LeBron James says he has no timetable for his free agency decision
By: BRIAN MAHONEY
Associated Press
11/07/09 1:10 AM EST
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| Rap artist Jay-Z, left, greets Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James at the end of an NBA basketball game where the Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks 100-91 on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) (AP) |
NEW YORK — LeBron James thinks his present is too good to spend time worrying about his future.
James said Friday he has no timetable for deciding what he will do next summer. The NBA's MVP said it will be his first time getting to be an unrestricted free agent, so he's not going to rush any decision.
Nor will he even consider it for a while. Not with the Cavaliers on the short list of legitimate contenders to win a title this season.
"For me, honestly, I think this season is going to be really good and I feel like our team is set to where we can play really deep into the playoffs and possibly contend for the NBA championship," James said. "So mainly that's the main thing that I'm focused on now."
The Cleveland All-Star can opt for free agency on July 1, but said before a 100-91 victory over the Knicks he isn't sure what he will do in the days that follow.
"I don't know because it's the first time I'll be in this position, being an unrestricted free agent. I haven't been there yet, so I don't know," James said. "There's no timetable. I'm not going to rush it, I'm definitely going to stay in shape and stay in the gym next summer like I've always done and we'll see what happens."
The Knicks are one of the teams that will have money to offer James a maximum salary contract. He enjoys playing in New York and does it well. He and Michael Jordan are the only visiting players with multiple 50-point games at the present Madison Square Garden, and James raised his career scoring average at the building to 30.4 points after scoring 33 Friday.
He made it clear after the game that he's not coming to New York — or anywhere else — just for the money.
"I think at the end of the day, a max deal or anything like that doesn't really matter to me," James said. "It's all about winning for me, so I'm going to put myself in a position when that day comes next summer.
"I want to win, and if I feel like the team is capable of winning, then I make my decision like that."
Friday's game was the only one this season in New York for the Cavs, and James won't say which uniform he'll be wearing next time he comes back.
"I don't know who made the schedule for the Cleveland Cavaliers to only be here once, I'm kind of disappointed in that," said James, a Yankees fan who slept through the World Series championship parade Friday morning after the Cavs played in Cleveland on Thursday night.
