In changing times, LeBron remains constant

Pluto is no longer considered a planet. Britney Spears is no longer married to Kevin Federline. “We ain’t ready to see a black president,” one of the more poignant lines from Tupac’s hit, “Changes,” no longer rings true.

The NBA’s changed in that time, too, of course. David Stern, the commissioner largely responsible for turning the league from a mom-and-pop operation to an international force, retired to make way for his longtime protégé, Adam Silver. The league introduced, and subsequently scuttled, a new composite leather ball. Basketball luminaries such as Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd have moved on, opening up the door for a new wave of superstars who go by names such as Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

What hasn’t changed in that time is James’ place in the game. From Cleveland, to Miami, back to Cleveland. From No. 23, to No. 6, back to No. 23. From Beijing to London. From headband to unfettered hairline. From chalk toss to not. From a Finals loss to San Antonio, to a Finals loss to Dallas, to a Finals win over Oklahoma City, to a Finals win over San Antonio, to yet another Finals loss to San Antonio, James has kept constant as the gold standard in his craft.

“It’s part of my drive,” James told ESPN in a wide-ranging sit-down interview this week. “I’ve been at the top for a long time and I plan on being here for a long time as well. It’s part of my drive. It’s part of my hunger. When you get to this position — I feel like I’m the best. It’s just how I feel about my game, how I feel about my knowledge, my IQ of the game — you don’t really want to go down.”

He was in his third season and just 21 years old when he had that first taste of the playoffs a decade ago, registering a 32-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double while playing all 48 minutes in a win over the Washington Wizards.

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