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LeBron James to Dwyane Wade: 'It was either ending (in Los Angeles) or at The Garden'

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade met on the basketball court for the final time on Monday night in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-105 win against the Miami Heat at the Staples Center.

The focus on Monday wasn’t on the game. It was on the two NBA greats facing off one last time before Wade retires at the end of the season, as it should have been.

Once the game ended, Wade and James embraced instantly. The pair joked, hugged, swapped jerseys and posed for plenty of photos, wrapping up a memorable night for the two of them — and NBA fans everywhere.

They also had a very interesting conversation on the court.

“I appreciate you letting it end here,” Wade told LeBron, meaning the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“It was either here or at The Garden,” James replied, meaning Madison Square Garden in New York City. “That’s it. That’s the only place we can end this man.”

By that conversation, James implied that he was choosing between signing with the Lakers and the New York Knicks this past summer when he was still a free agent, and that he wasn’t seriously considering any other teams.

James later clarified his comment, which hadn’t actually been about him nearly signing with the Knicks.

James was instead commenting on the majesty of Madison Square Garden, and how it would be the perfect place to host his final showdown with Wade. Knicks fans who saw James’ original comments can feel a little better now — he didn’t choose the Lakers over the Knicks, he chose the Lakers over the Knicks and a bunch of other teams. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

LeBron James told Dwyane Wade after their final game against each other on Monday that it was either ending in Los Angeles or at Madison Square Garden — hinting that he was considering signing with the New York Knicks. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LeBron James told Dwyane Wade after their final game against each other on Monday that it was either ending in Los Angeles or at Madison Square Garden — hinting that he was considering signing with the New York Knicks. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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