The long-rumored video produced by the New York Knicks in 2010 to entice LeBron James to sign with the Big Apple has finally surfaced, showing everyone from Donald Trump to Tony Soprano urging the NBA superstar to come to Madison Square Garden.
“The real winners of the world want to be here,” Trump said in the video, discovered by podcaster Pablo Torre. “They want to come to New York, whether it’s Wall Street, whether it’s fashion, no matter what it is, this is the place where the real winners want to be.”
James was arguably the biggest free agent in league history at the time, and with a bevy of teams in position to sign him, a number of NBA executives visited the Akron native to make their pitches.
For years, the Knicks were rumored to have produced a video for the occasion using the team’s star-studded fan base as a marketing tool. In addition to Trump and Sopranos stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, there were appearances by Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
James would ultimately choose Miami, where he would win two of his four NBA titles, but not for a lack of effort on the part of Knicks executives Donnie Walsh and Glen Grunwald.
LeBron James is seen on July 8, 2010 in Connecticut to announce where he would sign.
James Gandolfini reprized his role as Tony Soprano as part of the effort to recruit LeBron.
Edie Falco also got carried away by the spirit by pretending to be looking for a new home for James.
The video begins with a brief scene performed by Gandolfini and Falco, who were happy to reprise their roles as Tony and Carmela Soprano, albeit in an alternate universe, where the mafia boss has entered witness protection.
“Tony, I’m so glad we moved to New York,” Falco said in the clip. ‘Life is much better now.
‘Yeah. Life is good here, Carm,” Gandolfini replies. ‘Even if we’re in the witness protection program. Now we just have to find a place for your friend LeBron to live.’
‘How is he?’ she asks. “He’s a modern guy, but he respects tradition.”
Gandolfini emphasizes that James needs a big venue because “he will entertain a lot of people in New York.”
At the end he is presented with the image of Madison Square Garden, the home of the Knicks, and offers his immediate approval.
“Oh, yes,” Gandolfini said. ‘Yes, that’s what’s going to be perfect.’
Donald Trump urges LeBron James to come to New York, saying a ‘real winner’ would do so
Harvey Weinstein also chimes in and tells LeBron James that his entourage is better off in New York.
Giuliani, a fixture at Yankee Stadium, reminded James of the city’s sports history
Robert De Niro also contributed to the clip, which ultimately failed to persuade James.
From there, the images move from one celebrity to another, all offering their reasoning for why James would be happier in New York.
Giuliani, who was present at Yankee Stadium during that team’s success in the late 1990s, reminded James of the city’s sports history.
“If you win in New York, first of all, you get a parade unlike any parade anywhere else,” Giuliani said. ‘Ask Derek Jeter, ask CC Sabathia
“I mean, the greatest baseball player of all time, Babe Ruth, I’m not sure he would have been if he had stayed in Boston.”
Weinstein, who is currently imprisoned after being convicted of rape and sexual assault, then suggested that James’ entourage would prefer New York.
“It’s such a universal city,” said Weinstein, whose company was producing Mark Wahlberg’s “The Fighter” at the time.
“And I know LeBron, I read his book and I know he’s very close with his friends,” Weisntein continued. ‘The idea of ​​those friends coming to New York City, those guys sound amazing, loyal, smart and brilliant. “They can have a big impact on LeBron James’ business sector and also the charitable sector.”
Torre and his team did not hesitate to mock Weinstein, Trump, Giuliani and Knicks owner James Dolan for the somewhat cheesy video.