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Living right in rare air
In his third season, the Cavaliers' LeBron James is improving all facets of his game despite the burden of great expectations.
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
The Cavs LeBron James likes to keep his personal life quiet. (Getty file)
Sacramento, Calif. - Expectations that he would be the next Michael Jordan have hovered since high school, when he became a household name in the sports world. The spotlight never has left him, but LeBron James has tried to maintain some semblance of privacy and normalcy. Good luck, when mere mention of your name gives off the same ring in the hoops world as icons such as Russell, Wilt, Magic and Bird.
"There is no reason why I shouldn't have a personal life and privacy just like you all have privacy," James, 20, said during a recent road trip. "It's not that I'm keeping my personal life inside a box or nothing like that. There is just no need to talk about that."
James' on-court exploits are the stuff of legend for a 20-year-old. The No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft has lived up to the hype that made him a Sports Illustrated cover boy while at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. He was the NBA rookie of the year. A season ago, he averaged 27.2 points and made the NBA all-star team. Now he's even better. He enters tonight's game against Denver averaging 30.7 points, third-best in the league, for an improved Cavaliers team James hopes to lead to the playoffs.
"He's a great leader for a young guy," Miami guard Dwyane Wade said.
The only knock on the 6-foot-8, 240-pound James is he has yet to get his team into the postseason. But with newcomers such as guards Larry Hughes and Damon Jones and forward Donyell Marshall, Cleveland (11-9) appears poised to make its first postseason appearance since 1998.
"It was difficult, but my time will come," James said when asked about just missing the postseason last spring. "It was my second year. I'm not rushing anything. But I feel now that we have pieces and the right parts, I know I'll be in there."
Despite rumors he might bolt Cleveland to play in a bigger market such as New York City, James has indicated to Cavs officials he's comfortable staying near home. Cleveland can sign him to a contract extension before next season.
"I don't need a glamour life to do the things I do on and off the court," James said. "Plus, my family is very close, being 30 miles away from Cleveland. That puts it into perspective right there."
Said Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry: "He's important to the franchise. He's important to the city."
Nuggets guard Earl Boykins, a Cleveland native, likes the idea of a player such as James staying home.
"It's great for the city, and it is unbelievable for northeast Ohio to produce a great talent like that and have the talent stay home," he said. "Now Cleveland has something to call their own."
For James, the attention never stops. When he goes to a mall, word soon spreads that "King James" is there and he is surrounded. Security is often needed to take control. On the road, he spends most of his private time in the five-star team hotel. When he goes to a restaurant, he usually sits in a secluded corner in hopes of privacy. But even then fans find him and want an autograph, handshake or a picture.
"They don't leave me alone anywhere," said James, who travels with his own security. "But that doesn't stop me from going out. I don't have a problem with going out and having people come up to me and ask me for my autograph."
Said Chris Dennis, executive director of The James Family Foundation: "He tries to lead as normal of a life as possible. I think he makes it work as best as he can. His mom didn't teach him to hide from anything, stay away from anything or put himself on a level where he is untouchable."
To make life easier, the Cavaliers hired former Cleveland police commander Marvin Cross to handle team security. When James is on the road, it's not uncommon to see Cross and other security guards nearby. The Cavaliers also hired one of James' longtime friends, Randy Mims, as a player liaison this season. Mims and Cross are in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly off the court for the star.
Even first-year Cavs coach Mike Brown was caught off-guard by the attention surrounding his star.
"I talk to my wife about it and say, 'I can't believe what this guy is going through,"' Brown said. "He's 20. He's worth a hundred million dollars and he handles all this extra."
Said Ferry: "His stardom is different - the commercial appeal, from an NBA appeal, from a draw appeal, all those things. He is obviously very unique. And the attention he's been getting from the age of 15 to now is unique. It's an uncharted situation from high school to this point. He's handled it very well."
James' teammates and friends say James is much like any typical 20-year-old - away from the spotlight. He loves watching television and playing video games. He's a big fan of hip-hop and R&B. He has a great sense of humor, and no one is off-limits from getting some ribbing.
The comedic flair on display in Nike ads featuring James called "The LeBrons" comes naturally.
"I'm just myself and having fun," James said.
Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden said: "He's real personable. He likes to be the life of the party."
That comes from his upbringing.
"In our neighborhood, their house was always the house you would be at," Dennis said. "(Gloria James) was always a mother that everyone was cool with. They all love Miss James. She's fun to be around."
One place James doesn't mind getting personal is with the less fortunate. He and his mother have developed a reputation for having big hearts.
The James Family Foundation gave away more than 1,200 turkeys during Thanksgiving. More than 1,000 backpacks were given to kids in Cleveland and Akron in late August. Last summer he raised money for his charity through a bike-a-thon. And his foundation has contributed more than $200,000 worth of relief supplies to Gulf Coast hurricane victims.
"They needed the help, and we were in the position to help them," Gloria said. "It was only right."
He and his mother went to Jackson, Miss., Baton Rouge, La., and tiny Bogalusa, La., to hand out supplies to hurricane victims.
"It's more hurtful to see it live," James said. "As a professional, as role models, we (need) to be down here. We're supposed to be here for support."
"He's a great person off the court," Gloria said. "Genuinely a great person."
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
In his third season, the Cavaliers' LeBron James is improving all facets of his game despite the burden of great expectations.
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
The Cavs LeBron James likes to keep his personal life quiet. (Getty file)
Sacramento, Calif. - Expectations that he would be the next Michael Jordan have hovered since high school, when he became a household name in the sports world. The spotlight never has left him, but LeBron James has tried to maintain some semblance of privacy and normalcy. Good luck, when mere mention of your name gives off the same ring in the hoops world as icons such as Russell, Wilt, Magic and Bird.
"There is no reason why I shouldn't have a personal life and privacy just like you all have privacy," James, 20, said during a recent road trip. "It's not that I'm keeping my personal life inside a box or nothing like that. There is just no need to talk about that."
James' on-court exploits are the stuff of legend for a 20-year-old. The No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft has lived up to the hype that made him a Sports Illustrated cover boy while at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. He was the NBA rookie of the year. A season ago, he averaged 27.2 points and made the NBA all-star team. Now he's even better. He enters tonight's game against Denver averaging 30.7 points, third-best in the league, for an improved Cavaliers team James hopes to lead to the playoffs.
"He's a great leader for a young guy," Miami guard Dwyane Wade said.
The only knock on the 6-foot-8, 240-pound James is he has yet to get his team into the postseason. But with newcomers such as guards Larry Hughes and Damon Jones and forward Donyell Marshall, Cleveland (11-9) appears poised to make its first postseason appearance since 1998.
"It was difficult, but my time will come," James said when asked about just missing the postseason last spring. "It was my second year. I'm not rushing anything. But I feel now that we have pieces and the right parts, I know I'll be in there."
Despite rumors he might bolt Cleveland to play in a bigger market such as New York City, James has indicated to Cavs officials he's comfortable staying near home. Cleveland can sign him to a contract extension before next season.
"I don't need a glamour life to do the things I do on and off the court," James said. "Plus, my family is very close, being 30 miles away from Cleveland. That puts it into perspective right there."
Said Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry: "He's important to the franchise. He's important to the city."
Nuggets guard Earl Boykins, a Cleveland native, likes the idea of a player such as James staying home.
"It's great for the city, and it is unbelievable for northeast Ohio to produce a great talent like that and have the talent stay home," he said. "Now Cleveland has something to call their own."
For James, the attention never stops. When he goes to a mall, word soon spreads that "King James" is there and he is surrounded. Security is often needed to take control. On the road, he spends most of his private time in the five-star team hotel. When he goes to a restaurant, he usually sits in a secluded corner in hopes of privacy. But even then fans find him and want an autograph, handshake or a picture.
"They don't leave me alone anywhere," said James, who travels with his own security. "But that doesn't stop me from going out. I don't have a problem with going out and having people come up to me and ask me for my autograph."
Said Chris Dennis, executive director of The James Family Foundation: "He tries to lead as normal of a life as possible. I think he makes it work as best as he can. His mom didn't teach him to hide from anything, stay away from anything or put himself on a level where he is untouchable."
To make life easier, the Cavaliers hired former Cleveland police commander Marvin Cross to handle team security. When James is on the road, it's not uncommon to see Cross and other security guards nearby. The Cavaliers also hired one of James' longtime friends, Randy Mims, as a player liaison this season. Mims and Cross are in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly off the court for the star.
Even first-year Cavs coach Mike Brown was caught off-guard by the attention surrounding his star.
"I talk to my wife about it and say, 'I can't believe what this guy is going through,"' Brown said. "He's 20. He's worth a hundred million dollars and he handles all this extra."
Said Ferry: "His stardom is different - the commercial appeal, from an NBA appeal, from a draw appeal, all those things. He is obviously very unique. And the attention he's been getting from the age of 15 to now is unique. It's an uncharted situation from high school to this point. He's handled it very well."
James' teammates and friends say James is much like any typical 20-year-old - away from the spotlight. He loves watching television and playing video games. He's a big fan of hip-hop and R&B. He has a great sense of humor, and no one is off-limits from getting some ribbing.
The comedic flair on display in Nike ads featuring James called "The LeBrons" comes naturally.
"I'm just myself and having fun," James said.
Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden said: "He's real personable. He likes to be the life of the party."
That comes from his upbringing.
"In our neighborhood, their house was always the house you would be at," Dennis said. "(Gloria James) was always a mother that everyone was cool with. They all love Miss James. She's fun to be around."
One place James doesn't mind getting personal is with the less fortunate. He and his mother have developed a reputation for having big hearts.
The James Family Foundation gave away more than 1,200 turkeys during Thanksgiving. More than 1,000 backpacks were given to kids in Cleveland and Akron in late August. Last summer he raised money for his charity through a bike-a-thon. And his foundation has contributed more than $200,000 worth of relief supplies to Gulf Coast hurricane victims.
"They needed the help, and we were in the position to help them," Gloria said. "It was only right."
He and his mother went to Jackson, Miss., Baton Rouge, La., and tiny Bogalusa, La., to hand out supplies to hurricane victims.
"It's more hurtful to see it live," James said. "As a professional, as role models, we (need) to be down here. We're supposed to be here for support."
"He's a great person off the court," Gloria said. "Genuinely a great person."
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
