Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina shoves LeBron James; response to LBJ's comments?

Tom Gatto

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Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina shoves LeBron James; response to LBJ's comments? image

Well, now we know word got back to Frank Ntilikina about what LeBron James said last weekend.

Ntilikina gave James a couple shoves after a dunk by LeBron during the Cavaliers-Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Monday. New York center Enes Kanter provided backup as James was getting riled up. (Side note: SI.com reminds us that James had choice words for Kanter before the game.)

MORE: James, Cavs ride NYC subway; New Yorkers not impressed

James told media after the Cavs played the Mavericks on Saturday that the Knicks should have drafted Dallas rookie Dennis Smith Jr. instead of Ntilikina. Smith went one pick after Ntilikina, the French point guard who was supposed to run Phil Jackson's triangle offense. Jackson was fired weeks later, but Ntilikina is adjusting well to coach Jeff Hornacek's offense.

James later said his comments were a swipe at Jackson, not Ntilikina, but Ntilikina was having none of that Monday.

UPDATE: LeBron got the last word, as usual. After Cleveland rallied from a 23-point deficit in the second half, he gave the Cavs the lead with this 3 over Kristaps Porzingis. The basket came after a turnover by Ntilikina.

LBJ provided more drama at the end by missing two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining, but the long rebound came out to him, and Cleveland held on to win 104-101.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.