Already in the run-up to the New York Knicks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Enes Kanter and LeBron James had already exchanged blows. That was the way things continued on the day of the match.
At the weekend James had claimed that the Knicks in the Draft should have pulled Dennis Smith (Mavericks), which was criticized by the team and Kanter in particular for their rookie Frank Ntilikina. Kanter had therefore already attacked James on Sunday.
On Monday, during the shootaround of his team, he said that he had nothing against Ntilikina and that his statement was a swipe on former Knicks president Phil Jackson, with whom he has been at war for a long time, and he said about Kanter:”He always has something to say…”. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
In the game itself, the two taps also got stuck together after James had puffed up in front of Ntilikina after an alley op. Both James and Kanter received technicals.
Kanter said:”You can call yourself’ King’ or whatever, but that’s not how you deal with a rookie. If you want to hit on someone, do it on grown-ups. I’d die for my Teammates.”
The Turk admitted that the defeat, including a lush comeback, was tough, but at least they sold well “I don’t care who you are and whether you call yourself King, Queen or Princess. We’ll fight, no one here will just take us by surprise. We’ll get better,”said Kanter.
James replied to this comment a little later:”Well, I’m the king, my wife is the queen and my daughter is the princess, so we have all of it in the family” LeBron was with 23 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds once again matchwinner of his team.
James also had some praise for the Knicks – and another side kick on Jackson – but James also had a few words of praise:”They play good basketball,”said James,”I think Jeff Hornacek finally has the opportunity to bring in his ideas since the old guy was dismissed.”