BAMAPHIN 22
FinHeaven Elite
LeBron James was sitting at his locker stall before a game last month when he was asked if he remembered having played pickup basketball as a high school kid against Michael Jordan during the former NBA legend's comeback camp in Chicago five years ago.
"Yeah," James said with a chuckle. "It was, uh, very ... intimidating."
Funny how much things can change in five years. These days James isn't afraid of anything. The 6-foot-8 Cavs forward is riding high, leading his team to the playoffs, where they haven't been since 1998, and making a late bid for MVP honors.
When the first round of the 2005-06 NBA playoffs tip off this weekend, James will take center stage like, perhaps, no player since Jordan. Forget the Pistons or the Spurs or the Heat or even the Clippers. For the first round at least, all eyes will be on "the King" as he makes his postseason debut in Cleveland.
Everybody will be anxious to see if James is ready to take the next step in his career. He already has won Rookie of the Year ('04) and All-Star Game MVP ('06). But until the 21-year-old phenom wins championships, he won't completely be in the class with the all-time greats such as Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/04/18/lebron.playoffs/index.html
"Yeah," James said with a chuckle. "It was, uh, very ... intimidating."
Funny how much things can change in five years. These days James isn't afraid of anything. The 6-foot-8 Cavs forward is riding high, leading his team to the playoffs, where they haven't been since 1998, and making a late bid for MVP honors.
When the first round of the 2005-06 NBA playoffs tip off this weekend, James will take center stage like, perhaps, no player since Jordan. Forget the Pistons or the Spurs or the Heat or even the Clippers. For the first round at least, all eyes will be on "the King" as he makes his postseason debut in Cleveland.
Everybody will be anxious to see if James is ready to take the next step in his career. He already has won Rookie of the Year ('04) and All-Star Game MVP ('06). But until the 21-year-old phenom wins championships, he won't completely be in the class with the all-time greats such as Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/04/18/lebron.playoffs/index.html