a heated exchange with Dolan. It took an army of security to subdue Oakley.

The ex-Knicks star was charged with assault, harassment and criminal trespass, but later cut a deal with prosecutors and the case has been thrown out.

Kenny Smith says he's in the "courting stages" for the NY Knicks head coaching job -- and says he believes he's battling 7 other candidates.

Smith met with the Knicks last week and tells TMZ Sports it "went well" -- but he knows he's not the only fish in the sea.

"We're in the courting stages. I know they're courting other people as well."

Smith's competition is reportedly steep -- big names like Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, David Fizdale and ex-NYK coach Mike Woodson.

Smith makes his case to TMZ Sports ... saying he's got the experience and winning record the Knicks desperately need.

Back up off that ledge, Knicks fans -- Dr. Oz says Kristaps Porzingis can get 110% better from his torn ACL ... if he takes his advice.

We got doc Oz out in NYC ... and he broke down why Kristaps' season-ending injury ain't the end of the world (just the Knicks' season).

Don't get it twisted -- the celeb surgeon told TMZ Sports Porzingis is gonna have to bust his ass in rehab ... but if he follows a few of his recovery tips, Oz says he can legitimately "come back better than ever before."

Enes Kanter is facing a 4-YEAR, 8-month prison sentence back in his home country, according to Turkish media reports ... and it's all over his social media war on Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey's government-run news agency says the chief public prosecutor's office in Istanbul has indicted the Knicks star for his insulting tweets about Erdogan -- a man Kanter has previously referred to as the "Hitler of our century."

Back in May, Enes was detained at a Romanian airport because his Turkish passport was canceled. Kanter was ultimately allowed to return to the U.S. ... but he became a wanted man in Turkey after Erdogan labeled him a terrorist.

Enes said he would've been dead within days if he was shipped back to Turkey and jailed.

He's now hoping to become an American citizen -- and considers himself "country-less."

It's a beautiful sight for N.Y. Giants fans ... Odell Beckham Jr. makin' his way around the Big Apple without his walking boot!!

TMZ Sports spotted the NFL superstar heading into MSG for the Knicks vs. Lakers game Tuesday ... and although his boot was super swagged out, it's a great sign for his health to see him without it.

OBJ went down with a season-ending ankle injury in October ... but watching him sit courtside with Magic Johnson to cheer on the Knickerbockers sans boot should give fans hope.

Get well soon, OBJ!

Mystery solved ... the new hot lady who's been hanging with Kristaps Porzingis is -- surprise -- A MODEL!!!

The NY Knicks star was canoodling with the hot blonde while leaving a NY nightclub earlier this week begging a few questions -- who is she and are they a thing???

Turns out, she goes by the name Bambi -- and we're told the two are definitely dating. Not sure how serious they are ... but they look pretty good together.

She's got a impressive body of work on the modeling front ... so, yeah ... enjoy!

Think Kristaps Porzingis called it a night after his triumphant return at MSG on Wednesday?

Hell no ... KP put in OT at the club with a smokin' hot chick!!

The Knicks superstar kept it flowin' at Marquee ... cuddling up with a mystery blonde outside the venue before they bounced to the after-party.

Unclear if she's Zinger's GF -- but they look pretty cute together.

Either way, Kristaps was cool enough to make time for all the fanboys flanking him on the street ... talkin' hoops and droppin' high-5s like the true King of NY (sorry, LeBron).

Want the ultimate proof that heated rivals can become total bros??

Michael Jordan not only attended Patrick Ewing's head coaching debut for Georgetown on Sunday ... he got invited into his locker room for a post-game photo op!!

Pretty dope shot -- M.J. huddled up with the G-Town ballers up front ... while all 7 feet of Coach Ewing kept as low of a profile as humanly possible so his guys could fanboy out.

Classy move from Pat -- who went toe-to-toe with His Airness for years way back when the Bulls and Knicks were the beasts of the East ... and before that in college:

Did you know ... "Baby Driver" star Ansel Elgort is a DIE-HARD Knicks fan?

It's true -- and when we saw the actor out in NYC on Wednesday he sounded off about losing Carmelo Anthony.

"I'm happy for Carmelo, he didn't belong on the Knicks anymore."

Don't get it twisted, Elgort isn't throwing shade -- but says he's definitely not gonna root as hard for Melo now that he's playing for the OKC Thunder.

The smokin' hot daughter of Bucks co-owner Wes Edens is shootin' HIGH with her NBA future ... saying she's gunnin' to own the most valuable team in the league!!

Spoiler -- it's not the Bucks (sorry, dad).

“I wanna buy the Knicks one day," Mallory Edens told TMZ Sports when we saw her in L.A.

Our photog asked if she was gonna try and trade the franchises in a Kyrie-for-IT-level blockbuster ... but she wasn't having none of that.

“I don’t need to swap -- my dad can keep the Bucks.”

Ouch.

In her defense ... the Knicks are worth a lot more -- Forbes says they're valued at $3.3 BILLION!

In all seriousness, Mallory told us she wants to be a trailblazer for women in the NBA and sports in general ... and we think she can do it.

I mean, she can basically spell Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pretty impressive.

President Obama's brother-in-law has found a new gig in the Big Apple ... in the front office of the New York Knicks.

We're told Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, has been hired by N.Y. ... and will fill a "player development role" with the team.

Robinson has a connection to current Knicks Prez Steve Mills -- they played basketball together back in the early 80's at Princeton University.

C.R. -- who's also coached at Oregon State University -- has served in the Milwaukee Bucks' front office as the V.P. of player and organizational development since 2016.

7:58 AM PT -- Oakley's attorney Alex Spiro says his client "will be pursuing all civil remedies against Mr. Dolan based on this incident" ... in other words, a lawsuits comin'.

Charles Oakley ain't gonna be attending a home Knicks game anytime soon 'cause he's barred from entering Madison Square Garden ... a judge in NYC ruled today.

Oakley was in a Manhattan court Friday morning facing assault, harassment and trespassing charges stemming from his fight with MSG security back on February 8.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Oak agreed to stay away from the arena for a year ... and keep his nose clean for 6 months.

If he does, the case will be dropped ... and the charges will be wiped from his record.

As for Oak's feud with NYK owner James Dolan ... things are as icy as ever.

What happens when you mix credit cards, erotica and Kristaps Porzingis?

Arguably the best commercial of the NBA offseason.

Feast your eyes on a Latvian ad for the Visa "X" card starring the New York Knicks phenom -- where Porzingis gets felt up by an extendo-arm from the heavens.

On its way to big daddy KP, the happy hand also gets friendly with honey, b-ball shoes and a Chow Chow ... while the sexy 80's jam "Oh Yeah" bumps in the background.

Fat Joe is calling for MORE Knicks heads to roll ... saying Jimmy Dolan needs to put head coach Jeff Hornacek in the crosshairs after pulling the trigger on Phil Jackson.

"[Hornacek's] gotta go. Phil's gotta go ... they gotta get rid of everybody down with that regime," Joe tells TMZ Sports.

FYI, Fat Joe is diehard Knicks superfan -- LOVES 'EM -- and says he truly believes the man who can save his squad is ex-Golden State Warriors coach (and Knicks player) Mark Jackson.

"I'd hire Mark Jackson as coach," Joe says ... "That's the first move. And then it's a whole revamping situation."