Today, no longer a child, he stands sturdier, at 6 foot 8 and 250 pounds, and surer of himself. This summer, in Beijing, James led the US Men's Basketball Team to Olympic gold, a veritable jaunt through top international competition wherein the US squad was hardly tested and James established himself as the world's premier player (though fellow NBA star Kobe Bryant might disagree).

Oh, and Jordan? Johnson? James is like an amalgamation of the two, combining the best qualities of each while leaving out the undesirables. It's as if he's been specifically manufactured to play basketball.

What's more, his near-brushes with championship glory have steeled his resolve and honed his focus to laser-point precision: he wants an NBA title. And no time is better than the present. This season, 2008-2009, the Cavaliers are off to their best start in franchise history, setting a blistering pace with 23 wins and only 4 losses.

Meanwhile, James leads the NBA in scoring (nearly 28 points per game); but unlike many top scorers -- who are thought of as selfish and 'me-first' players -- James keeps his team mates involved in the action (his passing prowess is almost unrivalled and he averages 6.5 assists per game). It's refreshing to see a talented superstar who is genuinely more concerned with team victory than personal accomplishments.