LeBron James once envisioned sporting the orange and blue.
That was before the Knicks won their first NBA title in 53 years.
James admitted as much to ESPN during the 76ers’ Media Day on Monday.
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James said. “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.”
Following the Knicks’ championship in June, the 41-year-old only considered his current team along with the Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors and Timberwolves for his free agency decision this offseason. James felt he would be taking a lot of heat from Knicks fans and the media if he jumped on the team after a historic season.
“Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all,” he 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.”
The Knicks “checked in” with James in July, however The Post reported the signing was “very, very unlikely.” His agent Rich Paul expanded on the Knicks’ lack of appeal following their NBA title while on his “Game Over” podcast on Netflix.
“It’s difficult. The last thing you want to do is mess up something like that,” Paul said. “The Knicks have a good thing. … If the Knicks hadn’t have won [the title], there would be no board [of teams]. He’d be going to the Knicks.”
James, who plans to spend time between residences in Philadelphia and New York, went on to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, but the 22-time All-Star continuously emphasized it was never about the money for him.
Rather, James wants to have an impact and bring a championship home to a new city at what is the twilight point of his career.
The four-time NBA champ even bluntly stated: “I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round” on Monday.
The Knicks swept the 76ers swiftly in the second-round of the playoffs in May. Philly has not been to the NBA Finals since losing in the 2000-01 season to the Lakers in five games.
Alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and young star VJ Edgecombe, James will start his Sixers era on Oct. 20 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
