New York Knicks enthusiasts have likely entertained the notion of LeBron James donning the blue and orange jersey at some juncture in his illustrious NBA career.
As it turns out, they are not alone in contemplating this hypothetical scenario.
During discussions with reporters on Saturday, James acknowledged, “I’ve had that thought in my career,” as reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, addressing whether he ever pondered joining the Knicks.
The possibility of James changing teams has gained traction recently, particularly because he holds a player option for the 2024-25 season.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ current standing, with a 25-25 record and residing in the ninth spot in the Western Conference, doesn’t exactly project a team poised for multiple titles in the coming years.
James has maintained a degree of ambiguity on social media, with New York fans taking note of the Statue of Liberty emoji featured in his posts:
LeBron James @KingJames⌛️
LeBron James @KingJames🗽👑
When asked about his plans for the upcoming season with the Lakers, James remained noncommittal, stating, “No,” leaving the situation open-ended.
However, his agent, Rich Paul, dispelled any immediate transfer speculations ahead of the trade deadline, asserting, “LeBron won’t be traded, and we aren’t asking to be,” according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Meanwhile, the Knicks find themselves in a favorable position without the involvement of the King. Boasting a 32-17 record, they hold the third position in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by just half a game for the No. 2 seed.
Heading into Saturday’s game against the Lakers, the Knicks are on a formidable nine-game winning streak.
While discussions about James are expected to dominate headlines when he faces New York, the team’s current roster, featuring Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby, is flourishing independently.
Perhaps there will come a time when James becomes a marquee attraction in the Big Apple, even in the twilight of his career.
And maybe, at one point, a prime LeBron could have been the game-changer for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, as the teams gear up for their clash, it’s the Knicks who hold the momentum in this matchup against the Lakers.
