Lakers F LeBron James may have made some Knicks fans cry when he told his long-time friend and former teammate Dwyane Wade, "It was either here or The Garden" after their final meeting on Monday night.
Well, Knicks head coach David Fizdale is hoping not to make his fans cry any longer over players the team could land in New York.
James is a prime example of NBA players that love playing at Madison Square Garden, but didn't see it as a fit at the time of his free agency. But, with such a loaded class in 2019 -- Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard to just name a few -- Fizdale wants to change that trend.
"I can't speak for him, but I just know this place attracted me," Fizdale told The Post's Marc Berman about James' comments "I wanted to be a part of the organization and being in the mecca and the Garden. That meant a lot to me in my decision. I know there's players out there that are gonna be a part of this and be in New York."
James and Fizdale's love for The Garden's atmosphere and rich history in the game of basketball seems to be a universal love in the NBA.
"I think every player I've coached has always walked into Madison Square Garden with this I-have-to-perform-tonight attitude," Fizdale continued. "I have to put on a show. That's across the league. I think the Lakers face that out there, too. That's what makes those places special. The history of those places. The fan bases of those places."
And if you don't believe Fizdale, ask one of his players in C Enes Kanter, who knows what it's like to be a Knick and on the away bench over his young career. Playing with the Thunder, Kanter revealed to the media that he, along with his former teammates, used to make sure they looked their best on top of playing their best when they came to the Big Apple.
After all, the "whole word" is watching when you go to MSG.
"Every team I played for, we had a group chat," Kanter explained. "'The haircut guys coming [to the hotel] - it's this much dollars if you want a haircut before the game.' It's the Garden. It's New York. Everybody got new kicks. Everybody looking fresh. Because it's the Garden, man - in front of the whole world."
And it is that mentality the Knicks and Fizdale are will hope to take advantage of this offseason.