LeBron: I’m ‘optimistic’ NBA season can be saved

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James stood before 360 third-graders on

Monday, telling them their futures are bright.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

Plenty of ominous signs notwithstanding, he believes the same is

true for the NBA.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

In an interview with The Associated Press, the Miami Heat forward

said he is not considering offers to play internationally during

the NBA lockout – with one catch. He’s committed to the 2012

Olympics and trying to help the United States defend the gold medal

he helped win at the Beijing Games.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“I’m optimistic that we will have a season this year,” James said.

“Very optimistic.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

A little anxious, too.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

He’s working out twice a day, trying to erase some of the sting

that’s still there after the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in

the NBA finals.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“Right now I’ve just been focusing on being a better player,

working on my game every single day,” James said at a news

conference before the AP interview. “Like I said, the Dallas

Mavericks were a great team and they deserved to win that

championship. And I’ll just use that as motivation coming into this

season.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

He’s also trying to deliver on his vow to be even better whenever

the Heat resume play, saying he’s been in Houston at times this

offseason to learn post play from one of the game’s all-time

greats, former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“I look at what he was able to do throughout his career,” James

said. “Unbelievable talent. Multiple champion. Just to see how he

was able to dominate in the low post, for me as an individual, I

just try to look at some of the things I feel I need to get better

at and hit home at it. Our team becomes better if I continue to get

better and that’s what it’s about.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

So even with signs of major trouble afoot in the NBA – union chief

Billy Hunter told a conference of attorneys in Baltimore last week

that he would bet against there being a 2011-12 season “at this

moment” – James remains hopeful.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

He said he understands why someone like star guard Deron Williams

would feel compelled to seek a deal overseas and why Kobe Bryant

appears to be flirting with the notion. It’s just not for him, he

said.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“We all love the game of basketball so much,” James said. “And the

love of the game is always going to be there. Guys love the

game.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

The Olympics count as a motivating force as well. And in time, he

hinted he may even try recruiting some of his NBA pals in an effort

to convince them to play in London next summer.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

Not yet, though.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“I love representing my country and doing it the way I love to do

it and that’s playing the game of basketball,” James said. “So I

would love to be a part of the 2012 team traveling to London and

defending our gold medal.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

James was in his hometown Monday to open “Wheels for Education,” a

program he’s doing in conjunction with corporate partners State

Farm, HP and Nike to provide hundreds of third-graders from Akron

Public Schools academic tools they need. The program will follow

those kids through their high school graduations in 2021, and James

wants the initiative to continue growing annually – plus even sees

a chance to take it beyond his hometown, maybe to South Florida,

maybe even internationally.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

Doused by rain on his 2-mile bike ride through Akron with 22

children ambassadors for the program pedaling alongside him, James

said it still resonates deeply within in when he hears screams of

joy in his hometown. Some people carrying signs in support of James

showed up at the event more than two hours beforehand, hoping just

for a glimpse of the two-time NBA MVP.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“He just lives in Miami,” said Doris Thomas, who brought her

grandson. “He’s one of us. He’s Akron.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

The kids all get a laptop, a backpack with school supplies, and a

bike.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“I believe LeBron is a better person than he is a basketball

player,” Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic said. “And I believe he’s

the best basketball player that ever lived. So that puts it in

perspective, because he cares. He gives back. He doesn’t have to do

this. Riding around the city street, taking a chance on falling or

something, giving back here and having some jerk yell something

like they yell at me … there’s a sincerity inside of

him.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

Monday’s event was part of a busy two days for James: On Tuesday, a

new $240,000 clubhouse – some of the $3 million generated from his

`Decision’ show last summer – at Akron’s Boys & Girls Club will

be named in his honor, and later that night James and four of his

high school teammates will be added to the athletic Hall of Fame at

their alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“I’m just using what I have, using my ability, for better and

good,” James said.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

James touched on a variety of other topics in his interview with

The AP, including:

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

– How he finds motivation to work, even with many people expecting

the NBA season to be delayed, at least: “I believe that Billy

Hunter and the owners and (NBA Commissioner) David Stern are going

to work toward having a season this year. And I’ll be ready for

it.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

– His upcoming trip to China, which starts later this week: “I look

at it as an opportunity for me to go there and to continue to see

the growth of the game of basketball. I’ve been there, I think this

is going to be my fifth time being there and every year I continue

to see the growth of the game and how inspired they are by the game

of basketball. And mostly the game is played outdoors. That’s

another thing that I hit home … when I grew up, that’s all we

had.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

– How he is still overwhelmed by the reaction when he makes

appearances in Akron and around the world, especially from kids:

“It’s very humbling that not only I can get a great reception here

in my hometown but also when I travel abroad I get the same

reception. It was never like a dream of mine, but at the same time,

it’s very satisfying to see that these kids love the way I play the

game of basketball and respect the way I play the game of

basketball every night.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

James seemed completely relaxed. He was surrounded Monday by nearly

his entire inner circle: Longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson, his

mother, his two sons, many of his closest friends and advisers,

even former teammates like Damon Jones.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

He urges fans to relax as well. James had a message for NBA fans,

suggesting they not abandon hope for the season.

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;”>

“Stay positive,” James said. “The game of basketball, we all love

it. And we’re going to try everything in our power to make sure

that this game stays at a high level. And for me personally, I do

it because of the fans. Every night I go out on the basketball

court, I try to showcase my talent at the highest level because of

the fans. They are our league. Our fans are our league.”

“font-family: Verdana, Times, serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; line-height: 13px; color: #000000; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal verdana, helvetica, arial;”>

“text-decoration: none; color: #000066;” rel=”item-license” name=

redistributed. Learn more about our

“text-decoration: none; color: #000066;” href=

Policy and 

href=”http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms”>Terms of Use.