The NBA Needs the Knicks to Be Relevant

Not since the days of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls three-peats has the NBA been so interesting. All eyes on are the association because of the many story lines going on all around the league.

The league is a business, and it flourishes when the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are relevant. Major media outlets with teams in contention and superstars on those teams equal big ratings, good attendance, and intrigue by fans all over.

It’s no surprise that the number one media outlet’s home team is quickly on the rise, and making moves to land the biggest name in the game in the summer of 2010.

If you think for one moment LeBron James won’t sign with the New York Knicks if they can also land a power forward (Carlos Boozer or Chris Bosh) and a proven leader(Steve Nash) then you are fooling yourself.

Think of how many college basketball coaches of mid-major schools put together a great season or two, or a miracle run in the NCAA tournament, and the next thing you know, an underachieving big-time program is throwing millions in front of them to bring them to their campus.

The rookie minimum contracts in the NBA do the same. These young stars like LeBron, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, etc. start in smaller markets, but will they finish there?

Highly unlikely.

Wade may be the exception, as he has already tasted success with the Miami Heat, yet they are rebuilding, and he may weigh other more attractive options.

The traditional powers of the NBA need to be relevant for the league to do well. Of course it is always nice to see a Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies overachieve and put together a run in the playoffs, but when it's money time (conference finals), who do you really think TNT or ESPN want in a best of seven?

Allen Iverson and the Detroit Pistons vs. LeBron, or The Boston Big Three in the East.

Out West, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers vs. the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns.

People love, or in some cases, love to hate Kobe, and so they watch the Lakers. The Celtics new trash-talking champion attitude are making them quickly the most hated outside of New England.

So as we look forward to seeing LeBron grace the Knicks faithful with his presence, and get more applause than any NY player, it is just a matter of time before we see King James giving high fives to Spike Lee, Woody Allen, and Tyra Banks in the Garden in two years.