Jay-Z Not Persuading Lebron James to Sign With Nets

Jay-Z wants to make it clear that he is taking no part in influencing his good friend and NBA MVP Lebron James to sign with the New Jersey Nets. In fact, Jay who is a minority owner of the team, noted that his relationship with the NBA baller will stay in tact regardless of what team he decides to go with. "That's his decision," Jay told Rolling Stone of the rumors that James will join the Nets once they head over to Brooklyn.

After several seasons with his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, James is set to become the most sought after free-agent in the league once his contract officially ends July 1. Among the many teams looking to snag the 24-year-old is the New York Knicks who have launched a very public 'C'mon Lebron' campaign which includes a website, ads and a Facebook page. Despite all the hype, Jay maintains that he has no plans of persuading James. "We're friends -- we've still gotta hang out! I don't want to convince somebody to do something, then have to see him and say, 'Uh, yeah, we're 4-30 ... sorry.''

Since Hov only owns a piece of the team, the choice to sign the two-time MVP is left up to Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov. Hov credits the Russian-born billionaire, who he first met at New York City's Four Season's Hotel, as one of his inspirations. "I'd been staying there for 10 years, and I always thought I was at the top level," he said. "But when I met Prokhorov, they took me up to this extra, extra room that I had never even heard of before. Now there's something else to shoot for. There's always an extra level you don't know about."

Plans to bring the Nets to Jay's Brooklyn stomping grounds continue to move forward. Earlier this year the 40-year-old attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Atlantic Yards, the site of the Barclay Center which will house the team in 2012.