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The New York Knicks annihilated the Sixers in the second round of the playoffs en route to snapping their 53-year championship drought last season. The vibes around Philly were Decidedly Bad after that humiliation, particularly since Knicks fans overtook the Wells Fargo Center for Games 3 and 4 of that series.
But on Monday, LeBron James managed to retcon that gut-punch into a positive for his new team.
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“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” he told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “One of the best places I’ve ever played. I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it.”
Had Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs knocked off the Knicks in the NBA Finals, LeBron very well could be up in New York right now. That likely would have been about as well-received as Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016, but championship rings don’t come with asterisks.
Paul added that “LeBron is always judged different” and “that’s a very fragile thing.” He implied that LeBron didn’t want to parachute in and create chemistry issues, which already seem to be festering in New York due to unresolved contract extensions.
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LeBron put it even more simply Monday, though.
“Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all,” James said, referring to the media. “But much respect to the Knicks, obviously. An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable. But yeah, I’m happy where I’m at, and I’m looking forward to it.”
So, to put the domino effect of the past few months into context:
The Knicks won the 2025-26 championship.
After striking out on Giannis, the Celtics proceeded to trade Jaylen Brown to the Sixers for Paul George and a pair of draft picks.
The Sixers—who were not originally on LeBron’s radar at all—suddenly piqued his interest after they acquired Brown.
Three weeks later, LeBron signs a minimum contract with the Sixers.
Ironically, the Sixers’ two biggest rivals helped them create an…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/finally-silver-lining-knicks-championship-141056535.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-30 14:10:00
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