LeBron James started a debate that's blown up into an all-out feud with New York Knicks center Enes Kanter. The drama led to an exciting game in Madison Square Garden, where the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 23 point deficit to beat the Knicks 104-101, adding more fuel to the fire.
The quarrel started when James suggested the Knicks made a big mistake by drafting point guard Frank Ntilikina, rather than current Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. "He should be a Knick. That's going to make some headlines, but he should be a Knick. Dallas is definitely, I know they're excited that he didn't go there," LeBron said, referring to Smith Jr. after a game against the Mavericks.
The Knicks didn't take kindly to these comments, defending their 19-year-old rookie. He said:
"I don't care who, I just cannot let anyone disrespect my family like that, because when I play for an organization, I see my teammates and that organization as like a family. And it doesn't matter if it's LeBron or whoever it is, I cannot just let him disrespect him like that. The coaches, the GMs, the president, this organization knows what they're doing. ... I mean, come on. That's a rookie. You cannot just say anything like that about him."James would go on to elaborate that the comments were intended as an insult to Phil Jackson, not Ntilikina. In response to Kanter, the Cavaliers forward said:
I found these comments especially provoking: "[he's] always got something to say. I don't know what's wrong with him."LeBron James: “I wasn’t throwing shade at Frank at all for people that got their pants in a bunch.” He added that he was clarifying for “people who just live in the box and for Enes Kanter who’s always got something to say. He says, I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 13, 2017
The beef was already getting heated, but then the Knicks hosted the Cavaliers on Monday night.
During the game, James bumped into Knicks rookie Ntilikina, who showed he wouldn't take the situation passively by shoving back. Kanter was quick to rush to his teammates defense, and the two got in each other's faces before being separated.
The Knicks led by as many as 23 in Madison Square Garden, but the Cavaliers stormed back in the fourth quarter behind 18 points from Kyle Korver. The game had a dramatic finish, with James drilling a game-winning three-pointer over Kristaps Porzingis.
For a November game between the Cavaliers and Knicks, you really can't ask for more drama. But James and Kanter didn't stop chirping after the game.
"What do you call yourself, King, Queen, Princess...we're going to fight." Kanter said, not holding back at all. James responded playfully but Kanter's disdain for James seems to be growing even larger.Two of the funniest notifications from @BleacherReport 😂😂 Enes Kanter and LeBron James going at it after #Cavaliers win tonight. pic.twitter.com/k6GZCYtcbN— Sak Sports Blog (@SakSports) November 14, 2017
Finally, James took to Instagram to deliver his final insult (for now) to the Knicks, calling himself the King of New York.
"You're welcome..[King] of NY #myfavoriteplayground #striveforgreatness"
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