During his tour of Manhattan, LeBron James had fun teasing Knicks and Nets fans yesterday about the prospect of playing in the Big Apple in 2010 when he becomes a free agent.
When asked his favorite city, King James listed New York No. 1. But when asked his favorite borough, James said Brooklyn, where the Nets plan to open shop in 2010.
On the eve of free agency, James and Team USA assistant coach Mike D’Antoni were under the same roof, at the Plaza Hotel, for a U.S. Olympic function. The dream for all Knicks fans will be if D’Antoni and James are together again July 1, 2010, touring New York on a recruiting visit.
Knicks president Donnie Walsh’s every move is designed to make sure they are enough under the cap to go after James as a free agent. The hiring of the popular D’Antoni was done partly to entice King James.
The Nets are in better position for now after dealing Richard Jefferson Thursday and with minority owner Jay-Z one of James’ best friends.
“They have a right to dream about it,” James said yesterday after visiting Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty and Harlem. “I can’t take that away from them.
“My friendship was way before Jay-Z was part owner of the Nets. I loved the Garden way before I got in the NBA.”
Last March at the Garden, James scored 50 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists, falling two short of a triple-double.
“For some reason when I get to the Garden, I always play well,” James said yesterday. “So they want me to do it for 41 games instead of two games a year.”
D’Antoni admitted he’s in an advantageous position coaching James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul, all free agents in 2010.
“It doesn’t hurt any,” D’Antoni said. “I’m not going to be real hard on them, that’s for sure. They’re going to like me before this is over with.”
James already does. The day after Thursday’s draft, D’Antoni flew to Vegas for a Team USA mini-camp.
Asked about being around D’Antoni the past few days, James raved, “It’s been great. He’s one of the best coaches we have in the league. He’s going to bring that style to the East Coast. And I’m very excited for him and very happy for him.”After Knicks summer league in Vegas, D’Antoni will stay put in the desert for Team USA’s training camp before heading to Beijing.
D’Antoni joked he has been pointing out the wonderful things about New York during Team USA’s stay here.
“I joke around with all of them,” D’Antoni said. “You can’t hide that. You see something in New York, it’s ‘Look how great this is.’ ”
James says he can’t get away from the commotion about his free agency.
“It’s kind of funny, I hear my name on draft day, watching some of the younger guys coming into the league and they say teams are making trades for LeBron James 2010,” he said. “I kind of laugh at it. I’m excited to be in Cleveland. I just want to win. I want an organization to try to get better every year.”
James displayed his love of the Garden after his March explosion.
“I have dreamed about playing well in this building,” James said. “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.”
Although he talked a lot about his friendship with Jay-Z and love of the rapper’s music, James went on to say it would have no influence on his decision.
James, a big Yankees fan who angered some by wearing a Yankees cap during the Indians-Yankees playoff series, is aware of the Web site nycforlebron.com. The Web site is taking donations to raise funds for incentive gifts for King James during his free-agency. Gifts include his own suite at the new Yankee Stadium, a Ferrari and celebrity-row seats for his mother, Gloria James.
Back to reality, D’Antoni said yesterday the Knicks can use a point guard with free agency beginning today – Monta Ellis, Raymond Felton, Beno Udrih are top targets. But he added, “Don’t expect anything big.”