New York Knicks center Enes Kanter has been publicly recruiting LeBron James. That process continued following Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks have spent the past 15 years thinking of ways to bring LeBron James to The Mecca. It’s been a tired and unrewarding process that’s been emblematic of the franchise’s unwavering pursuit of the easy fix.
While the current front office regime is committed to more of a gradual rebuild, it appears as though a key player is keeping a close eye on James’ career path.
James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently battling the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals. James will be an unrestricted free agent in July, however, and Cleveland’s 0-3 hole is strengthening the belief that he could sign elsewhere.
Following Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, a tweet that James sent out in January of 2013 was unearthed.
It's time for a new look! Over this one.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 12, 2013
The player who found, retweeted, and responded to that tweet just so happened to be Knicks center Enes Kanter.
💯 brother, I agree https://t.co/oUoW3sFtaC
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 7, 2018
Despite the animosity that seemingly existed between them during the 2017-18 season, Kanter continues to recruit James to the Knicks.
For those who missed it, Kanter and James engaged in a miniature rivalry over comments that the four-time MVP inadvertently made about Frank Ntilikina. James praised Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. by taking a parting shot at Phil Jackson for not selecting him at No. 8 overall.
Kanter responded by claiming that the Knicks love who they selected, which spurned one of the most bizarre storylines of the 2017-18 regular season.
James attempted to punk Ntilikina during a game that immediately followed the social media exchange, which resulted in he and Kanter coming nose-to-nose.
In the months that have followed, however, Kanter has seemingly warmed up to James. That was displayed by the Knicks center telling the four-time NBA MVP to prove that he’s what he claims to be: The King of New York.
New York would need to clear considerable cap space in order to make that happen, but it’s a challenge that many fans have echoed.
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It’s unlikely that Enes Kanter’s recruiting will actually bring LeBron James to the New York Knicks, but it’s certainly entertaining to watch him try.