Jay-Z tried to convince LeBron James to join New Jersey Nets in 2010: Report

Rapper Jay-Z once tried to convince LeBron James to join n-NBA team New Jersey Nets. As per reports, 50-year-old rapper held a private meeting with Los Angeles Lakers star in 2010, before he decided to join Miami Heat. ESPN reported about incident, revealing how Jay-Z and James met to discuss n-New Jersey Nets deal.

Also read | LeBron James promptly regretted his ' Decision' TV special: Report

LeBron James trade: Would re have been a LeBron James Nets deal? What happened before LeBron James Decision special 

ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote about LeBron James' and Jay-Z's interaction during time, detailing what happened before James decided to join Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. As per Windhorst, Jay-Z and James met a week before James' Decision TV Special. On July 1, Nets were among first six teams to arrive at IMG building in Cleveland to meet with James. Windhorst stated that Nets owner 

Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z exited car toger. Avery Johnson, who was hired as coach, stated that it was a 'circus show' as y were excited but t ready as a team or an organization. However, Johnson stated that 'Jay-Z really gave a great pitch', appealing to 'ir friendship and sold New York'.

Also read | LeBron James' Decision drove NBA players to take charge of free ncy media-wise

LeBron James trade: What were events that led up to LeBron James Decision?

As per Windhorst's reports, Jay-Z stayed for some more time after ors had left to talk to James in private for around 15 minutes. After Jay-Z's SUV left building, he passed New York Knicks owner James Dolan and general manr Donnie Walsh, who was on a wheelchair due to a surgery. "Our cars were rolling in as Nets were rolling out," n-Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni revealed. "It was all surreal. That moment was a great piece of NBA history. We'd been waiting two years to make that pitch." LeBron James Knicks meeting was reported to be a 'disaster' by Ringer's Bill Simmons, who revealed that James directly signed with Heat after that. 

Also read | LeBron James' first choice in 2010 was Knicks and ir meeting ended in 'disaster': LeBron James trade

LeBron James trade: Why did LeBron James Nets trade t happen? 

While reports claimed that Jay-Z made a good pitch, he was t able to close deal. James ended up signing with Miami Heat a week later, with whom he won two back-to-back NBA Championships. James did return to Cleveland after four years, where he won team ir first NBA title.

New Jersey Nets landed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving that same offseason. James is currently with Los Angeles Lakers, where he was averaging 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and career-high 10.6 assists. James has led Lakers to a 49-14 win-loss record, ranked first in Western Conference. James is also in contention for his fifth NBA MVP award along with reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a recent LeBron James Decision documentary aired on Sunday (Monday IST) called Backstory: Decision talked about process behind TV Speical in 2010. 

Also read | Jay-Z "extremely proud" of Marcus Rashford for pushing UK government to provide free meals

(Im courtesy: NBA official Twitter and AP)