Did LeBron James reveal he almost joined the Knicks?

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade played their final NBA game against each other on Monday at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Afterward, as the two shared some laughs surrounded by media, Wade told LeBron, “I appreciate you for letting it end here” -- here, being L.A., where LeBron just signed in the offseason.

LeBron’s apparent response: “It was either here or at the Garden, that’s it.”

As in Madison Square Garden. As in ... was LeBron saying his free agency options were the Lakers and the New York Knickerbockers?!

To pour a pile of sand in the wound, ESPN Brian Windhorst chimed in to say LeBron would have ruled out the Knicks based on how Phil Jackson treated LeBron’s friend Carmelo Anthony.

There are some alternate interpretations of what LeBron said. He could have meant TD Garden in Boston. He could have just been reflecting on the fact that he subjected Wade to a massive media crush in his final game against LeBron, one only rivaled by what would exist in New York. He could absolutely be trolling Kevin Durant, who is being positioned as the future savior of the Knicks. Maybe Wade was thinking about signing with Knicks. The evidence here -- a tossed-off, half-audible quote overhead by sensitive mics -- isn’t robust.

But also, LeBron has a history of saying things in these moments to stir the pot. Consider the pot stirred, sir.

Wizards 101, Pacers 109
Pistons 102, Sixers 116
Pelicans 100, Celtics 113
Kings 108, Bulls 89
Cavaliers 92, Bucks 108
Jazz 113, Thunder 122
Magic 76, Mavericks 101
Grizzlies 99, Nuggets 105
Clippers 123, Suns 119 (OT)
Timberwolves 108, Warriors 116
Heat 105, Lakers 108

Blazers at Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Suns at Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Raptors at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV

The Warriors are absolutely going to win the championship again, so I ranked the teams most likely to get smoked by Golden State in the Western Conference Finals. Let’s just be honest here: everyone is playing for second place.

Hugely important story from Abby Haglage on the plight and struggles of NBA dancers. What will the NBA do about this? What will NBA fans push the NBA to do about this?

Bulls players complained to the players’ union about Jim Boylen’s practices. Marc Stein implies that Boylen needs to chill out or he’s going to be a short-termer in Chicago. Dan Devine offers seven signs the Bulls have fallen into complete disarray. Meanwhile, Boylen continues to sound belligerent and seems to imply that players were wrong to push back on his plans for a hard Sunday practice after a back-to-back, which indicates that Boylen has learned nothing. Oh well. Next.

Luka Doncic is spoiling Mavericks fans just like Dirk Nowitzki did over the past two decades.

Michael Pina on Kawhi Leonard’s improved handle and how that boosts his offense a notch.

The Warriors are the Sportsperson of the Year, despite not being a person at all.

Kevin O’Connor says the Rockets need to look outside for help, because it’s not coming from within.

Kent Babb on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum being masters of media. Jonathan Abrams on Lillard’s friendship and work with Jusuf Nurkic.

I choose to believe Steph Curry was totally joking about the moon landing thing, potentially goofing on Kyrie Irving’s (abandoned?) flat Earth positioning. However, if we’re going this direction, we need to spice things up a little. Skip Grassy Knolls and Lizard People and please get us straight to, I don’t know, John Wall claiming the Large Hadron Collider is actually a cover story for an attempt to awaken Egyptian god Osiris (this is an actually theory, look it up, no I’m not linking to it).

And finally: Kofie Yeboah gives LeBron and Wade the proper send-off.

Be excellent to each other.