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Fansided

Knicks: Dolan missed golden opportunity to start recruiting a superstar at Game 4

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan sits courtside during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 2, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan sits courtside during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 2, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /
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Rumors were swirling around on Saturday after current Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard was sitting courtside at Barclays Center for Game 4 of Nets-Sixers. That only fueled the talk about Lillard going to Brooklyn, but Chris Haynes halted those rumors when he reported that Dame was also hoping to sit courtside on Sunday to watch the New York Knicks and Cavaliers.

Haynes said that Lillard’s reason for being in NYC was because he’s working on a few projects and he’ll have a new album dropping in May. He added that Lillard was also sitting courtside because he’s “good friends” with Mikal Bridges, the Nets’ newest star.

If you can believe it, Haynes said that it was the first time that Lillard attended an NBA game as a fan. Some Brooklyn fans may use that as proof that Dame wants to be traded to the Nets, but it seems as if he was legitimately just wanting to enjoy playoff basketball while in New York. That can be proven by Haynes saying that Lillard also tried to get courtside seats to the Knicks-Cavaliers game, but that New York “couldn’t accommodate him.”

The Nets were able to give Lillard the seat that he wanted but the Knicks couldn’t do the same.

Damian Lillard couldn’t get MSG courtside seat to watch Knicks-Cavaliers

There’s no debating whether or not the Garden is a better place to watch a playoff game than Barclays, so it isn’t exactly surprising that Damian Lillard couldn’t get the seat that he wanted in a jam-packed MSG. However, what is surprising is that the Knicks couldn’t do more to accommodate one of the best points guards in the league who could be on the move this summer.

You can make a solid argument that New York doesn’t need to pursue Lillard, but still, it would’ve been a nice gesture to help him get a courtside seat. If Dame does become available via trade during the offseason, the Knicks will be linked to him solely because of their assets. Even if the front office isn’t interested in sending the farm to Portland for Lillard, it wouldn’t have hurt to get him to MSG for a playoff game. We’re looking at you, Mr. Dolan.

If the Knicks-Cavaliers series ends up coming back to New York for Game 6 on Friday (and hopefully it doesn’t), perhaps Dame will be in attendance for that game if he’s still in the city. Considering that he has been to only one game as a fan and it was in Brooklyn, Lillard at the least deserves to take in one of the best playoff atmospheres in all of basketball.

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