James’ whirlwind summer of ’09 only a precursor to 2010

One year from now the New York Knicks will put on a full-court press to bring King James to the Big Apple.

AKRON (AP) — Police halt traffic so the King can pass.

Speeding downhill and through an intersection where the traffic signal glows red, LeBron James rolls onto a long bridge overlooking a lush Ohio valley of treetops glistening in the morning sun. The city that raised him now trailing behind, James separates from the pack.

For a rare moment in a whirlwind summer, James is free — nothing in front but open road. He rises from his bicycle seat and pumps the pedals harder, as if he wants to escape the perpetual spotlight.

But soon he squeezes the brakes and steers around orange pylons and makes a U-turn.

Then, along with close pal Chris Paul, the All-Star point guard from New Orleans, and hundreds of other riders in his annual charity bike event, James, one season from possibly leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent, heads back toward the place he will always call home.

Akron. The Rubber City he made bounce again.

“It’s made me who I am,” he says.

This offseason has been as memorable as any in James’ life. He hosted the hometown premiere of “More Than A Game,” a documentary about James and four childhood friends who overcame inner-city hardships — and LeBron’s unprecedented prep superstardom — to achieve their dream of winning a high school national championship.

Two days after the screening, James held his “King for Kids Bike-a-thon” before traveling to China as part of a worldwide promotional tour for his new line of Nike sneakers, the film and an upcoming book, “Shooting Stars,” co-written with Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger.

James has made headlines for months, beginning with his decision to walk off the floor and not shake hands with Orlando’s players after the Cavs were eliminated in the playoffs. There was the Nike dunk brouhaha, his admission in the book to smoking marijuana in high school and a vague I-might-stay-I-might-not comment about his future with Cleveland.

More mature at age 24, James has never been as self-assured. He loves fatherhood and remains fiercely loyal to his closest friends. The LeBron brand is flourishing, and being a savvy businessman, he and his partners are capitalizing on his abundant fame.

His goals of becoming a global icon and billionaire are on track. And with Shaquille O’Neal aboard, the Cavaliers, who won 76 games last season but felt short of a championship, are determined to win it all. There are no more excuses.

Life is good indeed. James has more, much more than he could have ever dreamed. Unimagined wealth, a beautiful girlfriend and their two fun-loving boys, a 35,000-square foot mansion with everything but an ocean view. An entire region of fans worship him.

It couldn’t be any better. There’s no reason to leave.

But in the months ahead, there will be endless speculation about James’ next move, a power play that could take him from Cleveland.

Everyone’s guessing at what he’ll do.

And maybe, that’s his plan.The Cavaliers offered James a contract extension on July 18. James, who can become a free agent after next season, also holds a one-year player option he can exercise anytime before June 30, 2010.