LeBron James / Knicks Fantasy Gone WILD

Casey Purcella, fearless intern [ Thu May 13 2010 11:07 AM ]

nymag.com

LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the thick of the NBA playoffs, but that didn't stop New York Magazine from getting a head start on luring the player to New York to play for the hometown team, the Knicks. The magazine put James on the cover, along with a list of 14 reasons why the reigning league MVP should come to New York.

NBA analysts have been looking forward to this and discussing it on television for at least the past three years, but New York Magazine has outdone them all in compiling perhaps the most complete and absolutely most outrageous overture to James. Most of the magazine’s 14 reasons are full-fledged articles that not only focus on basketball (reason No. 2: Of Course, Money Isn’t Everything: Six or Seven NBA Titles Would Be Nice, Too) but also on James's financial goals (reason No. 1: If You Want to Make That First Billion Before You Turn 30, This Is the Place to Do It) and the benefits of being a star athlete in New York City (reason No. 14: If You Win Here, We'll Name a Sandwich After You ).

Depending on how you look at it, the magazine either did its homework or is really creepy; it consulted a pair of New York's prominent real estate agents to pick out a house and an apartment for James, and the feature is filled with Photoshopped pictures of James in a Knicks jersey and a few New York-themed advertising mockups featuring James, including a six-frame storyboard for a potential Coca-Cola advertisement featuring the player. The entire series is so absurd, I can't tell if the “LeBron in 2018” slide show is a joke, even though it features James winning 10 straight NBA championships with the Knicks, extorting a U.S. Senate seat by threatening to retire if not elected, and leading the United States to an Olympic gold medal at 38 as a player-coach-senator.

Public Comments (3)

- FoxMcCloud
  - FoxMcCloud's profile
  - send message to FoxMcCloud
- Since 2008-09-26
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Posts: 344
His Bags Will Be Packed [ Thu May 13 2010 11:16 AM ]

following tonight's game, if he displays another one of those choke-jobs against my Celtics. I don't think the Knicks have even really thought this through. I mean, he's an incredible player and a remarkable athlete, but can he win in the postseason? Ever?
- simonm
  - simonm's profile
  - send message to simonm
- Since 2007-10-08
- Posts: 789
Yes! [ Thu May 13 2010 5:50 PM ]

Come on Fox! (hope you're well by the way) LeBron already went to the NBA Finals before losing to the Spurs in 2007. Besides winning an NBA championship, you can't be more successful then that.
I think LeBron will have a great game tonight and this series will go to 7 with Cleveland prevailing.
Also, if LeBron leaves, his legacy will be forever tarnished. There is absolutely no way he can justify leaving other than to say that he wants the greater attention that comes from playing in a major-market city. He's already said he would not leave for that reason, so if he does depart, he will be going back on his word. The Cavs may not have made the smartest decisions in terms of personnel, but no one can say Cleveland's front office hasn't tried to do everything they can to keep LeBron happy and prove that ownership is serious about winning a championship.
Finally, as for the Knicks wanting LeBron, the money that guy will bring in is reason enough to pursue him. Thousands of New Yorkers payed $75 or more a ticket to see the Knicks play this year. Just think how many will pony up the cash to see an actual star every night.
- FoxMcCloud
  - FoxMcCloud's profile
  - send message to FoxMcCloud
- Since 2008-09-26
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Posts: 344
^ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA [ Fri May 14 2010 9:55 AM ]

Nice prediction, Yankees fan (who I also hope is well) ;) I'm sure the 2004 ALCS was all done and in the bag too, wasn't it?
Getting swept in the NBA Finals is really nothing to award accolades for. He'll be known for the times that the Cavs had incredible regular seasons and couldn't get it done when the world was watching. LeBron looked like a complete mess at the tail end of this series...like he gave up. His supporting cast is not nearly good enough to get the job done when he has an off night or when he randomly decides to throw in the towel. And I don't buy that elbow injury crap, because he put up LeBron-like numbers and then some during Game 3...in the Gaahhden, no less!
Give Boston some credit, though. As much crap that has been said about LBJ, the Celtics got hot at the right time and took down the overall number one seed. Say what you will, but this team is brimming with talent and experience. This goes to show the regular season tells you nothing, and KG even said midway through the season they really don't put on the afterburners until the postseason comes anyways. That sounds like a good strategy when you have several older guys on your team approaching 40.
Who knows, LBJ could be the Knicks savior and save that sorry-assed franchise. "Lifelong" Yankees fans all over New York may have a reason to trade in their Lakers jerseys, after all! ;)
Last edited [5/14/10 9:58 AM]