LeBron James and Dwyane Wade squared off in what will likely be their final meeting against one another with Wade set to retire, and the Los Angeles Lakers star managed to drive New York Knicks fans insane while chatting on the court with his close friend and former teammate after the game.
LeBron guarded Wade on the final possession with the Lakers leading 108-105, and he forced the Miami Heat guard into a tough 3-point attempt that was off the mark. Wade later told James he appreciates him choosing the Lakers so their final matchup against one another could be at the Staples Center, and LeBron’s response was torture for Knicks fans.
HOLD UP a second…
After Wade says “I appreciate you letting it end here,”
LeBron says “it was either here or at the Garden.”
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME @nyknicks!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/yJFzthxgJO
— . (@WorldWideWob) December 11, 2018
Many interpreted that as LeBron saying his latest free agency decision came down to the Lakers and Knicks. James later revealed some details of the conversation while speaking with reporters.
“I said, ‘What’s the odds that our last game would be in an environment like this?’ He was like, ‘Thank you for coming here because our last meeting is in Staples Center,'” LeBron recalled. “I said, ‘There’s only two places that could have ended it: It’s here and Madison Square Garden.’ And I felt like here is even more (appropriate) because of the star power.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has followed LeBron’s career as close as any reporter, notes that L.A. was always the most likely destination for the four-time NBA MVP, and the Knicks were taken out of contention with how Phil Jackson treated Carmelo Anthony. James may have just been referring to the unique environments only the Staples Center and Madison Square Garden can provide, but it was still enough for Knicks fans to wonder what could have been.
With the tribute video he was honored with before the game, you can’t blame Wade for feeling like the Staples Center was the perfect venue for his final battle against LeBron.
