A lot of factors were in play before LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers as the final landing spot in his illustrious career. One of those, however, is a tad more concealed as it concerns another team. Turns out, the New York Knicks winning the championship was actually what allowed the team to sign the megastar in the first place.
Numerous reports have already popped up about LeBron's camp reaching out to the Knicks brass this offseason, but New York did not reciprocate that interest. Even Jalen Brunson, the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player, did not try to recruit him. Taken as a whole, these tidbits actually make a lot of sense given that they have just won the championship.
The 76ers have to thank the Knicks for allowing them to obtain LeBron James
Simply put, had the Knicks lost to the Spurs in this year's Finals, the script could have been much different, and the 76ers might not have even been under consideration for LeBron. The superstar reportedly wanted to live in New York for quite some time now, to the point that he is rumored to have arranged a plan to live in the Big Apple despite playing for Philly next season and possibly beyond.
To be honest, it is easy to see why James' camp was apparently eyeing New York as his next team. There is obviously already a ton of hoopla around Knicks basketball, and winning a championship has only strengthened their bid as a landing spot where the King can win another ring. Also, it's New York.
As such, while it may sound strange, the Knicks definitely had a part in LeBron being available in the first place. Heck, it could have been that the James bidding war would not even have transpired had New York faltered in the Finals and entered into an utter state of desperation this summer. Instead, they mounted one of the most impressive playoff runs in recent memory and snapped a title drought that had lasted for more than five decades.
The stars simply aligned for the 76ers to get their hands on LeBron. Of course, free agency is always influenced by a lot of factors, especially those not subject to control. Fortunately for them, the Knicks winning the championship ended up benefiting them without them even knowing it until they landed the GOAT. Now, it might just be their turn to snap their championship drought next season.
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