Stephen A. Smith was prepared to make a personal pitch for LeBron James to join the Knicks

LeBron James had New York on his mind before choosing Philadelphia, and Stephen A. Smith revealed how strongly he wanted that possibility. Smith said he was prepared to make a plea for James if the Knicks had fallen short in the 2026 playoffs. The twist came after James confirmed that New York had been part of his thinking during free agency.

That combination has turned a hypothetical Knicks move into one of the NBA’s most fascinating recent what-ifs. New York ultimately won its first championship since 1973 without James. James instead began his 24th NBA season with the 76ers.

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Why Smith was willing to put aside the feud

Smith’s comments carried extra weight because of his long-running tension with James. The relationship deteriorated publicly after James confronted Smith during a March 2025 Lakers-Knicks game over Smith’s criticism of Bronny James.

Smith has since spoken openly about the strained relationship, including during a 2026 interview with Graham Bensinger. The dispute made his willingness to recruit James especially notable.

Yet Smith’s Knicks fandom created a different calculation. He explained that if New York had failed to win the championship, he was prepared to appear on national television and beg James to join the Knicks.

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Smith also made clear that the circumstances changed completely once New York won the title. The Knicks had already accomplished the goal that had defined their season, making a dramatic recruiting pitch unnecessary.

LeBron really did envision playing at Madison Square Garden

James provided the strongest confirmation at 76ers media day. Speaking with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, he said he had “visions” of playing at Madison Square Garden and finishing his career there, describing it as one of the best places he had played.

James also explained why the idea disappeared after the Knicks won the championship. He said he could not make that move after New York had already won the title, leaving the potential free-agency decision tied directly to the outcome of the postseason.

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That detail matters because James was not simply being linked to New York from the outside. NBA.com reported in June that he would leave the Lakers and enter free agency before he ultimately selected Philadelphia.

His comments also show how closely the timing of the Knicks’ championship was connected to the decision. The title changed the circumstances around a potential move, turning what had been a realistic possibility into something James ultimately ruled out.

New York’s championship changed the entire equation

The Knicks did not need an additional superstar to end their championship drought. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals, with Jalen Brunson scoring 45 points in Game 5 and earning Finals MVP honors.

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The victory gave New York its first NBA title since 1973. It also capped a postseason in which the Knicks repeatedly erased double-digit deficits, including a 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the Finals.

The title validated a roster built around Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. NBA.com reported that New York produced a 13-game postseason winning streak and the highest playoff point differential in league history.

The contrast is striking because James’ free-agency decision and the Knicks’ championship run unfolded on separate tracks. New York’s title removed the need for another centerpiece, while Philadelphia offered James a fresh Eastern Conference setting for the final stage of his career.

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Fun fact: LeBron James wore the No. 23 jersey because Michael Jordan was his favorite player. He kept the number for his first seven NBA seasons as a tribute to Jordan.

The Sixers move closed the Knicks possibility

James eventually chose Philadelphia, returning to the Eastern Conference and joining Joel Embiid and the 76ers. NBA.com reported that James viewed the move as his final NBA challenge after strongly considering retirement during the offseason.

The Sixers became the destination even though James had acknowledged his attraction to New York. His decision means the Madison Square Garden scenario will remain a notable chapter in his free-agency story rather than becoming part of his playing career.

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For Smith, the sequence produced an unusual ending. He was prepared to publicly recruit a player with whom he had a difficult relationship, but the Knicks’ championship made that effort unnecessary before it ever began.

The episode also highlighted how quickly NBA offseason possibilities can change. New York remained part of the conversation around James, but Philadelphia’s offer ultimately turned the speculation into a different chapter for both the player and the Knicks.

The timing makes Smith’s confession more revealing

Smith’s comments came after the outcome had already settled, giving him room to explain what he would have done under a different postseason result. His willingness to admit he would have begged James to join the Knicks highlighted how strongly he valued the Knicks’ championship pursuit.

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James’ own explanation makes the story more significant. His remarks established that New York was not merely a media-created destination, while Smith’s comments showed that the idea had support from one of the most prominent Knicks voices in sports media.

The two developments stopped short of producing a partnership, but they connected separate sides of the same offseason story. James wanted the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden; Smith wanted the Knicks to pursue him if necessary; and New York ultimately eliminated the need for the move by winning the championship.

TL;DR

• Stephen A. Smith said he was prepared to publicly beg LeBron James to join the Knicks if New York had failed to win the 2026 championship.

• James later confirmed that he had envisioned finishing his career at Madison Square Garden before changing course following the Knicks’ title win.

• New York defeated San Antonio 4-1, with Jalen Brunson winning Finals MVP and ending the franchise’s 53-year championship drought.

• James ultimately signed with Philadelphia, making the Knicks scenario a notable what-if from the 2026 offseason.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.