LeBron broke down exactly what changed in New York, and it had less to do with talent than most people think.
LeBron James spent Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York City taping a live episode of his Mind the Game podcast alongside Tyrese Haliburton, and the reigning champions dominated the conversation.
James walked through what separated the title-winning New York Knicks from the versions that kept falling short, and his answer centered on one specific change under first-year coach Mike Brown.
"I think they diversified their offensive portfolio," James said. "It was a lot of Jalen Brunson picks and rolls last year."
In his view, the old approach let defenses load up on Brunson and dare everyone else to beat them.
Brown's adjustment flipped that math by making Karl-Anthony Towns a hub at the elbow and the top of the key.
"I think what Mike Brown brought in was the little pinch post to get the ball to Karl-Anthony Towns in the pinch post area, or at the top of the key, and let him be in the hub," James said, adding that the ball still found Brunson late in possessions, but the offense no longer let defenses sit on a single action.
The Numbers Back Him Up
New York fell behind 2-1 against the Hawks in the opening round before ripping off three straight wins, then swept the 76ers and Cavaliers on the way to the Finals, where the Knicks beat the Spurs in five games for the franchise's first championship since 1973.
James pointed out that New York finished with the best point differential in NBA playoff history at 14.9 points per game, a number that stunned even him.
He also singled out a winner beyond the stars.
James called OG Anunoby the unsung hero of the entire run, ahead of glue guys like Jose Alvarado, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.
Anunoby had the play of the Finals when he tipped home the Game 4 winner after New York rallied from 29 points down.
The Awkward Part
James remains unsigned and is hunting for a title shot in his age-42 season after averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists last year.
His agent Rich Paul has already said James would be a Knick right now if New York had lost the Finals, and Paul has been working through a board of potential destinations while the rest of the league's business waits on the decision.
Instead, the champs have mostly run it back, losing only Mitchell Robinson to Boston while Brunson settles into his role as captain of a group with every starter under contract, including Towns as the offensive hub James admired so much.
Whichever roster James picks will be built specifically to beat the team he just spent an afternoon praising.
