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, with everyone from Donald Trump to Tony Soprano urging the NBA superstar to head to Madison Square Garden to come.
“The real winners of the world want to be here,” Trump said in the video, which was unearthed by podcaster Pablo Torre. “They want to come to New York, whether it’s Wall Street, whether it’s fashion, whatever it is, this is where the real winners want to be.”
James was undoubtedly the biggest free agent in league history at the time, and with a bevy of teams able to sign him, a series of NBA executives visited the Akron native to make their pitches.
For years, it was rumored that the Knicks had produced a video for the occasion that used 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 performances by Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and the since-disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Ultimately, James would choose Miami, where he would win two of his four NBA titles, but not for a lack of effort on the part of Knicks managers Donnie Walsh and Glen Grunwald.
LeBron James is seen in Connecticut on July 8, 2010, announcing where he would sign
James Gandolfini reprized his role as Tony Soprano as part of the effort to recruit LeBron
Edie Falco also got into the spirit by pretending to be looking for a new home for James
The video opens with a short scene played by Gandolfini and Falco, who happily reprized their roles as Tony and Carmela Soprano, albeit in an alternate universe, where the mafia boss has entered witness protection.
“Tony, I’m so happy we moved to New York,” Falco said in the clip. ‘Life is so much better now.
‘Yes. Life is good here, Carm,” Gandolfini replies. “Even though we’re in the witness protection program. We just need to find a place for your friend LeBron to live.
“What’s she like?” she asks. “He’s a modern man, but he respects tradition.”
Gandolfini emphasizes that James needs a large venue because he will “entertain the people of New York a lot.”
Finally, he is shown the image of Madison Square Garden, the home of the Knicks, and offers his immediate approval.
“Oh yes,” Gandolfini said. “Yes, that’s what will be perfect.”
Donald Trump urges LeBron James to come to New York, telling him a “real winner” would do it
Harvey Weinstein also does his best 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 convince James
From there, the images move from one celebrity to another, each giving their reasons for why James would be happier in New York.
Giuliani, who was a fixture at Yankee Stadium during that team’s success in the late 1990s, reminded James of the city’s sports history.
“First of all, when you win in New York, you get a parade that you can’t see 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 in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault, then suggested that James’ entourage would prefer New York.
“Such a universal city,” said Weinstein, whose company at the time produced Mark Wahlberg’s “The Fighter.”
“And I know LeBron, I’ve read his book, and I know he’s close with his friends,” Weisntein continued. “The idea of those friends coming to New York City, those guys sound great, loyal, bright and savvy. They can have such an impact on business for LeBron James and also for the charity sector.”
Torre and his team didn’t hold back on fake Weinstein, Trump, Giuliani and Knicks owner James Dolan for the somewhat corny video pitch.