Source: ESPN.com: CLEVELAND -- As they made their exit, the New Jersey Nets passed the New York Knicks in the driveway of the parking garage.
Everyone came to see LeBron James.Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, rap mogul Jay-Z, coach Avery Johnson and other team officials spent more than 90 minutes making a presentation on Thursday to James, the two-time MVP and budding global icon who became the most celebrated free agent in history at 12:01 a.m.
Prokhorov left with a few members of the Nets' entourage at 12:43 p.m. Lagging a few minutes behind them was Jay-Z, a close friend of James', sitting in the back seat of a black sedan leaving the garage as the Knicks' motorcade -- two sedans and two SUVs -- pulled in.
And so went the initial hours of James' courtship, which has turned into his personal recruitment and has captivated the much of the sports world.
"It went well," Johnson said before the Nets' congregation headed to Chicago to meet with free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Knicks spent more than two hours speaking with James and his closest advisers and came away feeling they did all they could. "I think it went well," coach Mike D'Antoni told The Associated Press. "But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say the same thing."
Former Knicks guard Allan Houston said D'Antoni made a strong presentation but couldn't tell if James was impressed. "He didn't give us much feedback," said Houston, now an executive with the team.
James followed the Knicks out the door. He didn't say anything to reporters as he left in a Range Rover, presumably to return to his home in Bath, Ohio. As he left, a pack of photographers and reporters chased after his vehicle, hoping for one signature shot or perhaps a sign from him.
After landing at Hopkins International Airport at 10:36 a.m. ET, the Nets' group made the short drive to Cleveland to meet with James at the office of his business manager, Maverick Carter. James arrived about eight minutes before New Jersey's delegation.
Everyone came to see LeBron James.Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, rap mogul Jay-Z, coach Avery Johnson and other team officials spent more than 90 minutes making a presentation on Thursday to James, the two-time MVP and budding global icon who became the most celebrated free agent in history at 12:01 a.m.
Prokhorov left with a few members of the Nets' entourage at 12:43 p.m. Lagging a few minutes behind them was Jay-Z, a close friend of James', sitting in the back seat of a black sedan leaving the garage as the Knicks' motorcade -- two sedans and two SUVs -- pulled in.
And so went the initial hours of James' courtship, which has turned into his personal recruitment and has captivated the much of the sports world.
"It went well," Johnson said before the Nets' congregation headed to Chicago to meet with free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Knicks spent more than two hours speaking with James and his closest advisers and came away feeling they did all they could. "I think it went well," coach Mike D'Antoni told The Associated Press. "But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say the same thing."
Former Knicks guard Allan Houston said D'Antoni made a strong presentation but couldn't tell if James was impressed. "He didn't give us much feedback," said Houston, now an executive with the team.
James followed the Knicks out the door. He didn't say anything to reporters as he left in a Range Rover, presumably to return to his home in Bath, Ohio. As he left, a pack of photographers and reporters chased after his vehicle, hoping for one signature shot or perhaps a sign from him.
After landing at Hopkins International Airport at 10:36 a.m. ET, the Nets' group made the short drive to Cleveland to meet with James at the office of his business manager, Maverick Carter. James arrived about eight minutes before New Jersey's delegation.
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