LeBron James on Dennis Smith Jr.: ‘The Knicks passed on a really good one’

Joe Rivera

•
LeBron James on Dennis Smith Jr.: ‘The Knicks passed on a really good one’ image

LeBron James the general manager made a surprise appearance on Saturday night.

James and the Cavaliers were fresh off a 111-104 victory over the Mavericks when James traded in his Cavs jersey for a front office shirt and tie, praising the Mavericks' young star Dennis Smith Jr. and questioning the Knicks' decision to pass on him in this year's draft.

MORE: LeBron James, Cavs can't just ignore defensive issues

Some words here. 

The Knicks took 19-year-old Frank Ntilikina with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, with Dallas taking Smith one pick later. While Smith has put up some numbers this year — including scoring 21 points vs. Cleveland on Saturday — Ntilikina hasn't had the opportunity to shine as a starter just yet and is still searching for a definitive performance in the orange and blue of New York.

In any case, it seems as though James could be taking another shot at former Knicks president Phil Jackson, with whom King James has had issues with in the past. 

Sure, there's nothing wrong with praising one of the Association's potential stars in "DSJ," but to call out another team — that, for the time being, is ahead of yours in the standings — is a bold strategy, to say the least.

At least Ntilikina's Knick teammates have his back.

Joe Rivera

Joe Rivera Photo

Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.