King James' next conquest

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2006 | by David DuPree

At a time when an image boost certainly wouldn't hurt the NBA, when several superstars -- Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen -- didn't make the playoffs, in strides King James.

LeBron James, the 21-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers phenom, finally has made it to the NBA's big show, opening his first playoffs Saturday at home against the Washington Wizards (3 p.m. ET, ABC).

In his third season, James gave an overall effort for the ages -- evoking comparisons to the game's greatest, from Oscar Robertson to Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan. In getting 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists a game, James joins Robertson, Jordan and Jerry West as the only players to average those numbers for a season.

"I think it was time," says James, who sat...