By MARC BERMAN

Last updated: 6:38 am
July 1, 2008
Posted: 3:41 am
July 1, 2008

During his tour of Manhattan, LeBron James had fun teasing Knicks and Nets fans yesterday about the prospect of playing in the Big Apple in 2010 when he becomes a free agent.

When asked his favorite city, King James listed New York No. 1. But when asked his favorite borough, James said Brooklyn, where the Nets plan to open shop in 2010.

On the eve of free agency, James and Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni were under the same roof, at the Plaza Hotel, for a U.S. Olympic function. The dream for all Knicks fans will be if D'Antoni and James are together again July 1, 2010, touring New York on a recruiting visit.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh's every move is designed to make sure they are enough under the cap to go after James as a free agent. The hiring of the popular D'Antoni was done partly to entice King James.

The Nets are in better position for now after dealing Richard Jefferson Thursday and with minority owner Jay-Z one of James' best friends.

"They have a right to dream about it," James said yesterday after visiting Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty and Harlem. "I can't take that away from them.

"My friendship was way before Jay-Z was part owner of the Nets. I loved the Garden way before I got in the NBA."

Last March at the Garden, James scored 50 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists, falling two short of a triple-double.

"For some reason when I get to the Garden, I always play well," James said yesterday. "So they want me to do it for 41 games instead of two games a year."

D'Antoni admitted he's in an advantageous position coaching James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul, all free agents in 2010.

"It doesn't hurt any," D'Antoni said. "I'm not going to be real hard on them, that's for sure. They're going to like me before this is over with."

James already does. The day after Thursday's draft, D'Antoni flew to Vegas for a Team USA mini-camp.