How Knicks' NBA title actually crushed their chances of getting LeBron James

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The New York Knicks hadn't won an NBA championship in 53 years.

Not a single person in NYC will trade this title for anything, even LeBron James.

But there is a link between the championship and James.

LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, recently spoke about the idea of the King joining the Knicks. And the chances would've been different if a different team had won the championship.

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Did Knicks' title hurt chances of getting LeBron?​

Instead of King James arriving at Madison Square Garden as a potential savior, he'd be hopping onto a team that just won a title.

So yeah, it changed things a lot.

“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board," Paul said recently. "He’d be going to the Knicks… Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey man, there’s no issue with me.’"

Paul did affirm that the Knicks have "checked in" on James since free agency began.

But man, that's a crazy sentiment. Essentially, it suggests that a month ago, LeBron may have planned on going to the Knicks, and then they won the title, and the board opened up.

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Now, no one is sure what LeBron is going to do.

The 76ers, Cavaliers, Warriors and Heat all seem to be in play. Maybe the Knicks still are, too?

It often seemed like James may end up in a Knicks jersey before his career was over. Instead, New York might have to be happy with its championship -- an emotion they'll probably be able to manage.

More NBA news:​

• Why the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves
• How Heat can unite Giannis with his brothers
• Knicks had a superstar opportunity but didn't go for it
• Giannis legacy with the Bucks remains intact
• Quentin Grimes proves where Jonathan Kuminga went wrong

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