NBA Washington's Brown worried about LeBron

The Wizards forward said the media are setting up James for a fall.
By MILTON KENT
THE BALTIMORE SUN
WASHINGTON -- Kwame Brown has never met LeBron James, has never swapped stories or traded sneakers, but few people know the whirlwind that James may be headed for more than Brown does.
Brown, the second-year power forward for the Washington Wizards, was the first player chosen in last year's NBA draft, as well as being the first high school player ever taken first overall, and he has an idea what's in store for James, the presumed first pick in June.
"I think they [the media] are putting him in a situation where he's going to fail," Brown said. "He's not going to be able to live up to the hype. To say that he's MJ [Michael Jordan] in his prime is retarded. He's still going to have to go through a transition, and if he stubs his toe, the same media that's saying he's great is going to be all over him. That's going to be the little mental game that he's going to have to go through."
Different story
Of course, Brown has had a few advantages not available to James. First, Brown, one of three high school players drafted in the first four picks last year, largely came in under the radar screen of most league observers before being drafted, while virtually every move James has made has been greatly scrutinized, thanks to overwhelming newspaper, television and magazine coverage.
In addition, Brown had the great benefit of playing his game alongside Jordan, the ultimate satellite dish during Jordan's comeback year, no less, when he could play without drawing so much attention. And Brown's team was respectable, battling for a playoff spot into early April.
For James, things will be quite different. He will be the focus of local and national notice, no matter where he goes, and, barring some miraculous trade, he won't be playing with anyone of Jordan's caliber.
Ups and downs
But, as Brown found out from his own roller-coaster experience, where he has played sensationally for a few games and looked lost in others, James' game isn't likely to immediately inspire many favorable comparisons to Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady, three others who took the immediate leap to the NBA from high school.
"I liked what I saw when I saw him," Brown said of James' recent ESPN2 appearance. "But it's high school. It's a lot different game, but I think he'll do fine. I don't think he'll be a bad player at all. I don't think he's in for a rude awakening so much as the scouts that are saying that he's ready for the NBA game are. He's definitely going to have to learn to play this game."
Jordan, who is presumed to be returning as president of the Wizards after this season, was quick to shoot down any speculation that he might team up with Owner Robert Johnson with the new Charlotte franchise that is due to start play in the 2004-05 season.
"My obligation is here," Jordan said. "I'm not entertaining any positions or any other situations in Charlotte. My responsibilities have always been to the Wizards and that's the way it's going to stay."