Knicks fans show no fear about LeBron James signing with 76ers: 'I couldn't care less'

Wearing a Josh Hart jersey outside Citi Field, Richard Claros didn’t have to think for a second.

Who’s better: the Knicks or the 76ers after their addition of LeBron James?

“Knicks in 5,” Claros quipped.

For the 76ers, that would be an improvement after the Knicks swept them out of the Eastern Conference semifinals en route to winning the NBA championship last month. But with James now in the fold on a reported two-year, $8 million contract and the trade for 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia is gearing toward challenging the Knicks’ title defense.

Even so, Knicks fans outside Citi Field before Friday night’s Mets-Dodgers game weren’t concerned about James joining the 76ers.

“The Knicks are the better team still — I think they’re going to repeat,” said Anthony Sodano, a 44-year-old from Massapequa.

Sodano said he thinks James didn’t come to New York because “the pressure would be too much for him.”

Daniel Hughes, 59, of Center Moriches, said the Knicks have perfect chemistry “so we don’t want to screw that up.” Besides Mitchell Robinson signing with the Celtics, the Knicks return everyone from the core of their championship roster.

“I couldn’t care less,” Hughes said. “As long as he’s not on the Knicks, that’s fine with me.”

He said he doesn’t like James because he isn’t “loyal.” James has won four NBA titles across stints with the Heat, Cavaliers (twice) and Lakers.

“Every team is going to be gunning for us now, so whatever,” said Bill Deigan, 34, of Rockville Centre. “The Knicks are better than everyone until proven that they aren’t. Don’t care at all.”

James, 41, the leading scorer in NBA history, will be the league’s oldest active player when the 2026-27 season begins. He’ll be joined by Brown, 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, an all-rookie team selection this past season who played for Long Island Lutheran.

“I grew up with the Jordan era, so LeBron’s not the best player in basketball,” Sodano said. “I just think, again, he’s selfish for making that move [to Philadelphia]. He could have stayed with the team that he started with, made his own legacy. But he’s a player that switched teams, meaning that he can’t do it all by himself.”

Claros, wearing his Hart jersey, said the 76ers’ addition of James puts no fear in his heart and that he “couldn’t care less.” The 40-year-old from Brooklyn said if this were James in his prime, it might be worrisome that he’s back in the Eastern Conference, but not this version.

The 76ers won the James sweepstakes. It remains to be seen if that translates to them winning their first title since 1983.

“Philly’s having the fun now,” Sodano said. “But when it comes to play time, we’re going to own them again.”