The full transcript of the LeBron James interview with Larry King was released yesterday and continued to paint a dismal picture regarding the Knicks’ chances on July 1.
During the hour-long interview, the Knicks weren’t mentioned directly one time. The closest King and King James got to the Knicks was a query about Mayor Bloomberg’s eagerness to have him play in New York City.
But Bloomberg’s plea was trumped by James mentioning President Obama’s public recruiting. Obama wants him in Chicago and James said the president’s wish “may carry weight.”
“The mayor of New York is — he’s great,” James said in the interview taped Tuesday at his home in Akron, Ohio, that will be aired tomorrow night. “He’s done some great things. But it is humbling, and not just from the mayor of New York, but you had a president saying . . . go to Chicago and you have other cities and other people wanting you to be a part of their city, wanting you to be part of their franchise. It’s very humbling.”
In further reaches of the transcript, James talked of the Bulls being his favorite team growing up, Michael Jordan as his “inspiration,” the Cavaliers being the sentimental favorite and pumped up the Clippers as having “some really nice, solid pieces that if they add a free agent here or a free agent there, it could be a really good team.”
In what could be a reference to the Knicks, who’ve endured nine straight losing seasons and a 61-103 record under Mike D’Antoni the last two, James said he didn’t want to join a team incapable of winning several titles.
To wit this noteworthy exchange:
King: “So can we say it will not be a poor team, a team of players who you do not calculate would be there to win championships, because you can’t play forever?”
James: “No, I cannot play forever. And that is absolutely right. But the team that I go to will have an opportunity to win championships in multiple years and not just because of LeBron James.”
King: “So it has to be a good team?”
James: “Absolutely.”
James added, “My ultimate goal is winning championships and I understand that me going down as one of the greats will not happen until I win a championship. So for me, the team that I decided to go toward ultimately has the best chance for me to win a championship not one year, but multiple years.”
In the lone bright moment for Knick fans, James acknowledged he and another star joining a team could make the difference, but then mentioned Cleveland again. The Knicks have enough cap room for two max contracts and they hope to lure James and Chris Bosh as Plan A. However, the Cavaliers could also attempt to get Bosh in a sign-and-trade with Toronto.
“If you put me and Bosh on the same team, if you put me and Dwayne Wade on the same team or me and Joe Johnson or — or a lot of these guys, a lot of teams would be much better,” James said. “The Cavs would be much better.”
Indeed, the crux of the interview makes it appear James wants to see if he can work it out in Cleveland, which lost in the second round to Boston, fueling speculation King James needs a change after going seven title-less seasons.
In the initial excerpt released, James stated the Cavs had the “edge” and later branded them as sentimental favorites.
“Oh absolutely, and it’s a Cleveland-Akron team, because I grew up in Akron,” James said. “Akron is less than 30 miles south of Cleveland. So, absolutely. My whole family is here, [where] I played high school basketball, where I grew up, in the projects, a lot of things mean home for me here. And it’s not just about the basketball court.”
James denied he would aim to pick his next coach.
“I’m not one to go into the off year and say this is who I want my coach to be,” he said. “Now, there are some coaches, if I had an opportunity to play for, I would be delighted. But I’m not as far as picking a coach.”
One of the Cavaliers’ most famous fans is hoping the way to James’ heart is through his stomach.
Cleveland native Michael Symon, one of Food Network’s Iron Chefs, has offered to go to James’ house once a month and cook a meal for the MVP’s family and friends if he re-signs with the Cavaliers. Symon posted a letter to James on his Facebook page. Symon thanked James for all he has done for the city and urged him to follow his heart when making his decision.