Knicks' long

Release time：2024-06-03 16:40:13 Source：Earth Echo news portal

The long-rumored video produced by the New York Knicks in 2010 to entice LeBron James to sign in the Big Apple has finally surfaced, showing everyone from Donald Trump to Tony Soprano urging the NBA superstar to come to Madison Square Garden.

'The real winners of the world want to be here,' Trump said in the video, which was unearthed by podcaster Pablo Torre. 'They want to come to New York, whether it's Wall Street, whether it's fashion, no matter what it is, this is the place the real winners want to be.'

James was undoubtedly the biggest free agent in league history at the time, and with a bevy of teams in position to sign him, a string of NBA executives paid the Akron native a visit to make their pitches.

For years, the Knicks were rumored to have produced a video for the occasion utilizing the team's star-studded fan base as a marketing tool. Aside from Trump as well as Sopranos stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, there were appearances by Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, and since-disgraced Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein.

Ultimately James would choose Miami, where he would win two of his four NBA titles, but not for any lack of effort on the part of Knicks executives Donnie Walsh and Glen Grunwald.

LeBron James is seen on July 8, 2010 in Connecticut to announce where he'd be signing 

James Gandolfini reprised his role as Tony Soprano as part of the effort to recruit LeBron 

Edie Falco also got into the spirit by pretending to be looking for a new home for James 

The video begins with a short scene acted out by Gandolfini and Falco, who were happy to reprise their roles as Tony and Carmela Soprano, albeit in an alternate universe, where the mob boss has entered witness protection.

'Tony, I'm so glad we moved to New York,' Falco said in the clip. 'Life is so much better now.

'Yeah. Life's good here, Carm,' Gandolfini responds. 'Even if we are in the witness protection program. Now, we just got to find a place for your friend LeBron to live.

'What's he like?' she asks. 'He's a modern guy, but he respects tradition.'

Gandolfini stresses that James needs a big place because he will be 'entertaining a lot if people in New York.'

Ultimately he's presented with the image of Madison Square Garden, the Knicks home, and offers his immediate approval.

'Oh yeah,' Gandolfini said. 'Yeah, that that's it that's gonna be perfect.'

Donald Trump urges LeBron James to come to New York by telling him a 'real winner' would 

Harvey Weinstein also weighs in, telling LeBron James that his entourage is better off in NYC

Giuliani, a fixture at Yankee Stadium, reminded James about the city's sports history

Robert De Niro also contributed to the clip, which ultimately failed to persuade James 

From there, the footage goes from one celebrity to another, all of whom offer their reasoning for why James would be happier in New York.

Giuliani, who was a fixture at Yankee Stadium during that team's success of the late 1990s, reminded James about the city's sports history.

'You win in New York, first of all, you get a parade unlike any parade anywhere,' Giuliani said. 'Ask Derek Jeter, ask C.C. Sabathia

'I mean, greatest baseball player of all time, Babe Ruth, I'm not sure he would have been if he stayed in Boston.'

Weinstein, who is currently imprisoned after being convicted of rape and sexual assault, then suggested that James' entourage would prefer New York.

'Such a universal city,' said Weinstein, whose company was producing Mark Wahlberg's 'The Fighter' at the time.

'And I know LeBron, I read his book, and I know that he's tight with his buddies,' Weisntein continued. 'The idea of those friends coming to New York City, those guys sound amazing, loyal, smart, bright. They can have such an impact on the business sector for LeBron James and also for the charitable sector.'

Torre and his crew didn't hesitate the mock Weinstein, Trump, Giuliani and Knicks owner James Dolan for the somewhat corny video pitch.

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