JAMES HAD HIS PHIL
LeBron says he was knocking Jax, not Ntilikina, over draft
LeBron James wants to make one thing perfectly clear: He didn’t intend to take a shot at Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina over the weekend. No, his aim was much higher. James said on Monday that his criticism of the Knicks for not drafting Dennis Smith Jr. – and instead taking Ntilikina – with the eighth pick of this summer’s NBA draft was solely directed at his former New York nemesis, recently fired team president Phil Jackson.
“Oh yeah, it was definitely a shot at (Phil), that’s for sure,” James said before the Cavaliers’ 104-101 comeback win over the Knicks.
Following Cleveland’s previous game against Dallas, LeBron had stated that Smith – the former N.C. State point guard who was selected one pick later by the Mavericks —“should have been a Knick.” Those words prompted veteran big man Enes Kanter and other Knick players to jump to Ntilikina’s defense after practice on Sunday, and again during a firstquarter scuffle between the two players on Monday night.
“I wasn’t throwing shade at Frank at all. For people that got their pants in bunches and things of that nature here in New York, looking for any controversy,” James said. “I was basically stating what I saw in Dennis Smith and what I saw from him coming out and watching the draft. I thought that he would be a great fit here with (Kristaps) Porzingis.
“And that’s not saying that Frank won’t be a great fit…It’s not you (crapping) on the next guy. It’s just that you’re stating what you see.”
Jackson, of course, had been critical of James during his time with the Knicks, particularly offending the four-time NBA MVP by referring to LeBron’s business partners as his “posse.”
Otherwise, James stressed he currently has “no problem” with the Knicks’ organization.
“Nah, I don’t. Phil was just a small piece of it. Well, he was a big piece of it, actually. But I don’t have no problem with the Knicks’ organization,” LeBron said. “I wasn’t here. I don’t know the insights and everything.
“But I’m a fan of the game, as well, and it’s great when the Knicks and the Celtics and the Lakers are great in our league all at the same time. That’s best for our league. But I have no wrongdoings for the Knicks organization. We all know how they handled the Carmelo (Anthony) situation. I’m not a fan of Phil Jackson, though. I think you guys already know that. But let’s not…that’s the past. Phil’s not even here anymore.”
LeBron added one more parting shot at the Zen Master while complimenting the Knicks’ improved play after the game.
“They’re playing good basketball,” James said. “I think Jeff, the coach, Jeff Hornacek is finally, with the release of the old fella, he’s finally allowed to implement what he wants to do on the team and he’s showing it’s very effective.”