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Big Update Emerges on LeBron James to Knicks Rumor

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 11:32 AM ET

The New York Knicks are hiring Mike Brown as their next head coach. The 55-year-old has been part of the NBA coaching scene since he started as an assistant with the Washington Wizards in 1997.

A significant portion of Brown’s coaching career has been spent alongside LeBron James. He coached James from 2005-10 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, helping lead the team to deep playoff runs. So when news broke that the Knicks were bringing Brown aboard, it naturally sparked speculation about a possible LeBron-to-New York scenario, especially because James has said he's open to listening to trade offers.

There was a short-lived buzz: "Could LeBron James actually head to New York?" That question seems to have been answered, and not in the way Knicks fans might have hoped.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Post addressed the rumor on Thursday morning, tweeting:

For the LeBron-to-Knicks speculation, I checked on it and the answer was, “No. Makes for good chatter but no.”
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) July 3, 2025

James turns 41 in December, and many expect the 2025-26 season to be his last. He has mentioned in recent years that his wife, Savannah, has encouraged him to consider retirement.

Over his legendary career, James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, has won four NBA championships and appeared in six other finals. He earned Finals MVP in each of the four title wins. He also collected four regular-season NBA MVP awards and made 21 All-Star appearances.

The 2024-25 season was filled with headlines despite a first-round playoff exit. The Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, but the year was memorable as LeBron played alongside his son, Bronny. He also teamed up with Luka Doncic after a midseason trade.

As for the Knicks, they made it to the Eastern Conference finals but were bounced in six games by the Indiana Pacers. Shortly after the loss, the team dismissed head coach Tom Thibodeau, who had been with the franchise since 2020.

With Mike Brown set to take over and the LeBron rumors officially shut down, the Knicks will look to build on a strong season while setting realistic expectations for the future.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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