LeBron James News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Los Angeles Times

"CC Sabathia told The Post last night that he absolutely would like to see his friend LeBron James in New York, and said he would tell the future free agent that New York is a one-of-a-kind city to play in. Sabathia, the Yankees ace and former Cleveland Indians star, was honored with five of his Yankees teammates at a star-studded Knicks-Cavaliers game at Madison Square Garden. Sabathia just finished the first year of his seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yanks. "He's seen both sides of the fence, being in Cleveland and now in New York," James said before the game. And Sabathia would like to see James in his new town. "No doubt. This is it. This is the stage he wants to play ..."

LeBron gets 33 in only MSG visit, Cavs beat Knicks

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November 7

New York Post

"LeBron James scored 33 points in his only visit to Madison Square Garden this season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-91 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. One night after managing just 42 second-half points in an ugly home loss to Chicago, the Cavaliers rang up 40 in the first quarter, leaving New York fans with little left to do besides cheer for the Yankees in attendance and enjoy another mesmerizing performance by James. He added nine assists and eight rebounds, but fell just shy of passing Kobe Bryant as the active scoring leader at the Garden. James improved his average to 30.4 points, with Bryant averaging 30.5 in 11 visits, according to STATS LLC James had ..."

CC 'trying hard' to recruit James

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November 7

New York Post

"CC Sabathia told The Post last night that he absolutely would like to see his friend LeBron James in New York, and said he would tell the future free agent that New York is a one-of-a-kind city to play in. Sabathia, the Yankees ace and former Cleveland Indians star, was honored with five of his Yankees teammates at a star-studded Knicks-Cavaliers game at Madison Square Garden. Sabathia just finished the first year of his seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yanks. "He's seen both sides of the fence, being in Cleveland and now in New York," James said before the game. And Sabathia would like to see James in his new town. "No doubt. This is it. This is the stage he wants to play on," ..."

Too bad Garden hoopla for visitors

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November 7

New York Post

columnist George Willis

"To have to watch a Knicks game on the same day as the Yankees held a parade to celebrate their 27th World Series championship is a lot like being fed stale pizza after everyone else enjoyed steak. At least Knicks fans had the chance to dream a little bit last night. LeBron James was in the building, and though reality suggests the odds are against him wearing a Knicks uniform next year, that thin ray of hope was enough to pump some energy in the fabled building. A packed house, plenty of celebrities and even a few past and present Yankees were on hand for the nationally televised game between the Cavaliers and the Knicks. It almost felt like old times. Too bad all the commotion was about ..."

LeBron owns Garden in only visit

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November 7

New York Post

"The Knicks got a head start on July 1 by rolling out the red carpet for LeBron James last night. King James held his own Garden parade in the 100-91 Cavaliers victory, his lone appearance here this season. It's surprising Mayor Bloomberg didn't come out to give James another key to the city, because James had the key to the Garden in doing whatever he pleased. With several Yankees stars sitting courtside hours after the championship parade, James looked like a world champion, too. He paraded on the Knicks for 33 points in 36 minutes, snapping nine assists with eight rebounds, and nearly notching a triple-double. James shot 12-of-17 from the field as the Knicks fell to 1-5. "It's not about ..."

LeBron shines up Big Apple

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November 7

Akron Beacon Journal

"Call it a low-key affair, but the usual circus surrounding a LeBron James appearance at Madison Square Garden never took place. In fact, it was rather subdued as James fielded many of the same questions so familiar to those in Cleveland. But there was still a buzz in the air. ''It's never low key coming to the city,'' James said. ''With it being early in the season, it brings a little more excitement because the fans are really excited about their team, to see how their team is going to do today.'' Attention eventually turned to James' status as the top player in the free-agent class of 2010 next summer. He has frequently said that he signed a three-year contract to leave his options open ..."

LeBron leads all scorers as Cavs top Knicks

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November 7

Akron Beacon Journal

"LeBron James said the only thing occupying his thoughts Friday was winning at Madison Square Garden. Guess he was serious. James sauntered into the Garden and promptly showed why the citizens of the Big Apple covet his talents so much as the Cavs beat the New York Knicks 100-91. James led all scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. David Lee led the Knicks with 21 points. However, James set the tone in the first quarter, scoring 19 points and putting to rest the Cavs' offensive troubles for the time being."

James not getting much love outside Madison Square Garden

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November 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"LeBron James is larger than life here. Really. The Cavaliers' superstar is featured in a Nike ad on a three-story billboard on Seventh Avenue, a couple of blocks from Madison Square Garden. In it, he looks like a model, wearing a black jacket underneath what looks like a red, zipped sweatshirt with black leather sleeves. It's a far sexier look than what he wore to Friday night's game here against the Knicks. He showed up for his only visit here this season in a purple-and-black checked shirt with a purple-and-black striped tie under a similar black jacket, with a knit cap on his head and some big, funky black glasses. He looked like Steve Urkel from the TV sitcom "Family Matters" -- with ..."

LeBron scores 19 in first period, finishes with 33 as Cavs cruise

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November 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"As it turns out, the Cavaliers love the idea of LeBron James playing in New York. Every time he comes to Madison Square Garden, it seems the Cavs star brings some of his "A" game. Always leaving them wanting more, James turned in another MSG gem Friday night. Playing in front of numerous celebrity and athlete friends who were dotting the courtside seats, James started fast and finished smooth on his way to 33 points, eight rebounds and nine assists as the Cavs won their fourth consecutive game in Manhattan by beating the Knicks, 100-91. "This building is very special, there's a lot of tradition here and a lot of great players have been through this building," James said. "It is hard not ..."

Yankees own the spotlight, but Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James not forgotten

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November 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Though it's clearly a Yankees town today, don't think New Yorkers aren't thinking about LeBron James. While the Yankees were being feted about town and honored with a parade, a sales clerk named Gabriel says there's been a run on LeBron gear at the Niketown store just off 5th Ave. James, a noted Yankee fan by the way, and the Cavaliers make their only trip to New York this season to face the Knicks tonight at Madison Square Garden. When a reporter approached, Gabriel and a colleague were in a heated discussion about the Cavaliers starting lineup. When pressed, Gabriel suggested the Cavs need a new offensive coordinator in order to win the championship."

James Brings Buzz to Garden, but Keeps Plans to a Murmur

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November 7

New York Times

"In one of LeBron James's recurring Nike commercials, he played several characters simultaneously. The ad was merely fantasy for viewers, fodder for shoe aficionados. It could also be the dream of N.B.A. general managers. Multiple Jameses may be the only way to truly placate every team he visits next summer, when he is expected to be part of what promises to be the most significant free-agency period in league history. The one and only James made his sole regular-season appearance at Madison Square Garden on Friday, although the Knicks might have sworn there was more than one of him on the court. James put together a box score line of 33 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds in the Cavaliers' ..."

Fans at Garden Were Thrilled, but Not by Knicks

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November 7

New York Times

"LeBron James bade New York a warm hello and a fond farewell Friday, and in the hours between friendly greetings, pinned the Knicks with another defeat while soaking up their fans' adulation. This was not so much a recruiting trip for James as it was a bad mental trip for the Knicks, whose next destination might be a psychiatrist's couch. James got the biggest cheers, the gaudiest statistics and, not surprisingly, the victory. The Cleveland Cavaliers pounced early, survived a typically late Knicks rally and left with a 100-91 win. Before a crowd packed with Yankees and some of his friends (C. C. Sabathia, Jay-Z), James eagerly played the showman. He hit twisting fadeaways and deep jumpers ..."

Pinstripe parade could be big woo for LeBron

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November 6

New York Post

columnist George Willis

"If the Knicks are smart, they'll sneak LeBron James out of his hotel room today and make sure he has a front-row seat for all the pinstriped festivities along the Canyon of Heroes. James is a Yankees fan, so it shouldn't take much arm-twisting to get him there, even if he did say last night he's not planning to attend. The Knicks should make it happen, somehow, some way, so that King James can see how New York honors its kings. Call it good timing; call it a coincidence; call it a marketing opportunity. On the same day the Yankees will be celebrated for their 27th World Series championship, LeBron is in town as the Cavs play the Knicks tonight in his only Garden visit of the season. No ..."

Knicks hope to become 'Apple' of LeBron's eye

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November 6

New York Post

"For the Knicks, 2008 and 2009 are all about the summer of 2010, all about luring LeBron James to New York with the big promises of the world's biggest stage. James will get to see that stage first-hand today. His Yankees are having their parade up the Canyon of Heroes before James himself faces the Knicks tonight at the Garden. And even if he doesn't attend the parade, it'll be King James' last visit to the Garden -- barring a miracle and the Knicks making the playoffs -- before he decides whether to make it his kingdom. "No, my parade starts at 8 [tonight]," James said before hosting Chicago last night. "There will be a lot of intensity, the fact that we only play there once. "July 1 is ..."

James warming up for N.Y. media rush

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November 6

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"With a wry smile and twinkle in his eyes, LeBron James claims he's not a tease. Then he goes right ahead and does it, suppressing giggles all the way. Today, the Cavaliers make their only visit to Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks and enter the vortex of 2010 possibility. James was just getting warmed up for it Thursday, prepared to not only enjoy being in the Big Apple less than 48 hours after his favorite baseball team, the Yankees, won the World Series but also to be openly courted. James says he's not thinking about 2010. He says he's never said anything cross about Cleveland or hinted he'd leave when his contract is up in eight months. He said he doesn't even bait the New ..."

Burning free-agency question about Cavaliers

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November 6

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"There is no shrine to LeBron James here at the New York Knicks practice facility about 15 miles north of the city. There are no votive candles underneath a poster of him, no calendar with the days crossed off until he becomes a free agent next summer. Here in suburban New York, the Knicks are more concerned about their team and this season than worrying about what might happen eight months from now. Despite constant questioning from a rabid media corps and an anxious fan base, General Manager Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni are focused on fixing what's wrong with a 1-4 team that will play host to James and the Cavaliers tonight in Madison Square Garden. And while they might not ..."

'D' Bulls top LeBron

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November 6

Chicago Sun-Times

"Would you believe the Bulls won for a second straight game because of their -- ahem -- defense? Believe it. Despite going scoreless in the last 1:44 and shooting only 40.9 percent, the Bulls squeezed out an 86-85 victory Thursday over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena because they successfully defended a LeBron James drive in the final seconds. That's right. With Luol Deng and Joakim Noah providing the resistance, the Bulls thwarted a James drive for a potential game-winner and forced a turnover with .2 seconds left. The Bulls (3-2) had stops on their last three defensive possessions against the Cavaliers (3-3) -- and this comes two days after they had stops on their last two ..."

Does LeBron James Need New York and the Knicks?

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November 6

New York Times

columnist Howard Beck

"If LeBron James were to scrawl his career goals on, say, a New York deli napkin, the list might look something like this: Win Most Valuable Player award ¶Win Olympic gold medal ¶Win N.B.A. championship ¶Become global icon These are not modest aspirations, but then James, the Cleveland Cavaliers star who answers to the nickname King, is no modest figure. He secured a gold medal in 2008 and the M.V.P. award last spring. An N.B.A. title has eluded him, but he is doing O.K. on the global-icon front, with strong jersey sales in Europe and China. So what do you get for the superstar who has everything? More fame? More awards? More money? The answers might determine where James lands next ..."

A terrible audition for LeBron

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November 5

New York Post

"The Knicks were still basking in the glow of their first victory of the season, allowing them to dream of an actual winning streak. Then came last night, a 101-89 collapse that served as both a bucket of cold water in their collective faces, and an ominous warning with LeBron James & Co. looming tomorrow. The same team that had hung a 40-point fourth-quarter on the Hornets was held to just 15 by the Pacers. The same club that couldn't miss on Monday couldn't buy a basket down the stretch, missing its last dozen shots. In short, all that good mojo left the Garden faster than a Hideki Matsui longball left Yankee Stadium. "We had an opportunity a couple times to put them away and let them ..."

Knicks just not fit for the 'king'

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November 5

New York Post

"Bring on LeBron! Actually, not really a good time. If the Knicks were trying to impress LeBron James as he comes to town tomorrow night for his lone Garden appearance this season, the Knicks did the opposite in playing a horrifying fourth quarter last night. The prevailing theory is James would sign with New York as a free agent this summer if he genuinely feels he can make the Knicks a contender. But they looked like a laughingstock in losing last night to the previously winless Pacers, 101-89, to fall to 1-4. The Knicks shot 2-of-17 in the fourth quarter, 0-of-7 on treys, and missed their final 10 shots from the field. They went without a field goal for the final 9:21. They scored 15 ..."

Knicks president Donnie Walsh not surprised at Larry Bird's words about Lebron James

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November 5

New York Daily News

"Donnie Walsh didn't take it personally when his former subordinate, Pacers president Larry Bird, lobbied against Le-Bron James coming to New York next July as a free agent. "I have no problem with what Larry said," the Knicks president said Wednesday night before New York took on his old team at the Garden. "I love Larry. I'm not surprised he'd say that, either." Bird's contention is that James, an Akron native, means too much to Ohio and would be a catastrophic loss to the franchise. It's hard to argue with either of those points. "I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them," said Bird, who played his entire Hall of Fame career in Boston. "So ..."

LeBron, Cavaliers outmuscle Wizards

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November 4

Washington Times

"Flip Saunders said his Washington Wizards squad entered Tuesday night's game at Quicken Loans Arena in a prime position. They would get to test themselves against a team that won a league-best 66 games last season, but because it was only the fourth game, the impact - win or lose - wouldn't be great. "I think it's a good challenge from the standpoint that in one week's time or a month, no one's going to know who won the game basically," Saunders said 90 minutes before tipoff. "But it's also good as far as telling you where you're at both the good and the bad." The good was that for a half, the Wizards managed to hang with the Cavaliers and even build a double-digit lead while holding ..."

Larry Bird likes LeBron James as Cavalier, not a New York Knick

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November 3

New York Daily News

"Not that he wants his former boss, Donnie Walsh, to fail at rebuilding the Knicks, but Pacers president Larry Bird doesn't want to see LeBron James come to New York next summer. "I hope he stays in Cleveland," Bird said Monday. "He's from Ohio and he means so much to that team and that state. I used to love to go and play in Cleveland because they love the game. And, I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them. It means so much for the league and the state. So I would rather see him stay." Bird, who coached for Walsh and then joined the front office when the current Knicks president ran the Pacers, participated in a conference call with Magic ..."

Too much LeBron, too many breakdowns

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October 31

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"There isn't much Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis can do in these situations other than admire the opponent and keep teaching. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team expected to contend for an NBA championship, the rebuilding Wolves might have needed a flawless performance Friday night at Target Center to pull off an upset. But Rambis saw numerous breakdowns by his team — miscues that the balanced Cavaliers took advantage of to cruise to a 104-87 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 19,356. "We ran into a pretty good team tonight," Rambis said. That's the admiration part from Rambis, a salute to LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and a capable cast of role players. As for the teaching, Rambis ..."

Will the powers of Shaq and LeBron overcome the forces of darkness?

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October 25

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"As children growing up 12 years and a thousand miles apart, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James loved to mimic their favorite comic book superheroes. O'Neal, a child of the '70s, was coming into his own when Christopher Reeve was starring in the Superman movies. The powerful "S" insignia appealed to the maturing Shaquille, who was always bigger, stronger and more dominant than any of his peers. He loved the persona and sports the logo to this day as a tattoo on his left arm. James was in his impressionable boyhood when Michael Keaton was on the big screen outdueling Jack Nicholson in the original "Batman," a super-rich hero who drove sleek, fast cars, used fancy gadgets and always ..."

LeBron means le cash for Cavs

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October 25

Akron Beacon Journal

"On the court, LeBron James is money. And off, he means even more money for the Cavaliers. Since James entered the NBA, the value of the Cavs' franchise jumped 85 percent to $477 million last year - the largest percentage increase in the league, according to Forbes.com. The team is ranked as the fifth-most valuable in the NBA, climbing over larger markets in the past several years, thanks in large part to James' on-court success. But that team value - which factors in the arena - and ranking could take a serious hit next year. As the NBA season kicks off this week, James is entering the final year of his contract with the Cavs, and there's plenty of media and fan speculation that he might ..."

LeBron, Shaq testing chemistry

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October 25

Akron Beacon Journal

"One is still ascending in his professional basketball career, and the other is in the twilight of his. But make no mistake about it, when listening to LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal speak, the topic is of a shared goal - winning an NBA championship. O'Neal gave the Cavs their playoff marketing slogan at his introductory news conference back in July when he said he was here to ''win a ring for the King.'' It gave some insight into how O'Neal viewed his role. ''I'm not here to get any individual accolades,'' O'Neal said recently. ''I've been in the league 17 years and I've won almost every award you can think of. It's our job to make him look good.'' Still when dealing with someone who's ..."

LeBron to N.Y.? Odds against it

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October 24

New York Daily News

"The Knicks will have to defy the odds if they want to sign LeBron James next summer. A Las Vegas bookmaker has installed the Cleveland Cavaliers as a 2-5 favorite to re-sign James, who can become an .unrestricted free agent on July 1. According to Bodog.com , the odds of James joining the Knicks next summer are 9-4. James remains noncommittal about his future, and a majority of league executives believes that he won't leave Cleveland for the Knicks, a franchise that has suffered through eight straight losing seasons. During his annual media conference call Friday, NBA commissioner David Stern was asked if having a winning team in New York is important to the overall success ..."

Celtics' preseason ends with skirmish, win

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October 22

Boston Herald

"And they say these games are meaningless. Tell that to Shelden Williams and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams, who had to be separated during a scrap in front of the visiting team's bench just before halftime of last night's 96-82 Celtics victory. Shelden Williams attempted to get position, Mo Williams hit the floor, and a little regular-season heat broke out in the middle of the last exhibition game. Celtics players, on their way to the locker room, briefly stepped onto the floor to break up the skirmish. Considering that these two smoldering foes open the season on Tuesday night in Cleveland, the Celtics might want to screen those calls from the league office, should the incident get ..."

Rule change legalizes LeBron's 'crab dribble'

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October 18

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"So-called "star calls" have been commonplace in the NBA for many years, even if it often perturbs fans. But you haven't truly arrived until you have your own "star rules." Sha quille O'Neal has been there for a while; Le Bron James is just getting there now. Decades ago, the league installed a rule that players who are fouled before the ball is inbounded or away from the ball in the final two minutes of the game get free throws plus another possession. This was once known as the Wilt Chamberlain rule, but over the past dozen or so years has become known as the Shaq rule. It limits the effectiveness of the hack-a-Shaq strategy late in close games. Five years ago this month, the NBA ..."

No Love Lost in Cleveland, Stevenson Finding His Way

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October 18

Washington Post

"DeShawn Stevenson returned to Cleveland last week and got an instant reminder that there will always be one city in the United States that reviles him. When the Washington Wizards' private plane landed at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the runway marshal warmly greeted each member of the team until he spotted the scraggly bearded Stevenson. "I hate you," Stevenson recalls the airport employee telling him, to which Stevenson responded with an equally incensed retort. "I won't cuss, but I said something to him," Stevenson said. Stevenson has become one of the most hated athletes in Cleveland ever since he dared to call reigning league MVP ..."

LeBron James, other Cavaliers recovering from flu bug

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October 16

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"LeBron James was in a pretty good mood for a guy who was sick in bed the past couple of days. James and teammates Darnell Jackson and Coby Karl tested positive for influenza A on Wednesday, and although their tests for H1N1 have not come back yet, the Cavaliers elected to treat those three and the rest of the team's traveling party as if the tests are positive. H1N1 is a strain of influenza A. In a brief but upbeat meeting with reporters Thursday, James said he felt much better. "I think I'm over it now," he told them. "If you get sick, then I wasn't [over it]." James, Jackson and Karl missed Wednesday night's home game against Washington but traveled with the team to Texas. They are ..."

Knicks' Larry Hughes believes LeBron James will stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers

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October 15

New York Daily News

"Larry Hughes understands that the chances of him returning to the Knicks next season are slim to none. Unfortunately, the same may be true of one Hughes' best friends as well. Hughes reiterated Wednesday that he believes LeBron James, the Knicks' primary free agent target, will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers when James becomes a free agent next summer. "I still feel that way," Hughes said following the Knicks' practice in Greenburgh, N.Y. "He's got a good opportunity to win there. And I know a lot of people talk about him playing in a big market, but he just wants to win a ring. It's not about playing in a big market." Hughes speaks regularly to his former teammate with the Cavs ..."

Flu bug hitting Cleveland Cavaliers' roster

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October 15

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The flu bug has invaded the Cavaliers' locker room. Three players, including LeBron James, sat out Wednesday's preseason game with the Washington Wizards at The Q with flulike symptoms. The players first started getting ill on Tuesday when James was sent home from practice. James, Darnell Jackson and Coby Karl were all kept away from the team. As a matter of precaution and procedure, all three will be tested for the H1N1 flu virus. Cavs coach Mike Brown said the team wasn't worried about it and said that one of his sons also has the flu, which has been going around in area schools and colleges. The Cavs have employed some anti-flu measures, including encouraging hand washing and limited ..."

James among 5 Cleveland Cavaliers who might be sidelined for tonight's game against Washington

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October 14

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Cavaliers may be without five players for tonight's preseason home game with the Washington Wizards. LeBron James is questionable because of illness, but he was not at shootaround. Darnell Jackson, another player feeling ill, will not play. The team likely wants to keep sick players away from the rest of the team. Cavs Coach Mike Brown also likes to give James at least one preseason game off. Jamario Moon, who has missed the last two games after surgery to remove wisdom teeth, is questionable. He did take part in shootaround."

LeBron James jersey now No. 2 in China

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October 9

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The No. 23 jersey of reigning NBA MVP LeBron James moved up five spots and ranks second only to Kobe Bryant's in sales in China, but the Cavaliers' involvement overseas stretches far beyond James. At least five Cavaliers toured abroad between the end of last sea- son and the start of this season as the league is hosting a record num- ber of international events culminating with preseason games in China, Eu rope and Mexico - the first time the NBA has held five preseason games on three continents. The Cavs' contingent was part of more than 300 players, former players, coaches, dance teams and mascots to participate in a record 345 international events in 158 cities and 24 countries ..."

LeBron, Brown would welcome West back

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October 8

Akron Beacon Journal

"Lost in the maelstrom surrounding Delonte West's status with the Cavaliers has been one very important fact. He not only was the team's starting shooting guard last season, but the backup point guard as well. West left the team after the first preseason game. He returned to his home in Maryland to take care of some legal and personal issues and is expected to return to the club in several days. Although Cavs coach Mike Brown and LeBron James both said West will be welcomed back to the team with open arms, they still have to prepare for life without the troubled guard. That means Daniel ''Boobie'' Gibson will have to be ready to go at the point. ''As far as our point-guard situation, I ..."

Cavaliers' LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal practice on-court chemistry in preseason opener

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October 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"If their first time on the floor to gether as team mates was any indication, Le Bron James and Shaquille O'Neal fully intend to become a formidable 1-2 punch. During the preseason every player has his own focus and own little missions, which is why the games can often seem disjointed and without much flow. That was the case Tuesday when the Cavaliers opened the preseason, but there was no missing the two superstars' attempts at fostering chemistry. What was missing during the Cavs' 92-87 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats at The Q was guard Delonte West. The Cavs planned to play West and he warmed up and was in the locker room before the game. However, it was determined he wasn't quite ..."

Wade joins James in uncertainty

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October 6

ESPN.com

"Dwyane Wade is wavering on playing for Team USA next summer, just like LeBron James. The Miami Heat guard became the second Team USA player in a week to express a degree of uncertainty on the question of playing for the United States at the 2010 world championship in Turkey. "I'm in-between," Wade told ESPN.com. "I mean, you know of course I want to be a part of the experience with most of the guys coming back, but I have to wait to see how this season goes before I can go forward with what I'm going to do this summer." Like James -- and another veteran member of Team USA, Chris Bosh -- Wade has the right to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Wade ..."

LeBron follows drama between buddy, Braylon Edwards

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October 6

Akron Beacon Journal

"An early morning incident involving Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards got the attention of Cavaliers forward LeBron James. According to a Cleveland.com report, Cleveland police issued a report accusing Edwards of assaulting club promoter Edward Givens after an incident outside The View, a Cleveland nightclub. Givens hosts parties at the nightspot. James said that Givens is his very good friend and that he didn't want to go into too much detail, other than to say that he was at home at the time of the incident. ''The situation is very sensitive right now, but it's very unfortunate that it happened. Hopefully my friend is doing well at this point,'' James said. ''It's unfortunate when ..."

Shaq's Gold squad outshines LeBron's

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October 4

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"This round of "Shaq Vs." was unofficial, but he did finally get a win. The opponent happened to be LeBron James, but James didn't mind. Shaquille O'Neal was the highlight of the annual Wine and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at a packed Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron. Fans who started lining up two hours before tipoff, a line that eventually stretched several hundred yards, gave O'Neal a standing ovation when he came on the floor for warm-ups. He responded by delivering a crisp and agile performance along with most of his teammates. O'Neal made 6 of 8 shots and led all scorers with 12 points as his Gold team beat James' Wine team, 54-38. O'Neal moved well, showing he's in ..."

Knicks' free agents must show class to see if LeBron James arrives

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September 29

New York Daily News

"The largest man in a Knicks uniform Monday could not ignore the big elephant in the room. "You know it's there, I hope they do get LeBron," Eddy Curry said. "I hope I'm here when he comes. If not, I think the city deserves a player like him." There in a nutshell is the 2009-2010 season for the Knicks: the franchise is biding its time until July 1, 2010, when LeBron James headlines a potential free agent class that includes Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has cleared enough salary cap space to make a run at one, if not two, of the top free agents. No matter what happens this season, the Knicks will be players in the free agent market next ..."

Shaq settles in near LeBron

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September 24

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"With so much intrigue, rumor and speculation about where the big man was going to land in Cleveland, "The House-Hunting Adventures of Shaquille O'Neal" could have played as its own reality show. At first, the word was he was taking a penthouse loft in downtown Akron, where rock 'n' roller Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders would have been a part-time neighbor. "I could borrow a cup of sugar," the Akron-bred Hynde, who was aware of the rumors, said at the time. But instead of a Sugar Shaq in Ak- ron, O'Neal was seen scouting houses to the west of Cleveland. Tracy Raum, owner of Mojo's coffee shop in Bay Village, said O'Neal popped in last month, asking about the neighborhood, especially ..."

LeBron James rides toward free agency

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September 7

The Oklahoman

"Police halt traffic so the King can pass. Speeding downhill and through an intersection where the traffic signal glows red, LeBron James rolls onto a long bridge overlooking a lush Ohio valley of treetops glistening in the morning sun. The city that raised him now trailing behind, James separates from the pack.Alone. At last.For a rare moment in a whirlwind summer, James is free - nothing in front but open road. He rises from his bicycle seat and pumps the pedals harder, as if he wants to escape the perpetual spotlight.Faster, faster.But soon he squeezes the brakes and steers around orange pylons and makes a U-turn.Then, along with close pal Chris Paul, the All-Star point guard from New ..."

With his new book, 'Shooting Stars,' LeBron James takes control of the narrative

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September 7

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Brace yourself. The cultural footprint of LeBron James is about to get bigger. His size 16 sneakers are striding onto a grander stage, beginning Tuesday. And for the Akron kid who started his first team practice a mere 13 years ago, bouncing an orange ball along the linoleum gym floor of a Salvation Army, the planet -- Paris, London, Beijing -- is paying attention. James will be 25 in December, and this season the audience is widening beyond fans of the National Basketball Association. Clevelanders, living beneath a mural that might make a South American oligarch blush, are accustomed to James' outsized presence. With the publication of the candid, calmly told "Shooting Stars," others ..."

LeBron James gets kudos in "best" categories

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September 3

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James won the NBA MVP award for the 2008-09 season. Many, like a group of ESPN panelists, expect him to repeat. No wonder, then, that James is included in so many "best-this, best-that" listings. Like at FoxSports.com, where Randy Hill names James the "best dunker" and "best athlete" in the NBA. Check the photo galleries, such as "10 fastest players," where James is No.3, and "top 10 shooters," where Cavalier guard Mo Williams is tabbed 10th. Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer is No. 7 in "10 biggest stat stuffers," defined as "the whole really is less than the sum of its parts." Anyone who watched Boozer closely in his two seasons with the Cavaliers should ..."

LeBron James hosts his annual King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron

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August 23

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Name a sporting event that doesn't keep score but has 1,100 winners and LeBron James. The NBA draft would be a bad guess. But if you picked James' own King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron on Saturday, you can sit in the winners' circle with the 1,100 bikers who rode for charity. And maybe Akron itself was a winner, too. Mayor Don Plusquellic certainly thought so. In the past 20 years, the city's downtown has gone from the world's largest vacant lot to a vibrant urban center that gleams and teems with a splendidly intimate ball park and myriad destination restaurants. The mayor was pleased because James burnished the city's luster when he let it slip out that he was committed to ..."

Documentary depicts Lebron James' passion

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August 12

Chicago Tribune

"Sprawled across a couch in a downtown hotel suite, LeBron James laughed. No, the NBA's reigning most valuable player wasn't in town Monday and Tuesday to house hunt in advance of his 2010 free agency, a time when the Bulls oh-so conveniently possess ample salary-cap space. Instead, James visited to promote "More Than a Game," a compelling documentary tracing James' lifelong bond with four teammates and a coach as they chase the dream of a national championship from AAU ball as 11-year-olds through high school in Akron, Ohio. Originally started as a 10-minute college project by first-time director Kristopher Belman, the movie is scheduled for an Oct. 2 release in select cities and Oct. 9 in ..."

LeBron James, why not sign an extension now?

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August 9

Cleveland Plain Dealer

columnist Bud Shaw

"Even as he's ready to embark on a needless year of being ogled and talked about in every major NBA market, LeBron James says he's "humbled" by all the great things happening in his life at age 24. An MVP award. A book. A movie. Another signature basketball shoe. (From the price of this one, you might think you could live in it. But Nike says no, in fact, the LeBron Air Max VII should only be worn even if it reportedly took more months (18) to design than it takes Habitat for Humanity to build a neighborhood.) James also says it would make no sense to sign an extension now, that keeping his options open is what he had in mind when he did his last contract. That seems irrefutable to him, ..."