Who Really is LeBron James?

The sports world now waits with bated breath as the hour approaches midnight on July 1st. NBA free agency begins, and perhaps the biggest free agent in the history of sports, LeBron James, is opening himself up to all suitors. We've heard the rumors, stories, and predictions as to where the King will reign this upcoming season. With all of the questions surrounding his impending free agency, it's impossible to know where he'll ultimately call home. But, wherever he does land will answer the most intriguing question of all, who really is LeBron James?

Is LeBron a hometown savior?

-If the answer is yes, Lebron will stay in Cleveland with a maximum contract for the maximum length in order to work towards retiring as a Cavalier. All along, Cleveland fans have pinned their hope on Flight #23 ending the championship drought that has hung over their city for over 40 years. And while LeBron certainly has become a citywide, statewide, and nationwide icon without delivering that championship, staying in Cleveland and winning that elusive title would make him an eternally divine figure in the history of Cleveland sports. The importance of being the savior for his hometown fan base can't be underestimated, no matter how many max slots teams like Miami and Chicago have. No championship would mean more to the King, or any fan base in the country, than a Cavs championship.

Is LeBron a puppet for other interests?

-If the answer is yes, Cavs fans should kiss goodbye to LeBron. The reason Cavs fans can feel uncertain over the King deserting his team is the influence of his other "team". Just minutes after being eliminated from this year's playoffs, LeBron already seemed more in tune with his cast of thousands advising him than his Cavs team that had just been upset. This crew of agents, businessmen, cronies, and the elusive, but influential World Wide Wes (seen above holding insane Ron Artest at Malice in the Palace) will certainly have an influence over LeBron's decision. If reports are to be believed, World Wide Wes has the ear of LeBron and is pushing him towards a bigger market, specifically Chicago. Meanwhile, his childhood friend and business partner Maverick Carter was rumored to be pushing LeBron to L.A. and the Clippers. So, who will ultimately make this decision? Will LeBron be tempted by these outside sources of influence to shun his hometown team for supposedly greener pastures? If so, he may only be accepting an apple from a serpent.

Is LeBron not afraid to walk in the shadows of greatness?

-If the answer is yes, then LeBron James will sign with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have the young talent in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah that the Cavs do not. They have the ability to sign another elite player (Bosh, Boozer, Amare, Joe Johnson), which Cleveland does not. There's one thing that would be held over LeBron's head the moment he walked through the door in Chicago.

That's right, Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player who's ever lived. From his entrance into the NBA, to his choice of #23, LeBron has seemed to embrace the inevitable comparisons with MJ. But, playing in a building where his statue waits outside its doors? Living up to that comparison each and every night? Knowing that anything short of 6 championships would be viewed as a failure? That might be a crown too heavy for even the self-described King to wear.

Is LeBron a businessman first, a basketball player second?

-If the answer to this question is yes, LeBron will be calling the greater New York area his home. Much has been made about LeBron James's interest in becoming the first billionaire athlete (although with Tiger's wife about to rake in $750 million in a divorce settlement that might be debateable). LeBron not only counts other pro athletes amongst his friends, but also rap mogul/Nets part-owner Jay-Z (who along with LeBron have referred to themselves as the "Two Kings") and investor Warren Buffett. There's some doubt that LeBron's first priority is basketball, instead of building the brand of LeBron. If LeBron's priority is his business, he'll sign with the biggest market (the Knicks) or the owner who can build his brand worldwide, the Nets and Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov. However, each of these options will only prove LeBron is not about the championships, because these teams won't be competing for titles anytime soon, with or without the King.

Is LeBron just a prima donna attention hog?

-If the answer to this question is yes, then we won't find out LeBron's ultimate destination anytime soon. The King has truly boarded on Brett Favre territory in the last several weeks with all of the stories leaked and the sources reporting his every whim. Some say it's because LeBron never got to feel the joy of being recruited in college. I say it may be because some people just like being the center of attention. At least LeBron and his "team" had the good sense and the decency to the people of Ohio to not go on a jet-setting tour of the country. The odds are though, that this saga will not be ending soon after we hit midnight on July 1st. This means LeBron will be front and center of the sports universe long into the summer months, which might make the King and his court of jesters happier than anything.

Is LeBron a fraud?

-If the answer to this question is yes, then the fans of Cleveland and Ohio will make LeBron James the most hated sports figure in the entire state. For those living in their ivory towers in New York and Los Angeles, it seems like an easy decision to leave podunk Cleveland, OH for the bright lights and big city of a larger metropolitan market. The thing about LeBron though, is that he's aware of his city's history, his city's plight, and the affect his departure would have on his city. LeBron must know that if he were to leave, he would be more hated in Cleveland than Art Modell, the man who moved the Cleveland Browns! There's no way the fans of Cleveland could ever forgive their hometown son "quitting" on his team in the playoffs, and then leaving the city entirely.

This is the comforting thought Cavs fans will adhere to when they sleep at night in this time of uncertainty. Only someone who was born-and-raised in Ohio would understand the pain losing a once-in-a-lifetime figure like LeBron James would inflict on a community, not just in terms of sports, but in terms of its general health. If LeBron leaves Cleveland, not only are their hopes for a championship dashed, but millions of dollars will be lost for the franchise and city. But...and this is a big but. LeBron has always opined about his loyalty to one city...Akron. That's his hometown. That's the place he has a deep, spiritual connection to, not Cleveland. And as far as anyone knows, LeBron can be just as loyal to Akron from Chicago or Miami than he can be from Cleveland. That's the thought that may keep all of Cleveland awake at night.

Is he a winner?

-This is the one remaining question that won't be answered by LeBron's free agency decision. So far, the answer is a resounding no, LeBron is not a winner. Individual awards, MVP's, endorsements, and all of the other perks that come with being a global icon are fantastic and certainly fit for a King. But, only one thing will determine his legacy...winning championships. Currently, LeBron's total wins in the Finals is the same as you and me...none. If LeBron doesn't make the right decision at this career crossroads, then he may never win a championship, a fate that would place his career among the all-time failures in the history of sports. If LeBron does make the right choice, and does fulfill his potential to be one of the greatest champions in history, he will be placed in the Pantheon of sports history. Maybe the answer to this question isn't that important to the King, as long as he can reign over a worldwide kingdom. Whatever the answer to these questions, we'll know soon enough, because LeBron James is on the clock.

Those are our thoughts on LeBron's historic free agency, what are yours? Where will LeBron land when the dust settles? Keep up with RSS for all your LeBron analysis, along with our continuing coverage of the World Cup. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter too @RSS_Sports. Until then, it's bye for now!