By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — For New Yorkers who have staked their hopes for a revitalized New York Knicks on the acquisition of soon-to-be free agent LeBron James, zero hour is here.
“I’m saying it’s like 50-50 chance, with all the teams involved,” estimated Andre Rebuquiao, a 20-year-old film student from the Upper West Side, about the Knicks' chanses of landing James.
In addition to the Knicks, “King James” will meet with the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers after his free agency begins at midnight.
If he could attend the Knicks’ pitch meeting with James, Rebuquiao said he’d argue that New York City offered the best setting for competitive sports.
“It’s the biggest city for sports,” he said. “You play here, you’ve got the biggest pressure, the biggest competition, the biggest crowd, the biggest scrutiny. What better place to win a championship?”
But Bronx resident Floyd Sanders, 60, suggested James stick with Cleveland.
“Home took care of you, stay at home,” Sanders said.
However, James could learn something from running with the Knicks’ legends, according to Sanders. That, he argued, is a more compelling reason to come to New York than money.
“Put him with some old timers out there, and let him really get his game on,” Sanders said.” You could offer him $100 million a day, and it’s no good if you don’t have the experience to get out there and get busy.”
Harlemite James Washington disagreed, saying he did not think the current Knicks squad was a compelling reason for LeBron to come to the city.
“You actually think he’s coming to New York?” Washington said. “Who is he going to play with? Who is going to pass him the ball?”
