LeBron James' casual comment to Dwyane Wade is torturing Knicks fans

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Did the New York Knicks blow a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

We'll never know for sure, but listen closely to this quick line Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dropped to Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on Monday night at Staples Center in the final meeting between the two longtime friends and former teammates.

"I appreciate you ending it here," Wade says, to which James responds, "It was either here or the Garden, that's it. That's the only place we could've ended it at, man."

No, LeBron isn't talking about flowers (or the Boston Celtics' TD Garden).

James seems to be suggesting the only two teams he would have joined last offseason ahead of he and Wade's final matchup -- Wade is retiring after this season -- were the Lakers and ... the Knicks, who play in Madison Square Garden.

Let's check in on Knicks fans:

https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1072372705838723073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1072385349664587777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

ESPN's Brian Windhorst tried to console the New York faithful by insisting James likely was going to L.A. anyway -- but essentially added insult to injury with this unsavory nugget about ex-Knicks president Phil Jackson.

... At least the Knicks could have a shot at Kevin Durant in free agency?

In any case, teams like the Celtics are glad James decided to take his act to the West Coast and free up what should be a very competitive Eastern Conference.

UPDATE (8:50 a.m. ET): James addressed his comment to Wade after the game, insisting he wasn't referencing signing with the Knicks. (Or was he just covering his tracks?)

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