The New York Knicks' failed attempt to sign LeBron James in 2010 has been revealed, including an unaired 'final Sopranos scene'. Despite not securing the basketball star's signature, it wasn't due to a lack of effort.
Rumours had circulated that two stars from the Sopranos had filmed a special video encouraging him to join the team, and this footage has now been leaked for the first time. Ex-ESPN sports writer Pablo Torre unearthed the video, known as "the secret tape,", and showcased it on his podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out." He discussed the clip with Jason Concepcion and Rob Perez, better known online as 'WorldWideWob.'
Drawing inspiration from The Sopranos, the video saw James Gandolfini reprising his role as Tony Soprano, perusing the New York Post in a scene discussing LeBron's potential move to New York. In conversation with Edie Falco, who played Carmela Soprano, they ponder which part of the city could house such a huge star and calculate his possible earnings in one of America's biggest cities.
This was Gandolfini's final appearance as Tony Soprano, filmed in his actual New York City flat. Gandolfini was reportedly thrilled to be involved in the project, although his contribution was just a small part of the overall pitch. The extensive video also featured pitches from Donald Trump, Rudy Guiliani, Mike Bloomberg, Robert De Niro, and a quick cut to controversial film producer Harvey Weinstein, which became a talking point among fans.
In the clip, Tony Soprano suggests that James deserves a unique experience as special as he is, leading his wife to propose Madison Square Garden, the legendary home of the Knicks since 1968. The video wraps up with 'City of Winners' flashing across the screen, set to the tune of NYC native and James' favourite rapper Jay-Z's 'Public Service Announcement.' The music choice was odd, given that Jay-Z had previously pitched to James on behalf of the Brooklyn Nets before the Knicks.
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After waiting ten years for the 10-minute video, basketball enthusiasts slammed it online as awkward, poorly done, and overly long, despite its aim to lure the biggest free agent in sports history to their team. A vocal contingent of Knicks fans questioned why the video resurfaced now, particularly after the team clinched the No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference, reaching the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
During the much-anticipated free agency period, known as "The Decision," James' unrestricted free agency attracted offers from several NBA teams, including the Knicks, Nets, Heat, Clippers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted him first overall in 2003. The four-time NBA champion was fresh off his second of four league MVP awards, averaging 29.7 points per game.
The event turned into a spectacle, broadcast live on ESPN, drawing significant attention and raising millions for charities dear to the NBA legend. In the end, James chose to leave Cleveland for Miami Heat, turning down the Knick's offer and joining forces with fellow free agent Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to create what was later dubbed the "Big 3," echoing the Boston Celtics trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen from 2007 to 2012.
NBA pundits and ex-players suggested that James was the "scariest version" of himself in Miami. Looking back, James' decision to join Miami proved extremely fruitful, resulting in four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014. He also clinched two NBA Championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, bagging NBA Finals MVP for both victories.
Alongside his team achievements, James bagged two regular-season MVP awards in 2012 and 2013. Moreover, he earned multiple selections to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive First Team during his stint with the team until his last Miami season in 2013.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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