Chris Brown is in an unusual position in court -- on the OFFENSIVE -- claiming a guy on a basketball court tried extorting the singer ... threatening to tell cops Brown started a fight unless he coughed up a ton of money.
Brown was sued by Malcolm Ausbon over a pick-up basketball game last July at an L.A. gym. Ausbon claims Brown attacked him over a foul call, and proclaimed he was a member of the Bloods.
Brown has now counter-sued Ausbon, claiming he had nothing to do with the fight and Ausbon knew it, but tried to shake him down for a quarter-of-a-million dollars. According to Brown's new counter-suit -- obtained by TMZ -- Ausbon admitted to Brown's people the singer was not the culprit, but later his lawyer made this written demand:
-- "Mr. Ausbon believes $250,000 will suffice compensating him for his physical and emotional injuries ... Mr. Ausbon is placed in a position by the LAPD where he needs to decide whether he will press charges for aggravated assault and battery."
The letter continues:
-- "However, Mr. Ausbon prefers not to resort to filing these claims or the lawsuit. He would rather be compensated."
Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, says in the counter-suit Ausbon promised to keep the matter secret if Brown anted up. Brown didn't pay and Ausbon filed his lawsuit.
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