You’ll have to wait for answers, and we’re not talking about who gets taken with the fourth pick in tonight’s NBA Draft.
You’ll have to wait until next fall.
That’s when 6-foot-7 LeBron James, wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, and 6-7 Carmelo Anthony, donning a Denver Nuggets jersey, will look each other in the eye and begin to answer the question everyone’s been asking for a year: Who’s better?
We know the Cavs will make James the No. 1 pick at the Garden tonight. After Detroit takes 7-foot-1 Serbian center Darko Milicic with the second pick, Denver will tab Anthony.
James was the nation’s best high school player. He led Akron, Ohio’s, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to the prep national championship. Anthony was the nation’s best college freshman. He led Syracuse to the NCAA championship.
“People keep asking that question,” Anthony told The Post last night. “Carmelo-LeBron, Carmelo-LeBron, everyone wants to know.”
Knowing how competitive the two are, you can bet James and Anthony each believe he is the superior player. Both have avoided directly answering the question, but Anthony has noted on occasion that his success has come against college players whereas James’ success came in the prep ranks.
“I would say he’s going to be the No. 1 pick in the draft,” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t say that he will be the best player in the draft. This draft has got a lot of good players in it, including LeBron. So I wouldn’t say that he’s the best player. That would be an insult to me and to the other players in the draft also.”
King James, your response?
“Don’t make me answer that question,” James said as he broke into laughter. “Carmelo, I don’t know how to answer that question.”
Anthony is doing everything he can to be ready for the NBA. He’s hired two trainers, one to work with him when he’s on the East Coast and one when he’s in Denver. He consulted the NCAA and NBA before adding GNC Pro Performance supplements to his diet. He said he’s been in the gym every day and has done extensive work in the weight room.
Last night, his final one before a lifelong dream was fulfilled, Anthony and friends dined at Justin’s and took in the Big Apple. He’ll be in the Garden’s Theater tonight with his mother, Mary, waiting for David Stern to call his name.
“They say the NBA stands for ‘No Boys Allowed,’ ” Anthony said. “I truly believe that.”
Deep in his heart, Anthony believes he’s the best player in this draft. It’s not cockiness, rather confidence. James harbors the same thoughts. So what will happen when they go one-on-one in the man’s league?
“I’m going to try and score,” Anthony said. “That’s my job. It depends on how he tried to play me. If he backs off, then I’ll probably shoot. If he’s up on me, I’ll take it from there.”
And when King James has the ball?
“I know he’s not going to try to score,” Anthony said. “Everybody thinks that LeBron James is just a scoring machine. That’s not his strength. His strength is getting his teammates involved and passing the ball.”
Who’s better? We’ll have to wait.
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LENN ROBBINS’ MOCK DRAFT
The Lottery
1. Cavaliers – LeBron James, SF, 6-8, 240 – St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S., Akron, Ohio
2. Pistons – Darko Milicic, C, 7-1, 250 – Serbia
3. Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony, SF, 6-7, 233 – Syracuse
4. Raptors – Chris Bosh, PF, 6-11, 225 – Georgia Tech
5. Heat – Maciej Lampe, PF, 7-0, 255 – Spain
6. Clippers – T.J. Ford, PG, 5-10, 162 – Texas
7. Bulls – Dwyane Wade, SG, 6-4, 212 – Marquette
8. Bucks – Mickael Pietrus, SG, 6-6, 200 – France
9. KNICKS – Chris Kaman, C, 7-0, 252 – Central Michigan
10. Wizards – Kirk Hinrich, PG, 6-3, 186 – Kansas
11. Warriors – Leandro Barbosa, PG, 6-3, 176 – Brazil
12. Sonics – Michael Sweetney, PF, 6-8, 260 – Georgetown
13. Grizzlies – Jarvis Hayes, SF, 6-7, 220 – Georgia
The Rest
14. Seattle
15. Orlando
16. Boston
17. Phoenix
18. New Orleans
19. Utah
20. Boston
21. Atlanta
22. NETS
23. Portland
24. L.A. Lakers
25. Detroit
26. Minnesota
27. Memphis
28. San Antonio
29. Dallas
