Why the Knicks don't need LeBron James
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1, 2026. Credit: Jim McIsaac
There was a time — well, many times — when Knicks fans could have crossed their fingers, said a little prayer and really, truly believed LeBron James was taking his talents to Madison Square Garden.
And maybe there is some sort of Pavlovian reflex that still rings in the deep recesses of the fan base, even with the chase for a long-awaited title satisfied — not by some superstar chase, but by trusting an unheralded, underrated, 6-2 second-round pick whose only unicorn skill set is working harder at his game than anyone else.
So when James opted to walk away from the Lakers, did you at least wonder for a moment, is now the time?
It isn’t.
It’s not just because he turns 42 during the upcoming season. It’s not just because the Knicks are pushing up against the edges of the second apron with their salary cap. It’s not a throwback to the days when Knicks president Leon Rose was James’ agent. It’s not even just because James, who has spoken lovingly of Madison Square Garden for decades, is about to embark on a farewell tour that already seems destined to mark a return to Cleveland or Miami — or even more likely, Golden State to play with his star pals, Steph Curry and Draymond Green in a last-ditch effort to recapture the magic they all had in their prime.
For the Knicks, the time has passed to add James to the mix. To be honest, they don’t need him.
He is still a player like no other. He is a physical marvel, able to perform at his age in a way that no one ever has. He still can dominate a game with size, strength and shooting. And he has a mental acumen that almost no player has ever touched in their prime.
And because of all that, he’s not a spare part on a team, not a bench piece to be trotted out as he moves from city to city for gifts and a last round of applause for a career that will be nearly impossible to match.
James is still a vital player. And the Knicks don’t need that. They won a championship this season with five starters as good as any in the league, but more importantly, five who are better than the sum of their parts. Could James be an upgrade on paper over Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges? Sure, he’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history and, even at the end of his career, he’s still an impact player. But the Knicks have been built to work together as a unit. Even multiple All-NBA standout Karl-Anthony Towns repeatedly talks about how his role has been to amplify Jalen Brunson. Brunson’s college teammates, Bridges and Hart, echo that sentiment, serving as complementary pieces.
The parting in Los Angeles is no accident. James led them to a title in the bubble in 2020, but that was the last time the Lakers reached the NBA Finals. The franchise has been handed over to Luka Doncic. While James still put up 23.3 points per game in nearly 38 minutes per game in the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder, the team was swept without Doncic.
Jeanie Buss issued a statement Tuesday morning, a goodbye with only kind words, noting: “LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”
James tweeted a reply equally magnanimous, “No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the [purple and gold heart emoijis] while trying to continue the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”
All true, and James deserves the farewell tour he wants. If it’s back to his home state in Cleveland, where it began for him, that seems like a fitting ending. If it’s Miami, where he took his talents before and where he would aim to return the franchise to prominence with Giannis Antetokounmpo, it would be understandable.
And maybe the likeliest scenario could be a super friends union with Golden State that echos the movie plot of the Morgan Freeman/Michael Caine/Alan Arkin vehicle “Going in Style” — old friends planning one final heist — and he gets a chance for a surprising title chase.
Maybe the Knicks’ biggest concern in this is that James takes his talents someplace in the Western Conference rather than strengthening one of their competitors in the East. But the work for the Knicks as free agency arrived Tuesday afternoon was on the fringes of the rotation. No need now to break up a group the rest of the league is chasing.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
