LeBron James and Enes Kanter battled on and off the court on Monday night, and their fight has continued into its second day. Tuesday’s verbal sparring session included an Instagram post where LeBron declared himself the “King of NY” and Kanter responding through the press, declaring a Knick the current king of the metropolis.
In his first season in New York after coming from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade, Kanter has injected fresh blood into a rivalry that has never really existed in LeBron’s career. It’s been so long since the Knicks truly mattered that the moments in which they’ve been the Cavs’ rivals in the East have been fleeting. On many nights it’s seemed like LeBron’s trips to MSG are more about the shoes he’s wearing than the team he’s beating.
But a quick start to the season, a prior win in Cleveland by the Knicks, and the Cavs’ struggles set the scene for a lot of tension on Monday night. James and the Cavs emerged with the win after a triumphant comeback led by LeBron. His dagger three let him do some trash talking on the court and online, but it’s clear that Kanter isn’t having it.
On Tuesday, he told reporters that it’s Kristaps Porzingis, not LeBron, who reigns at Madison Square Garden.
Enes Kanter on LeBron James’ “King of New York” reference on Instagram: “We already have a king. It’s Kristaps Porzingis.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 14, 2017
“We already have a king,” Kanter said. “It’s Kristaps Porzingis.”
New York has fallen in love with the Unicorn this season, so Kanter might be right. But until the Knicks can knock off a struggling Cavs team, LeBron will feel emboldened to call MSG his “playground” and keep talking trash. The East may not be Cleveland’s to rule this season with Boston cruising in the early going, but Kristaps and the Knicks still have a long way to go before they can challenge for the crown.
