Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas sneaker king who has known LeBron James since James was in ninth grade, told The Post that Jay-Z could emerge as the biggest force in LeBron James’ decision on free agency.
Vaccaro said Jay-Z’s influence may even trump that of his top inner circle of childhood friend/business manager, Maverick Carter, notorious confidant William Wesley and agent Leon Rose.
And Vaccaro says that bodes well for the Nets and Knicks. Jay-Z has a 1.5 percent piece of the Nets, but also is an occasional celebrity-row occupant at the Garden, with his wife Beyonce.
“I don’t think the Nets would be involved without Jay-Z,” Vaccaro told The Post. “LeBron and Jay-Z is something that is inseparable and you almost have to include that in the equation. I think he will be consulted. It’s a very good relationship. Jay-Z was LeBron before LeBron was LeBron. That’s the respect LeBron shows him.”
One NBA source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person didn’t want to offend James’ inner circle, told The Post, “If you ask me who the most important person in this is besides blood, I’d say Jay-Z. That helps the Nets, but Jay-Z will understand it as a friend if he doesn’t come. But I think (Jay-Z) helps the Knicks a lot more than Chicago.”
Another NBA insider said Jay-Z’s dream scenario would be James signing a contact with the Knicks with an opt-out after three years, then darting across the Brooklyn Bridge once the Nets are ensconced there. James would still be in his prime at 28.
According to a Jay-Z spokesperson, the rapper is touring Europe much of June and July but assured he and James communicate regularly. Jay-Z’s public wooing of James before July 1 could be construed as tampering by paranoid NBA commissioner David Stern. Carter, James’ top advisor, said James will sit down this week to look over his options.
Two years ago, with James’ free-agency still far away, Jay-Z was quoted in an Esquire magazine story, saying James playing for the Nets “would be a dream for me. But he’s my friend first. I want the best for him wherever he is. He’s my friend before he’s a commodity.”
Jay-Z first met James when he was in high school. Their shindig at All-Star Weekend — “The Two King Dinner and Afterparty” — has become a fixture for four years. In Dallas last February, it was attended by a series of Fortune 500 executives, Nets president Rod Thorn, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd, among celebs.
At the “Two Kings” dinner in 2009, Jay-Z reportedly spoke to the audience “of a tomorrow when these two monuments to music and basketball will transform the rules of engagement for the iconic performer.”
James only played the Garden once last season — in November — but made another appearance to attend Jay-Z’s concert, with a video taken of him dancing to “Empire State of Mind.” James later went back to Jay-Z’s 40/40 club for the afterparty.
In Chicago two weeks later, Jay-Z dedicated his concert to James, who was in town facing the Bulls. In turn, James threw an afterparty at a Chicago nightclub.
In the inner city part of Dallas in February, James and Jay-Z attended a Boys and Girls club and gave out scholarships.
After James’ Cavaliers were eliminated 10 days ago, James said his team of advisors would “execute a game plan” for this summer’s free-agent frenzy. But his friend Jay-Z just may have the most pull.