Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is known to be nearing the end of his legendary career, and one insider has a bold idea for where he should spend his final years in the NBA.
The Athletic's Ian O'Connor suggested that James should consider joining the New York Knicks ahead of his upcoming retirement. O'Connor pointed to his agent Rich Paul saying in a statement this summer that James wants to evaluate what's best for him at this stage of his career and "wants to make every season he has left cou nt."
"James should really start thinking about New York as the best way to do that. The Knicks are run by his former agent, team president Leon Rose, and his former adviser, executive VP William Wesley, and they are coached by his former Cavaliers coach, Mike Brown," O'Connor explained. "These men know what makes LeBron tick, and hey, the Garden isn't going anywhere."
At 41 years old, James is still playing at a high level. He was named to his 22nd All-Star Game on Sunday, and he scored 22 points in a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks.
O'Connor noted that there's speculation that James could decide to end his career with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, especially after he was brought to tears during a video tribute last week.
The Golden State Warriors have also been floated as a potential landing spot for James if he becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. Lakers owner Jeannie Buss reportedly previously mulled the idea of trading him to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022, but she and James recently spoke to clear the air.
However, O'Connor also spoke to Dave Checketts, the former Garden and Knicks president who once tried and failed to lure Michael Jordan to New York in 1996. Checketts recalled that he tried to sell Jordan on winning an NBA championship with fellow Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing "in the biggest room in the world, which is what I call the Garden, and Jordan respectfully said no." He's hoping that James won't be able to resist the allure.
"Everything that you do in New York gets magnified beyond all belief. Like with Michael back then, I think it's a place that can fully complete LeBron's career now, especially if he can put this Knicks group over t he top," Checketts told O'Connor. "That would be the pinnacle for him. I don't know if winning his fifth title with the Knicks makes LeBron better than Michael, but it becomes a really close call."
O'Connor asserted that he feels such a feat would push James over the top in the GOAT debate, further solidifying New York as the best destination for him as his iconic career comes to an end.
"Actually, winning a fifth title with a fourth different franchise would offset LeBron's six defeats in the Finals, suffered almost exclusively with inferior teams. And if that fourth franchise happened to be the team that Jordan refused to join, the Knicks, there would be no more challenges to conquer," O'Connor stated. "And no more ghosts to chase. LeBron James would retire as the GOAT."
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