Mike Brown sensed exactly what the Madison Square Garden crowd wanted. With 10 seconds left in a 14-point game in March 2008, the Cleveland Cavaliers coach sent in a substitution so his starter could receive a standing ovation from New York Knicks fans. That starter was a 23-year-old LeBron James, who had just posted a 50-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist performance. "I've dreamed about playing well in this building," James said afterward. "To get a standing ovation at the best basketball arena in the world, it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
The moment left a lasting impression on the Knicks. Within days, team president Donnie Walsh hired Mike D'Antoni as coach, and New York traded Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph to clear cap room for James, 19 months before he was set to hit free agency. James ultimately chose to sign elsewhere. In November 2008, he praised D'Antoni as "an offensive mastermind," a comment that surprised Cleveland's front office.
James's history at MSG remains significant. Including the playoffs, he is 28-11 at the Garden with averages of 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game. He has recorded two 50-point games and 12 30-plus-point games there. In 2015 he said, "I wish I could play 82 games a year here. Because it's the mecca of basketball."
The Knicks' championship celebration, which included ring presentations and a banner unveiling, was set to take place when James returned as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Last month, James told ESPN he had once envisioned finishing his career at the Garden, though he acknowledged that goal was no longer realistic after the Knicks beat San Antonio.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing