LeBron James sends Knicks fans into a frenzy after mysterious comment about playing Dwyane Wade at ‘the Garden’

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat on Monday night 108-105 in the final meeting between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The game had a fitting end, with James switching onto his former teammate for the Heat’s final possession, forcing Wade into a tough final 3-point attempt that bounced off the mark to seal the Lakers win.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade played on the same NBA court for the final time on Monday night, and James’ post-game comments left Knicks fans reeling.AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

After the game, James and Wade hugged it out, exchanged jerseys, and took in the moment. After more than a decade as teammates or opponents, this was it.

While cameras followed them together, James was heard saying something rather curious, telling Wade on the floor of the Staples Center, “It was either here or at the Garden, that’s it. That’s the only place we could end it at, man.”

In a flash, Knicks fans ears perked up — was James implying that he had considered ending his career in New York playing at Madison Square Garden?

The thought filled many fans with dread, thinking they would have to deal with a new set of “what-ifs” as the Knicks slog through their season.

Thankfully, before any fans got too carried away with imagining what could have been, James clarified his comments, saying that the Staples Center and Garden were merely the only two stages fit to hold the final game between himself and Wade.

“I said, ‘What’s the odds that our last game would be in an environment like this?'” LeBron told reporters after the game. “He was like, ‘Thank you for coming here because our last meeting is in Staples Center.’ I said, ‘There’s only two places that could have ended it: It’s here and Madison Square Garden.’ And I felt like here is even more (appropriate) because of the star power.”

Knicks fans will have to settle for seeing LeBron at the Garden for the Lakers game in March.