​While New York Knicks‘ NBA championship drought continued to stay for 53 years until 2026, LeBron James had already won it four-times in his legendary career. Deep inside, he felt the need the finish his career at Madison Square Garden.But as the Knicks won the NBA championship in 2026, that wish had flown away from LeBron James.LeBron James admits he considered joining the Knicks to end his careerIn June 2026, the New York Knicks captured the NBA Championship by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the NBA Finals. This marked the franchise’s third championship and their first title in 53 years, ending a drought that dated back to 1973.Nov 27, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) smiles after a Philadelphia 76ers foul during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsLed by playoff star Jalen Brunson’s 45 points in the Game 5 closeout, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks navigated a dominant postseason run to bring a Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Madison Square Garden.LeBron James might have had nothing to do with Knicks’ triumph, but it definitely changed James’ last-phase plan of his career. LeBron revealed that playing at Madison Square Garden had been a personal dream for the final stretch of his career.“I had visions of playing in the Garden and finishing my career in the Garden… It’s the No. 1 arena in the world for a basketball player,” LeBron James said.But the plan now has changed, according to him: “But after they beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’… I couldn’t… Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all.”LeBron explained that once the Knicks actually won the 2026 title against San Antonio, joining them became an impossibility due to the immense media scrutiny and backlash it would have triggered.Rather than joining the freshly crowned champion Knicks, LeBron elected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had been eliminated in the second round to avoid the narrative of chasing a ring on an already established championship roster.LeBron James could get a shift in role at Philadelphia 76ersIn Nick Nurse’s system, James is projected to slot primarily into the starting Power Forward (PF) role. Joining a core that includes Joel Embiid at center, Tyrese Maxey at point guard, and Jaylen Brown, LeBron gives Philadelphia an exceptionally deep and versatile starting unit. Playing alongside elite perimeter scoring and dominant low-post defense reduces the physical burden on LeBron James to shoulder heavy offensive possessions nightly.Nov 27, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James before action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsWhile Tyrese Maxey provides elite scoring drive and speed from the point guard spot, LeBron functions as the team’s high-IQ e