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LeBron James' 'Decision' reimagined: What if LBJ chose to be King of New York and signed with Knicks in 2010? - CBS Sports
Jul 08, 2020 2 mins, 18 secs

In honor of the 10th anniversary of "The Decision," CBS Sports is reexamining LeBron James' 2010 decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat by wondering what might have happened had James signed elsewhere.

In today's edition, James fulfills the prophecy that followed him for the first seven years of his career and signs with the New York Knicks.

The idea of being the player that revives the Knicks appeals to LeBron, but so too do the financial advantages of playing in the Big Apple.

"I'm taking my talents to Broadway and joining the New York Knicks.".

Almost immediately after "The Decision," Dwyane Wade announces that he will be joining James with the Knicks.

The then-New Jersey Nets eagerly scoop up Amar'e Stoudemire, who, in this scenario, the Knicks choose not to pursue because of the hints LeBron and Wade dropped about their interest in teaming up. .

Carmelo Anthony informs the Denver Nuggets that he would like to be traded to the Knicks alongside James and Wade, and that he will depart in free agency if his wish is not granted.

The Knicks get Anthony.

In this scenario, the Knicks keep Timofey Mozgov, who slots in as their starting center.

James, playing in Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced system alongside two elite scorers, becomes the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double.

The Knicks win their Eastern Conference finals showdown, but lose to the Dallas Mavericks as James, apparently struggling with the weight of becoming the NBA's preeminent villain, falls short in the NBA Finals.

The trio of James, Wade and Anthony, while preposterously talented, is fairly redundant.

In the same scenario for these Knicks, D'Antoni leaves a traditional center (Mozgov) on the floor, which allows Gregg Popovich to keep Tim Duncan in the game, and when LeBron misses the game-tying 3-pointer, Duncan comes down with the rebound to secure San Antonio's championship.

A year later, The Spurs defeat the Knicks again, giving Duncan six total championships, three of which have come over LeBron. .

Two years later, James blocks Andre Iguodala, Kyrie Irving hits the game-winner, and the 52-year Cleveland drought ends with the first Cavaliers championship.

Losing out on James, Wade and Bosh forces the Heat into a rebuild.

As impossible as that is to believe, remember that the Heat had only one player under contract when they actually signed their three stars, and that was Mario Chalmers.

That would be the Thunder, who, in reality, offered James Harden to the Washington Wizards for him.

That title cements Harden as the greatest player in Heat history. 

To a normal player, one New York title is worth more than two Miami titles, and five consecutive MVP awards, as he would have won in this scenario, is unparalleled in league history

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