Longtime Bronx-based rapper Fat Joe admitted he took a shot at recruiting Kyrie Irving to his beloved New York Knicks, noting his ultimate decision to join their rival across the bridge was “a mistake.”

In an interview with Eric Woodyard of The Undefeated, Fat Joe admitted he begged the now-Brooklyn Nets point guard to don the orange and blue this summer:

Woodyard: Is it true that you tried to recruit free agents to come to the Knicks?

Fat Joe: Absolutely. I was all over Kyrie Irving. He just didn’t want to play for the Knicks.

Woodyard: How do you pitch the Knicks to someone like Kyrie?

Fat Joe: I get on my knees and I beg, ‘Please, we need you, we love you. You don’t understand. Please!’ Kyrie’s the man and Brooklyn fans are cool. The people over at the Barclays Center and the organization, they’re really good people. I can’t talk bad about them, but it’s not the same as playing for the Knicks. No way, no how. He made a mistake. He’ll see it in the future.

Article Continues Below
More New York Knicks News
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden
Knicks rumors: How player input factored into New York’s decision to fire Tom ThibodeauQuinn Allen ·
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) talks with Assistant Coach Rick Brunson in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden.
Bill Simmons questions the role Jalen Brunson’s dad will play in Knicks’ HC searchJulian Ojeda ·
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd looks on during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
NBA rumors: Knicks expected to make Jason Kidd request after Tom Thibodeau firingJoey Mistretta ·
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns looking sad, with Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Suns, Mavericks, Spurs, Rockets, Cavs logos all over him
Ranking 4 Karl-Anthony Towns trade destinations if Knicks blow it upJedd Pagaduan ·
Knicks' Mikal Bridges looking serious, with Lakers, Warriors, Thunder, 76ers, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs logos around him, question marks all over
Ranking 5 Mikal Bridges trade destinations if Knicks blow it upJedd Pagaduan ·
Knicks logo in the middle, with head cutouts (head only) of Landry Shamet, PJ Tucker, Delon Wright, Cameron Payne, Precious Achiuwa around the logo, question marks all over
3 best players New York Knicks must re-sign in 2025 NBA free agencyJedd Pagaduan ·

This is coming after Fat Joe made comments about Irving and Kevin Durant not being able to handle the pressure that New York imposes upon its players, a pressure to win and perform unlike any other for NBA players.

It seems not even the man who discovered DJ Khaled was able to get Irving to “Lean Back” on his decision to join the Nets. Irving cited better organizational structure and the chance to play for the team he grew up rooting for as a kid in West Orange, New Jersey as reasons for his choice to sign with them in the summer.