LeBron James is a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is also a member of the United States men's national basketball team.NBA.com: LeBron James Bio James has statistically been a leading player in the NBA, and is beginning to gain comparisons to such Hall of Fame legends as Michael Jordan. James was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA for the 2008-2009 season.ESPN.com: Reports: NBA to Tap LeBron as MVP

James underwent surgery to remove a benign growth from his jaw on June 2, 2009. He was released from the hospital the following day and was said to be recovering well.CBSSports.com: LeBron released from hospital one day after surgery

During the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, James announced that he would be "putting his name in" for the 2010 Slam Dunk competition.YouTube Video: LeBron James on competing the 2010 Slam Dunk competition (Time: 0:52)

On March 25, 2009, James became the second person, joining Oscar Robertson, to record 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in more than four seasons.CBSSports.com: LeBron Joins Hall of Famer Robertson in Exclusive Club

James came under fire in February of 2009 after recording a career-high 52 points as well as a triple-double in a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. After the game, many bloggers claimed that the last rebound, which was credited to James and was his 10th of the game, should have been awarded to Ben Wallace. The NBA later agreed and transferred the stat to Wallace, leaving James with nine rebounds for the game.CBSSports.com: LeBron Loses Triple-double as NBA Gives Board to Big Ben

In January of 2009, James appeared in a television commercial for the State Farm Insurance Company. In the commercial, which was played during the January 18, 2009, AFC and NFC Championship Games, James dreams that he leaves the NBA to play for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League.YouTube Video: LeBron James - "Brace Yourself" Ad CBSSports.com: LeBron to Suit Up for NFL Browns ... in Commercial on Sunday

On December 20, 2008, new agencies reported that LeBron James was open to the possibility of signing an extension with the Cavaliers after this season. Several teams have already begun to cut payroll in anticipation of attempting to sign LeBron James. James becomes a free ageint in the summer of 2010. But when asked about the possibility of re-signing with the Cavaliers James stated, "You play out this season of course; I will consider it. The direction we are headed is everything I expected and more."ESPN.com: Report: LeBron considers extension with Cavs (December 20, 2008)

While still in high school, James was touted as one of the NBA's future greatest players. He won the Ohio "Mr. Basketball" award three times and was drafted straight out of high school by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in 2003.NBA.com: LeBron James Bio

Since making his debut in the NBA, James has set multiple youngest player records. He also led the Cavaliers to playoff appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Cavaliers reached the 2007 NBA Finals, but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.NBA.com: LeBron James Bio

In addition to basketball, LeBron James has become widely recognized in popular culture. He endorses Nike and has appeared in several Nike commercials titled "The LeBrons," playing different aged versions of himself.YouTube: New Lebron James Commercial - Swimming Pool (Time: 1:00) In 2007, he hosted the ESPY Awards with comedian Jimmy Kimmel. James also hosted the 2007 season premiere of Saturday Night Live, and was the first black man to appear on the cover of Vogue Magazine.USATODAY.com: LeBron James: 3rd 'Vogue' cover boy (March 14, 2008)

On November 28, 2008, LeBron James lashed out at NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Barkley had chastised James earlier in the day on the Dan Patrick radio show, for the way the young star has handled his impending free agency in 2010.

Barkley stated, "If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up. I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

James responded to Barkley's quote by stating,"He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that."ESPN.com: Barkley chastises LeBron for furthering free-agency discussion (Noveber 28, 2008)