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Magic Johnson doesn't seem too concerned that his franchise player is sidelined with a groin injury -- telling TMZ Sports it's all gonna be okay!

Of course, LeBron James scared the entire NBA when he left the Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors after coming up limpy after an awkward fall.

Bron later announced the injury was just a groin strain -- nothing more serious -- but still, people are wondering if this is the beginning of the end for a soon-to-be 34-year-old who's never had any serious injuries.

"We don't worry about what people say," Johnson told us on the way out of Craig's in Los Angeles ... "We're having a great season, you can't worry about what people say."

"I'm happy and we'll be okay."

We asked if the injury scare increased Magic's sense of urgency in getting another superstar to the Lakers -- to which he replied, "Nope. Nope. Nope."

So, what's the message to the rest of the Lakers who will have to soldier on without LeBron?

"Play hard, play together, play Laker basketball."

As for LeBron's return date, Magic wasn't specific -- saying James is "taking a little time."

We also asked Magic how he felt about LeBron's controversy regarding his "Jewish Money" comments earlier this week ... and the NBA legend seemed satisfied with how James has handled it.

"He apologized so that's a good thing," Magic said.

"He's a great man and he apologized and everybody moves on, right?"

Chris Brown might be better off with cats and dogs, because he just got slapped with criminal charges over his pet monkey ... TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles City Attorney is charging CB with two counts of having a restricted species without a permit. The crimes carry a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail.

As you'll recall ... Chris got himself a baby capuchin monkey named Fiji, and he started taking major heat after posting a video of his then-3-year-old daughter, Royalty, playing with the exotic pet. People thought the wild animal posed a danger to his kid, but Chris told everyone to take a chill pill.

Our law enforcement sources say folks notified the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, who launched an investigation.

Breezy didn't have a permit for the monkey, so authorities got a search warrant and planned to raid CB's home, but he voluntarily agreed to surrender the exotic pet.

Chris is due in court Feb. 6.

The Buena Regional High School wrestling team announced it will NOT compete in events refereed by the man who forced Andrew Johnson to cut his hair before a match earlier this month.

The Buena Regional school board held an emergency meeting in New Jersey on Wednesday with board members and concerned community members ... and that's where the announcement was made.

As we previously reported, referee Alan Maloney (who is white) told the 16-year-old black wrestler to either cut off his dreadlocks or forfeit the match during a Dec. 19 event.

Johnson -- who was only given 90 seconds to make his decision -- opted for the haircut ... and video of the shameful moment went viral.

Maloney's camp insists the ref was only following strict guidelines about hair maintenance -- and was not being racist.

As for Johnson, Buena has a wrestling match scheduled for Thursday morning -- but an attorney for the student says he will NOT compete because he's overwhelmed by the media attention.

Disney is making strides by introducing its first openly gay character in the upcoming "Jungle Cruise" movie, which will feature a big coming out scene ... but there's one important step that's missing.

A test screening of the film took place last week -- it'll get a wide release in 2020 -- and sources who attended tell TMZ Disney avoids using the word "gay" when Jack Whitehall's character, McGregor, comes out to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

We're told, at one point, McGregor has a heart-to-heart with The Rock's lead character, Frank, about dating history ... and McGregor makes it very clear he isn't into ladies. Keep in mind, this flick isn't set in modern times.

McGregor explains to "Frank" his family had tried arranging marriages for him with several women, but he didn't wanna marry any of them -- or any woman, for that matter. He also says Emily Blunt's character, Lily (his sister in the movie), was the only one in his fam to accept him and support him regardless of the "person" he loves.

We're told the scene was well-received by the audience, but the glaring omission of a pronoun to describe McGregor's love interest did not go unnoticed.

Unclear if the scene will make the final cut -- but ya gotta imagine it will, given how significant a move it is for Disney to include a gay character in an action blockbuster.

There was already backlash from the LGBTQ community over Whitehall's casting earlier this summer -- he's a straight guy playing a gay character -- and now, it's obvious Disney's watching its step even closer as it tiptoes into the 21st Century.

He's already built like a superhero ... now MMA star Sage Northcutt has a real shot at landing a role in a Marvel superhero flick!

Northcutt recently parted ways with UFC after his contract expired and signed with the ONE Championship.

Sage says he has no bad blood with UFC and praised Dana White -- but says one of the perks of his new company is ONE is sponsored by Marvel, and they're hoping to take advantage of that relationship.

"[The people at ONE] were talking about, one of the incentives for me fighting for them was getting me into movies, commercials, all sorts of stuff like that."

Acting ain't new for Sage ... he told us in the past he was working with an acting coach -- and even campaigned to play Ivan Drago's son in "Creed II."

Marvel movies are HUUUGE -- "The Avengers," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Black Panther" are just a few of their monster hits -- and a role in their movies could launch the MMA star's acting career.

"That'd be pretty sick."

Stay tuned ...

Loretta Powell -- known for representing the U.S. in the 1959 Miss World pageant -- came home one day to find her tenant throwing her stuff out and renovating the place ... after allegedly scamming her out of the deed to her property.

The story's pretty crazy, but law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Powell -- now in her late 80s -- met a man named David Lee Jones in 2014 while getting some tests at the hospital, and soon afterward he began renting a room she had available in her L.A.-area home.

Three years later in July 2017, Loretta called police on Jones, claiming he was slowly destroying the house she built and lived in for many years ... and she didn't know how to stop him.

We're told cops questioned Jones, who claimed he owned the $1.9 million home because Loretta signed it over to him, and turns out he was right -- but allegedly because he got her to sign the paperwork after she had hip surgery in 2016 while she was doped up on morphine.

Our sources say cops arrested Jones the next day, and he was ultimately charged with theft from elder, a felony. He's also facing a charge of vandalism of property worth more than $400.

And, get this -- cops discovered Lee was a man of many names, using a handful of aliases over the years.

His trial's set to begin this week.

The house of All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert -- located on the property where he was mysteriously found dead -- might be on the foreclosure market soon.

As we reported ... the body of the heavy metal band's co-founder was discovered in a pond near his Connecticut home on October 16. Cops were dispatched to his residence after his wife reported him missing, and after searching the area ... found Herbert reportedly facedown in inches deep water at the edge of the pond.

According to reports ... the rocker hadn't paid the mortgage on his $132k home months before his death and, in June, docs were filed as a notice of foreclosure. Herbert didn't contest it, and last week attorneys for the mortgage company filed docs to immediately repossess the home.

His wife, Elizabeth, reportedly still lives there.

Herbert's death was ruled "undetermined" by the state's Chief Medical Examiner, who said it would remain that way unless new information is revealed.

Cops are still investigating.

Herbert was one of the founders of ATR and was their lead guitarist for 20 years at the time of his death. The band announced they'd likely name his permanent replacement in 2019.

Oli was 44.

Paris Hilton's not mincing words anymore -- she says the $2 million engagement ring she got from Chris Zylka is hers to keep ... and he didn't spend a dime on it, anyway.

We got Paris at LAX Wednesday and asked her to clarify recent comments she made, suggesting the jeweler who provided the ring got millions in free publicity ... so it's going to stay with her.

Now she's going a step further, emphatically telling us ... "It's mine." She also says it was free in the first place ... implying Chris didn't actually buy it so he has no claim to it.

As we've told you ... after Zylka proposed to Paris, the story was he bought the ring -- which features a massive 20-carat diamond that took about 4 months to cut.

But, Paris now says that was never the case, and according to her ... she's paid for the ring via social media promotion and whatnot.

Not sure that will hold up in the court of law, but until we hear more from Zylka or the jeweler ... we know where to find the ring.

Miley Cyrus just broke her silence on the rumors that she and Liam Hemsworth got married over the holidays -- it looks like a confirmation ... sealed with a kiss.

The singer shared a few intimate pics Wednesday of the happy couple at what's believed to be their wedding ceremony last weekend in Tennessee. One of the photos is of the presumed bride and groom kissing, and there are a few more of the couple embracing.

The pics come with the caption, "10 years later ....." -- which lines up with when the 2 would have met as they began filming the 2010 Nicholas Sparks movie, "The Last Song."

Sparks even commented on the news by congratulating the couple saying it makes him so happy ... and Miley replied with 3 heart emojis.

And check it out ... Liam's got a wedding ring on.

As we reported ... photos surfaced of a party Sunday night that appeared to be a wedding reception, including one of Miley and Liam cutting what looked like a wedding cake.

There's also video of the Hemsworth bros doing celebratory shots ... with "Mr" and "Mrs" balloons in the background.

And, now it seems like all the clues were legit -- so CONGRATS!!

Donald and Melania Trump took a top secret sleigh ride overnight to Iraq to surprise the troops ... and wish them a Merry Christmas.

The 2 flew out of Washington late on Christmas and traveled overnight to the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad ... marking the President's first trip to see U.S. troops in a combat zone since his presidency began.

Trump's Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, says POTUS and the First Lady are meeting with the troops and senior military leadership to thank them for "their service, their success, and their sacrifice."

The trip was reportedly kept under wraps for security reasons, and comes during tough times for the Prez in D.C. ... 5 days into the partial government shutdown.

There's also a NY Times report alleging Trump received his infamous bone spurs diagnosis to help avoid the Vietnam War draft from a foot doctor as a "favor" to his father, Fred Trump.

According to the report ... the daughters of the podiatrist claim their dad -- who rented his office from Fred -- performed the favor to get in good with his landlord.

Mark Wahlberg's beach bod is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

The "Instant Family" star is enjoying the holidays with his family in Barbados at the Sandy Lane Hotel, and hit the Caribbean sand Wednesday for some Boxing Day fun in the sun and a cool dip in the sea.

Mark's muscles are already an eye-catcher, but even more so when matched with his colorful trunks and cross necklace bling.

Dikembe Mutombo's heartbroken over the loss of Matadi Sela Petit, but incredibly ... he's staying positive, and says the tragedy's only strengthened his focus on helping people.

The Basketball Hall of Famer tells TMZ ... he's been working with the 8-year-old boy's family to transport his body back to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a proper burial, which should happen soon. He says dealing with the loss is tough ... but everyone's hanging in there.

We broke the story ... Dikembe flew the child from Africa to the U.S. earlier this month in hopes of removing the large tumor from his face, so he could return to his home and live a normal, happy life.

Matadi and his family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in L.A. as they awaited his operation, led by Dr. Ryan Osborne from Cedars Sinai Medical Center ... who volunteered his services.

Sadly, Matadi suffered a rare genetic reaction to anesthesia during his surgery last week and went into cardiac arrest, and despite the best efforts of the medical staff ... he passed away Friday night.

Dikembe's remaining devoted despite the sad outcome, though -- reminding us things don't always turn out the way we want ... and are sometimes out of our control.

Mutombo also says there are no plans to change anything at his hospital in the Congo -- which has helped hundred of thousands of people -- and he vows to keep the good work up.

As we reported, Dikembe's foundation says Matadi "was a pioneer, and his memory will inspire us to continue to develop efforts and partnerships to improve the lives of the children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

He was 8.

Adrien Broner found himself mugging for the wrong camera this holiday season ... after getting arrested just days before Christmas.

The boxing star was busted Sunday in Broward County, Florida after a warrant for his arrest was issued for failure to appear in court earlier this month. He was booked in county jail and then released ... court records show.

The bench warrant stems from a case dating back to December 2017 ... after he was arrested for having no driver's license, speeding, no registration or proof of insurance. Since that arrest, he's failed to appear in court several times ... which led to a previous arrest in July for failure to appear.

Drake's son has some creative talent, and the proud papa wants the world to see.

Drake posted this pic of his son Adonis' handiwork ... an abstract in blue, green, yellow and red paint with some telltale handprints!!!

The one-year-old's papa captioned the pic, "Adonis > Picasso don't @ me."

Drake became a first-time dad last year, confirming during the Summer he had a son on his album, "Scorpion" ... although pretty much everyone knew by then anyway.

Hugh Jackman might not be ready to join the Harlem Globetrotters just yet, but his ball-handling skills aren't half bad ... and he's definitely got the charisma.

What else would you expect from the 'Greatest Showman?'

The 'Front Runner' star got an impromptu lesson from Globetrotters star Cheese Chisholm in the tunnel at Madison Square Garden Tuesday ... as the Knicks were prepping for their Christmas Day game against the Bucks.

Check it out ... Jackman's got some game, and totally nails the elbow pass spin move. Things get a little dicier when Cheese adds more steps though ... and he's got some work to do on spinning the ball on his finger.

BTW, the other 'Trotter in the vid is Hot Shot Swanson, the shortest Globetrotter in team history at only 4-foot-5.

The Harlem Globetrotters got a game Thursday at MSG, the first of 7 in NYC to close out 2018.