So when Jazz P.A. announcer Dan Roberts called out on Wednesday, "Wearing No. 23, starting at forward, at 6-foot-8, from St. Vincent-Mary High in Ohio, LeBron James!" the Cleveland star wasn't booed out of the house. Not by a long shot. Same as in Jordan's salad days. A lot of people had come to see him and him alone.

Is James as good as Jordan? Not yet. But he works at it. And he makes others better.

"I try to get better every year," he said. "Whether it's doing it with outside shots, or playing in the post, or just trying to will us to victory."

Sound a lot like you-know-who.

James still has plenty of time to meet expectations. Jordan didn't win a title until he was 28, won the last of six when he was 35. When Jordan was 22 he was still relatively unknown. James has been a celebrity since he was in high school.

Thus, even on a night that wasn't his best all the time, it was

still easy to see why most players want to be like LeBron. And why even opposing fans want to cheer him.

He may not yet be MJ, but most nights, simply being King James seems quite enough.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com