As early as 2010, the New York Knicks failed to recruit LeBron James in ‘the most important basketball decision’ of the last decade. In the next eight seasons James did not miss a final. While the most valuable franchise in the world roamed the bottom of the league with some honorable exception. But in 2018, LeBron’s future was up for auction again, and it appears that the Knicks became an option before the superstar chose Los Angeles as his destination.
This is how Lisa Robinson, a journalist from Vanity Fair, on Brian Windhorst’s podcast. “I heard that LeBron wanted to go to New York. I have very good sources that say that was the plan, but his wife preferred Los Angeles. He wanted his children to go to school there ”. Any move involving James is an earthquake for the league, but it is even more so when it involves the two biggest markets in the NBA.
Before his arrival the Lakers had just recorded some of the worst seasons in their history. The landing of LeBron and the subsequent addition of Anthony Davis led to the construction of a champion team in just two courses. The Knicks were in a similar situation to the Angelenos three summers ago, so it’s not hard to imagine how the immediate fate of the organization would have changed. After eight years without a playoffs, New York has found stability by qualifying as the East quarterfinals. However, nothing softens the fact that he once again let LeBron pass.
(Cover photo by Elsa / Getty Images)
–
