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I Could Not Care Less That LeBron James Considered the New York Knicks
By Sean Barnard
Published:
The LeBron James circus is still in its opening act in Philadelphia, and each of us is still adjusting to what this means, media-wise. As has been the case for most of his career, pundits cling to seemingly every off-the-cuff comment James makes nearly every day. This is an experience we should just be beginning to buckle up for as the season begins to take shape and the attention surely is not going anywhere.
A recent example of this occurred during the Sixers’ media day, where James spoke openly about his consideration of joining the New York Knicks during this summer’s free agency:
A couple of thoughts here.
First off, it would obviously be easier for James to have just not said this. He could’ve brushed off the question by just saying how he is happy to be in Philadelphia and confident this was the right choice after evaluating all of his offseason options. However, one of the largest critiques of professional athletes is that they are never honest, and it is tough to get too mad at James or anybody when they do actually tell the truth.
Of course James considered the Knicks. He was a free agent with no clear next step for the first true time in his career. Even as he puts up a better battle with Father Time than just about any human being in history, though it cannot be ignored that he will turn 42 years old during this season, and the clock is winding down. In all likelihood, this is his final stop and possibly his final season as he prepares for Year 24 in the league.
While most players enter their professional sports career with the mindset of maximizing their impact during the limited time that they’re a professional, this outlook was always a bit more loaded regarding James. Crowned the ‘Chosen One’ since before he earned a high school diploma, the unfair expectation that he would have a case for the best basketball player of all time when he elects to hang it up is one that he has somehow lived up to. But with this comes a level of responsibility beyond just performing on the court.
James sometimes does not get enough credit for how strategic he is in mapping out his career and business as it has unfolded. He was selected with the first overall pick in the draft by his hometown team and spent the first seven years representing the Cavaliers. Looking back, it is pretty miraculous he was able to carry some of those rosters to the level of team success that they achieved. But he felt the pressure of needing to add multiple championships to his resume. This led James to take his talents down to South Beach, where he won two titles across his four season with the Heat. The four-time MVP then traveled back to Cleveland to right the wrongs of how he elected to leave the city, and managed to the Cavaliers to the championship mountaintop for the first time in their franchise history.
As he continued to cement his legacy, it was the Los Angeles Lakers that next caught his eye. While the sparkle might not be as bright as it once was, it cannot be argued that there is a level of prestige around the Lakers that is not the case for any other franchise in the NBA and really all of sports. The 17 championships aside, there is a level of celebrity status that comes with being in LA, and you cannot tell the story of the NBA without the Lakers being etched in plenty of chapters. Playing on the West Coast was also a different experience than has been the case for his career, and further diversified his fan base.
James spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, the longest consecutive stint with any team in his career, winning one championship and earning an assist title for the first time in his career. But it feels fair to acknowledge that James did not become synonymous with the Lakers’ franchise the way that was the case for plenty of the stars before them. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant and plenty in between, James didn’t fully take to this Lakers franchise in the way that he or the organization likely hoped. But with the Luka Doncic trade further accelerating the outlook, the timeline in Los Angeles no longer aligned with James. With the 22-time All-Star recognizing he still had some gas left in the tank, James had to play somewhere else, and this is what sparked the free agency courting.
What also stood out was the allusion James made to the critiques that would come if he had joined the Knicks after they had just won the championship. He surely remembers the noise that surrounded his decision to join the Heat, and there seemed to be some level of parallel that was drawn to Kevin Durant joining the Warriors in his answer. However, it felt the bulk of the criticism of Durant stemmed from the fact that Golden State had just defeated the Thunder in the Conference Finals before he switched sides. It was a “can’t beat em, join em” situation in a way that does not apply to James in this spot. The new Sixers’ star is coming off a season in which his postseason ended after the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, after James shined as the best player on the floor in the opening-round victory over the Rockets.
When you actually sift through the headlines and hear what James is saying, it should also be made clear that his largest compliment was delivered directly to Madison Square Garden as an arena more than the Knicks franchise directly. I can live with this outlook and won’t disrespect what is coined “the Mecca of basketball” for a reason. This also has zero bearing on the Knicks as a team. I mean, PNC Park down in Pittsburgh is my favorite baseball stadium I have ever been to. This doesn’t make me want to be a Pirates fan nor mean they are the best team in baseball by any means.
Ultimately, LeBron James is a 76er, and there is nothing that can be done about this by any other team in the league. It is still strange to me the little brother energy stemming from the New York fan base coming off the championship run they just produced. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise given that the franchise had not previously won a title since 1973 and somehow has more dysfunction than has been seen here in Philadelphia. A group of front-running fans that would have tossed Jalen Brunson to the side for a season with James without a second thought, but eager to puff their chests out and act like they have been diehards. Somehow, a likable NBA team, represented by the least likable fan base, and what should be an extremely memorable championship has seemingly already come and gone in the news cycle.
I would imagine life at the top would make you not worry about the superior city just 95 miles away, a quick helicopter ride, as some would note. But ultimately, I guess we will check back on this conversation for what the outlook is with a championship in hand next summer.
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.