"I was... Gonna Beg LeBron James to Come to New York": Stephen A. Smith Gets Brutally Honest on National TV

When one of the most passionate fanbases in all of sports endures a five-decade trophy drought, its restlessness knows no bounds. The New York Knicks' supporters were desperate for a trophy, as they continued to support their side through thick and thin. And amid the crisis, there was one popular figure who was almost thinking of pleading with the King to come rescue them.

Stephen A. Smith, a known Knicks fan, admitted that he was thinking of asking LeBron James to suit up in blue and orange.

"I have a confession to make on national television. This is how desperate as a New York Knicks fan I was getting," Smith said on ESPN. "If the New York Knicks had not gone to the NBA Finals, I was gonna come here on national TV and beg LeBron James to come to New York."

He admitted that it would have been the last thing he wanted to do, but he was ready to go there just to help his team make the Finals. Insider Brian Windhorst, on the show, asked him how he thought it would have gone, to which Smith honestly said it likely would not have worked.

They have had public rifts multiple times over the years, with Smith, an outspoken critic of the four-time NBA champion, even saying in an interview last year, "There's no situation, there's no relationship. He doesn't like me, and I don't like him."

A lot of tension between them came down to Smith's comments on James' son, Bronny, and how he was being set up for failure by his father, by being on the same team and sharing the same stage.

So, a request to come bail the Knicks out could have led to an awkward moment between the two personalities. Thankfully, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the rest of the Knicks made sure Smith wouldn't have to do that.

They breezed through the playoffs, winning 13 straight games at one point and defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals to end a 53-year wait for a championship.

The Knicks, before winning the 2026 NBA Championship, were being touted as a possible destination for more than one big-name star. Yes, LeBron James' name had briefly been linked to New York, even though the likelihood of that happening was low.

Marc Stein had stated that the Knicks could not be "ruled out as a potential landing spot for LeBron James when he hits free agency," on The Stein Line.

All Eyes Are on LeBron James This Summer

There are only a few uncertainties this summer regarding the NBA's biggest names. Some of that is on Giannis Antetokounmpo, but at least he has a clearer path.

Everyone knows he's going to get traded, and the teams that have a chance to win that sweepstakes have been narrowed down to two: the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

The same level of certainty can't be said for LeBron James. Currently, the four-time NBA Champion is enjoying his vacation. While he's taking a break, he's also mulling retirement.

No one, except James and those close to him, can say with certainty whether he'll come back and keep playing. If he decides to continue his career, a new question arises: where?

Some reports say that he has kept in touch with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, staying in touch does not equate to signing a contract.

James wants to stay in the loop on what the Lakers are doing before committing to re-signing with the franchise. If he doesn't like what he sees, he can either retire or choose to play elsewhere.

Several teams are reportedly interested in securing his services, but only a few have a realistic chance of actually signing him. The Knicks, now that they have won a championship, do not appear to be one of them.

While the NBA world waits for that decision, everyone continues to hold their breath in anticipation.