Not what 19,763 paid for, at least until James went off for 26 points in just 30 minutes of work during a 119-101 rout that left the World's Arena Most Famous for It's Fans, at least the way James looks at it, drooling for more than two visits a year.

"The fans," James said of what he likes about New York. "Every time I come here it's a warm feeling because you know the history, and it's not just Basketball, its concerts, boxing, everything.

"Being a Basketball junkie like myself, how could you not like it, not say 'I like to be here?' I'm saying as a Cleveland Cavalier, not permanently."

There might be a championship won in Cleveland before July 2010. James might even, if he decides to take the $133 million max allowable under the cap to stay in Northeast Ohio instead of the $102 million he could earn elsewhere, live happily ever after bringing three or five titles to the region of his birth.

The Cavs, too, will have money to bring to LeBron any of available big tickets - Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire - he might want and would understandably want him.

Whatever happens, just the countdown to 2010 already is the greatest thing to happen to the Knicks franchise since the ping pong balls dropped for Patrick Ewing in 1985. If James doesn't come, somebody good will. Meanwhile, there is no harm, no foul, in the anticipation.

What reason is there to fear the dashed hope, when on Friday there was no real hope of serious contention at all? James loved his exposure to Mike D'Antoni in Beijing, fancies the feel of those red patent leather sneakers on The Garden floor.

"It's humbling," he said of the reception, "to have fans . . . in the mecca of Basketball."

Unless Nike wants to make James a partner large enough not only to jack up his NBA -high $25 million yearly in endorsements, but make up the $31 million he would leave in Cleveland, James won't come for the money, but because he wants to be in New York.

"There always will be deals out there," he said about his endorsement power, after insisting market size would be "not a factor" in his decision.

"A guy like Tim Duncan, for instance, has signed short-term deals and decided to take pay cuts so that San Antonio could sign guys like Manu [Ginobili] and Tony Parker," James said. "San Antonio, we know, is not that big a market.

"So for me it's all about winning."

And if he perceives winning can happen quickly in New York, he will come for the buzz. New York put on one of its better buzzes last night for him.

"It would be unfair to bring that kind of distraction to my teammates, the coach and the rest of the organization," he said, asked if he wanted to be a Knick. "LeBron James is never under the radar. But my teammates see every day on television about 2010 and we still take care of business."

Yet another thing to make James King of New York. The Man doesn't lose his focus, just like a Garden last night riveted by a dream it hopes he shares.