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Do IT this week: Layering
Barely 23 years old, he frequently mentors rookie about the daily challenges of playing in the NBA
By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008
CLEVELAND: When LeBron James was a rookie, he preferred to learn by doing.
He kept in touch with several friends around the NBA who were veterans, but for the most part, he wanted to experience everything for himself. But not every young star feels that way, including the Seattle SuperSonics' budding franchise player, Kevin Durant, and James is happy to oblige.
After getting to know each other last summer when Durant trained with Team USA in Las Vegas, James and Durant have built a relationship and often the Cavaliers' star serves as a mentor.
''I was in the same position Kevin was coming into the league and trying to be the face of a franchise and try to lead the team to victory,'' James said. ''He's having his difficulties in his first year, just like I had my difficulties.''
Durant and James talk or text message each other every few days, discussing everything from the game to their personal lives to injuries. Durant recently had a sprained finger and James, who suffered the same injury last month, gave advice about how to treat it.
''He's been like a big brother to me,'' Durant said. ''I'm very fortunate to have a relationship with probably the best player in the world, and I'm going to take advantage of it.''
James is embracing the role. Not only has he grown into the captain of the Cavs, but he's also built a core of friends around the league who come to him for advice, even though he just celebrated his 23rd birthday last week.
''It's kind of funny because sometimes I'll be a mentor to guys who are older than me,'' James said. ''But I was in the league before them, so I kind of know the ins and outs. It's kind of cool.''
In the locker room
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging 14 points and a career-high 9.9 rebounds. Usual All-Star Shaquille O'Neal is having a bad year and is out with an injury, so there is a chance Ilgauskas could contend for his third career All-Star Game berth. But he doesn't think so.
''I don't think I've got the numbers for that. If they would consider me, that would be a great honor,'' Ilgauskas said. ''But I also look forward to having those days off, too.''
• Anderson Varejao returned Tuesday after missing a practice with a right quad strain. The injury is likely to nag Varejao for a while, but the team doesn't think he'll have to miss any games. ''It bothers me a little bit when I jump,'' Varejao said. ''I am just going to have to warm up good.''
• Cedric Simmons will play his third game with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League tonight. In two games last weekend, Simmons averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in 28 minutes per game.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
CLEVELAND: When LeBron James was a rookie, he preferred to learn by doing.
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