LeBron James said on Tuesday night that he sees Knicks' coach Mike D'Antoni as an "offensive mastermind".

James played under D'Antoni with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"We got really close," James revealed. "Coach D'Antoni gave me a lot of freedom; he allowed me to play every position I wanted to play; I was the leader of that team, but I was also like the overseer of some offensive plays.

"He gave me a lot of freedom; it was great to be out there. I watched that system all those years in Phoenix; how they got so many shots and easy baskets. To be a part of that chemistry, be part of the offensive mastermind that Coach D'Antoni is, that was great."

New York famously cleared out cap space at the end of last week in hopes of signing James in the summer of 2010.

"It would be unfair to bring that kind of distraction to our team," James said when asked if he would like to play for the Knicks. "I am flattered that teams want me to be a part of their team but right now I'm with the Cavs."