LeBron James respects/understands/knows playing in NY- quoted by the Daily News in February '04 about playing at MSG: "Of course it's got to stand out, to any basketball player who goes to Madison Square Garden," James told reporters in Cleveland on Friday. "It's the No. 1, world-famous arena. It's going to be real fun. It's going to make us real excited to go out and play and give it our all." Such respect from a young player like that for an arena is rare. The Dailys News comments on other historic moments at MSG in an article titled "WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS TEEN LEBRON TO ENTER MSG LORE":
The Beatles touched down in New York 40 years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history. Somehow, 19 years have passed since Michael Jordan first took flight here, but of course, that's a history the Knicks would rather forget.

Which brings us to LeBron James, the teenage phenomenon from Akron, Ohio, who this afternoon will be making his long-awaited Madison Square Garden debut. Think rock star with a game. "I've never played there," James said. "So I'll give the fans something to watch."

James, the 19-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers rookie, was in New York City last June for the NBA draft at the Theater adjacent to the Garden. That venue, like the most of the arenas in the league, is akin to playing off Broadway.

The Garden is different. Players everywhere call it the mecca. Stephon Marbury calls it home, and Reggie Miller has had some choice words for the building on West 33rd.

But finally, after months of hype and anticipation, James will be introduced to New York.

"Of course it's got to stand out, to any basketball player who goes to Madison Square Garden," James told reporters in Cleveland on Friday. "It's the No. 1, world-famous arena. It's going to be real fun. It's going to make us real excited to go out and play and give it our all."

Link to full article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/2004/02/22/2004-02-22_world_s...