LeBron comes to New York with no regrets

A young LeBron James had always dreamed of playing at Madison Square Garden. An older LeBron James decided not to.

"Growing up as a kid everybody always wanted an opportunity to play here in the Garden," James said during a press conference before Friday night's game against the Knicks. "Not any basketball player growing up, college, high school, grade school, pro. Playing here is the mecca of basketball."

James returned to the Garden for the first time since the decision to join the Miami Heat over the Knicks and other teams over the summer. James dismissed suggestions that he decided against joining the Knicks because he couldn't handle the pressure of New York.

"There's not a spotlight I can't handle," he said. "There's not a situation I can't handle."

How he handles the reaction from the New York fans that feel jilted by James will be realized the instant James tosses his trademark talcum powder into the Garden air before the opening tip.

"For me, personally, it hasn't been a big deal," James said of returning to New York. "It can't get no worse than Dec. 2 when I returned to Cleveland. ... I think I am appreciated by my game. Every night I go into a building, people they boo me in certain cities. They boo me in all cities, except Miami, because they appreciate the way I play the game of basketball."

Had the Knicks had their way, James' highly-anticipated return to the Garden would have taken place two months ago on opening night. But once James opted for the beaches of Miami over the bright lights of Manhattan, his return was rescheduled from Oct. 30, the Knicks' home opener against Portland, to Friday night as a member of the Heat.

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Many believed the LeBron-to-New York rumors over the summer, including current teammate Dwyane Wade.

"Maybe when I first heard it, from everybody in New York that thought they had him here, I was like, 'OK, maybe. Maybe it's possible,' " Wade told reporters after the team's shootaround on Friday. "With the big stage, I know he likes the big stage, the big city. Of course, if you're a star in New York, you're a worldwide star, but after a while it was a lot of possibilities."

After his own meeting with the Knicks as a free agent in July, Wade said at the time that he was "intrigued" by the Knicks' presentation. On Friday, however, he suggested otherwise.

Said Wade: "I don't think they really wanted me here anyway."

James spoke highly of the Knicks during his pre-game press conference but ultimately decided Miami was a better fit.

"I think [the Knicks] have a lot of talent," James said. "They have some great players, they have some great pieces. The meeting I had with this franchise was great."

Asked if there was something he wanted to hear during his meeting with the Knicks over the summer that might have altered his decision, James replied, "It was just the message I got from Miami. The message I got from Miami was everything I needed to hear."

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With AP