Dwight Howard tells TMZ Sports he’s dead serious about his interest in joining the WWE — explaining he’d trade the basketball court for the wrestling ring this year if the offer was right.

Howard showed back in July he certainly has the chops to cut it in the squared circle — delivering an epic promo after crashing a WWE tryout in Nashville.

And, when we got him out at LAX this week, he made it clear that wasn’t just a one-off thing … telling us he really has a desire to eventually go head-to-head with Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley and the rest of the WWE’s best in the near future.

In fact, Dwight said if the offer to wrestle in the WWE was better than one an NBA team could give him — he’d have no qualms taking it.

“Whatever opportunity is best,” the NBA free agent said.

As for what kind of personality Dwight would have in the org. — he said he could be both a hero and a villain.

Triple H, meanwhile, seems to be down to give him the shot … in a recent interview, WWE’s CCO said all Dwight would have to do is give him a call and they could get things rolling.

“The ball’s in his court,” Triple H said … “He came by our tryouts in Nashville, was incredibly entertaining, jumping in promos by himself and then with others — incredibly entertaining.”