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MIAMI — If the goal of LeBron James amid his free-agency waiting game was to capture an entire league’s attention, then mission accomplished.
For the Miami Heat, it is familiar ground, as they await another potential franchise-altering Decision (with LeBron it always is upper-case D).
For Heat prime addition Giannis Antetokounmpo it could create a moment as meaningful as his Thursday embrace at Kaseya Center.
And for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, it is about delivering a schedule to his network broadcast partners, partners salivating at the possibility of Giannis and LeBron featured against a South Florida backdrop.
“Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule,” Silver said during an appearance at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York. “So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision.
“And, but the direct answer is, I have no inside information.”
Which seemingly few do, with a Heat reunion or a return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers standing among the most likely outcomes.
For his part, Antetokounmpo seemingly would be more than willing to cede some of the spotlight.
Even as he, too, is unsure of where LeBron is headed after cutting ties with the Los Angeles Lakers last month.
“If there was a scenario for that to happen, I would be very, very excited,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN. “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game, if not the best. I would be able to learn so much from him.
“Obviously, he brings such a championship experience to the team right from Day One. I think he’s still one of the best players, if not top 25. He has to be up there. You don’t see signs of him slowing down at all. You saw in the playoffs how effective and good he was for the Lakers.”
All as Antetokounmpo, Silver and the Heat live out the waiting game,
“I’m just like everybody else. We don’t have all the information,” Antetokounmpo said. “All the information is in LeBron James’ hands and his family’s hands, and he’s going to make the best decision for him. The history has shown that he’s always made good decisions for his career.
“I hope, if he thinks that Miami Heat is a good decision for him, I would love for him to be here.”
With a decision in the Heat’s favor, Silver would get a marketing vehicle similar to what the Heat offered from 2010 to 2014 with their Big Three of LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
In fact, a juicy possibility could be an opening night of LeBron, Giannis and the Heat in New York for the night the New York Knicks receiving their championship rings.
“There’s certain stories that I prefer over others, and even on his behalf,” Silver said. “But he’s going to be 42 this fall. It’s amazing what he’s done for the sport, for the league, and he deserves exactly what – the opportunities that were presented to him to be able to make his own decision on what’s best for him and his family. So I completely respect that.
“But, as I said, I think on behalf of the league, I think there are certain storylines that may be better than others. But I don’t want to prejudge it. Let’s see what he does.”
Across a pair of appearances Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York there was no discernable tipping of the hand.
“There’s a lot of things that’s, people are like, ‘Hurry up and make a ******* decision, Bron.’ It’s like, OK, it’s not just about the team,” James said at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit.
“There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now on what not only best fit me as a player, what best fit me as a person, what best fit me as a, what, my happiness, and also with my family as well.”
So, soon?
“So there’s a lot of, I will, won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said, “but the family portion is huge for me.
“I mean, this is the third time I have been a free agent. Obviously, in ’10, when I made a decision to go to Miami, I had my reasons. When I went back to Cleveland in ’14, I had my reasons. So, actually, this will be the fourth. And then when I went to L.A. eight years ago, I had my reasons.”
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For the Miami Heat, it is familiar ground, as they await another potential franchise-altering Decision (with LeBron it always is upper-case D).
For Heat prime addition Giannis Antetokounmpo it could create a moment as meaningful as his Thursday embrace at Kaseya Center.
And for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, it is about delivering a schedule to his network broadcast partners, partners salivating at the possibility of Giannis and LeBron featured against a South Florida backdrop.
“Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule,” Silver said during an appearance at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York. “So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision.
“And, but the direct answer is, I have no inside information.”
Which seemingly few do, with a Heat reunion or a return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers standing among the most likely outcomes.
For his part, Antetokounmpo seemingly would be more than willing to cede some of the spotlight.
Even as he, too, is unsure of where LeBron is headed after cutting ties with the Los Angeles Lakers last month.
“If there was a scenario for that to happen, I would be very, very excited,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN. “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game, if not the best. I would be able to learn so much from him.
“Obviously, he brings such a championship experience to the team right from Day One. I think he’s still one of the best players, if not top 25. He has to be up there. You don’t see signs of him slowing down at all. You saw in the playoffs how effective and good he was for the Lakers.”
All as Antetokounmpo, Silver and the Heat live out the waiting game,
“I’m just like everybody else. We don’t have all the information,” Antetokounmpo said. “All the information is in LeBron James’ hands and his family’s hands, and he’s going to make the best decision for him. The history has shown that he’s always made good decisions for his career.
“I hope, if he thinks that Miami Heat is a good decision for him, I would love for him to be here.”
With a decision in the Heat’s favor, Silver would get a marketing vehicle similar to what the Heat offered from 2010 to 2014 with their Big Three of LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
In fact, a juicy possibility could be an opening night of LeBron, Giannis and the Heat in New York for the night the New York Knicks receiving their championship rings.
“There’s certain stories that I prefer over others, and even on his behalf,” Silver said. “But he’s going to be 42 this fall. It’s amazing what he’s done for the sport, for the league, and he deserves exactly what – the opportunities that were presented to him to be able to make his own decision on what’s best for him and his family. So I completely respect that.
“But, as I said, I think on behalf of the league, I think there are certain storylines that may be better than others. But I don’t want to prejudge it. Let’s see what he does.”
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Across a pair of appearances Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York there was no discernable tipping of the hand.
“There’s a lot of things that’s, people are like, ‘Hurry up and make a ******* decision, Bron.’ It’s like, OK, it’s not just about the team,” James said at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit.
“There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now on what not only best fit me as a player, what best fit me as a person, what best fit me as a, what, my happiness, and also with my family as well.”
So, soon?
“So there’s a lot of, I will, won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said, “but the family portion is huge for me.
“I mean, this is the third time I have been a free agent. Obviously, in ’10, when I made a decision to go to Miami, I had my reasons. When I went back to Cleveland in ’14, I had my reasons. So, actually, this will be the fourth. And then when I went to L.A. eight years ago, I had my reasons.”
Continue reading...
