By MARC BERMAN
I never sensed LeBron James to be all swept up with the Garden mystique. But then again, the Akron native had never dropped 50 points at the Mecca either.
King James lit up Broadway last night with 50 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists, falling two short of a triple-double, and sounded afterward like he accomplished something as big as making The Finals. James was so thrilled he claimed to be flattered by the crazed fan wearing his jersey sprinting onto the court with 22 seconds left for a handshake and pat on the chest.
“I have dreamed about playing well in this building,’’ James said after singlehandedly beating the Knicks with seven 3-pointers. “To me, it has overtaken anything I have dreamed about. To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world is a dream come true to me. It’s one of the best things that have ever happened to me.’’
Really? What about playing for the Knicks when he becomes a free agent in 2010? Um, not so fast. James cracked that was a “worse’’ question than the fan who made is way onto the Garden floor, past the security force.
Actually, the Nets, when housed in Brooklyn, have the better shot than the Knicks. LeBron is fast friends with Jay-Z, who sat courtside and kept up a running chat with his buddy during the game. Jay-Z told me afterward he was disappointed James didn’t get those two extra rebounds for the triple-double.
James was on fire from the 3-point line and posed several times after his makes. The Garden was full of life despite this empty season. James hit a 37-footer near the halfcourt line at the buzzer before intermission, wowing the crowd. “Tonight I just had that feeling,’’ James said.
Naturally he had that feeling against defender Wilson Chandler, a rookie who is just starting to get some extended playing time, even starting him for the second half over Quentin Richardson, who last season shut down LeBron.
Nights like tonight increase James’ candidacy for MVP over Kobe Bryant. James lauded the fan, later put in handcuffs and taken to Midtown South Precinct, for coming onto the court to pay homage. “I respect his pride, it is an unbelievable thing that has never happened to me,’’ James said.
—
Zach Randolph did not play and that gave more of a look for young center Randolph Morris, who had seven points and seven rebounds in 11 minutes, certainly earning himself more time the rest of the way. Morris is already a mightier rebounder than Eddy Curry. Maybe Thomas kept him out of games so his value as a free agent would be low, but that’s giving him too much credit.