NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat in action against Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 1, 2014 in New York City. The Heat defeated the Knicks 106-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Knicks reportedly blew their chance at signing LeBron James in another sad chapter for the franchise.
In our growing void with limited live sports, ESPN naturally decided to revisit the greatest free agent chase in NBA history: LeBron James’ Decision. In doing so, they’ve allowed countless hurt fanbases to revisit their pain and suffering, and none have been aided in doing so more often than New York Knicks supporters.
Sure, James leaving Cleveland to form the Heatles was awful for Cavs fans, but LeBron’s return to the Land in 2014, and subsequent NBA title, took away that pain. History has not been as kind to the Garden’s greatest.
LeBron James was reportedly dead set on signing with the Knicks…until he wasn’t.
The Knicks were arguably one or two productive meetings away from convincing the greatest player of his generation, and perhaps the GOAT, to sign on to resurrect the franchise. The only problem? This is the Knicks we’re talking about.
New York apparently hired James Gandolfini and Edie Falco to reprise their roles as Tony and Carmela Soprano, per Bill Simmons.
While that alone was a curious sideshow to convince James’ of NYC’s star power, the end result was secure when James Dolan and Co. failed to give any clear and concise vision for the next half-decade, of which James would’ve been voluntarily sacrificing his prime for.
In essence, The Sopranos were the only real success from LeBron’s sit-down, and once he left the Garden, so did any chance of him ever considering the Knicks as a serious landing spot.
Instead, New York settled for Amar’e Stoudemire and his weak knees, and would eventually land Carmelo Anthony via trade from the Denver Nuggets years later, giving up the majority of their productive role players to do so.
Yet, it was that summer when the Knicks actually had a real chance to rise from the ashes. An agreement with James, followed by acquiring another star either via their $34 million or trade, would’ve formed a loaded roster capable of competing in the East for years to come.
Instead, New York remains in a perpetual rebuild.