Even LeBron James is happy for the Knicks.
After the Knicks secured their eighth straight win over the Hawks on Wednesday night, James, the self-dubbed “King of New York,” tweeted: “And the league is simply better off when the Knicks are winning.”
Knicks fans — who celebrated in Penn Plaza following the 137-127 overtime win — agreed and saw an opportunity to recruit James to New York.
Some social media users went as far as sharing photos of a photoshopped James in a Knicks uniform.
“Does this mean LeBron is coming to New York?,” one fan tweeted, while another added, “LeBron knows he wants to come to NY.”
Despite the hype around James’ tweet, the 35-year-old isn’t a free agent again until 2023 and is currently chasing back-to-back championships with the Lakers.
The Knicks’ nail-biting win on Wednesday solidified their longest winning streak since 2014, when Carmelo Anthony was the face of the franchise.
Julius Randle has since filled those shoes, giving the fourth-seeded Knicks playoffs hopes for the first time since 2013.
It’s no secret that Randle’s standout season has lifted the Knicks to new heights, averaging 30 points per game during the winning streak.
LeBron James playing against the Knicks at the Garden on Jan. 22, 2020. N.Y. Post: Charles WenzelbergRandle’s impact on the hardwood is just one piece of the Knicks’ newfound success.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has played a pivotal role in the team’s upbeat culture and camaraderie — both on and off the court.
RJ Barrett, whose shooting has vastly improved, made a public PSA after Wednesday’s game, explaining why Thibodeau “better be in the running” for NBA Coach of the Year.
“We all believe in Thibs,” Barrett said.
“Thibs has been doing a tremendous job turning everything around. The way he has us playing hard every single night, and we’re getting wins. Him to the whole staff, night in and night out, everyday working hard, just pushing and pushing. This is a great feeling. I’m sure the fans see how hard we’re working and having them in the Garden has been great overall,” he continued.
“The whole Knicks organization has just been great.”
If the Knicks can hold onto the No. 4 seed in the East, they’ll secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which begin on May 18 — following the play-in tournament starting on May 16.
