MILWAUKEE: LeBron James has done lots of magazine covers and heard lots of criticism for various things in the past five years. So he's brushing off the heat he's getting about his most recent close up.

James made a measure of history when he made the cover of Vogue's April issue alongside supermodel Gisele Bundchen. He was just the third male in the history of the publication to make the cover and the first African-American male.

But after the photo hit newsstands, some thought that his pose and facial expression gave off a poor impression. The most vocal was an ESPN.com columnist who said James resembled King Kong cradling a ''fair-skinned love interest.'' The writer said James ''looks like he's on his way to a pickup game for serial killers'' and was an example of ''a black athlete being reduced to a savage.''

James, who was aware of the story, shrugged off the comments.

''I was just having fun with it, I was just showing a little emotion,'' James said Saturday. ''We had a few looks and that was the best one we had. Everything my name is on is going to be criticized, in a good way or a bad way. Who cares, honestly, at the end of the day.''

James said he enjoyed working with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, who did the photoshoot in Akron. He said there were no regrets.

''I am happy with it, absolutely,'' James said.

In the locker room

• Ben Wallace did not travel with the Cavs to Milwaukee to play the Bucks on Saturday. He stayed in Cleveland to have an MRI on his ailing back, which forced him out of a game for the second time in the past two weeks on Friday. The tests revealed no damage, but just when he will be able to return isn't clear. With just one game in the next six days, the Cavs might shut him down.

''I'm a little concerned,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ''He's a guy who relies on his athleticism. When he's been healthy, he's been good. I hope we can get him enough rest so when we get to the playoffs it won't bother him.''

Wallace first started having back issues after a collision on March 2 against the Chicago Bulls at home.

• For the fourth time this season, the Cavs' flight plans were disrupted after Friday's win over the Toronto Raptors. Heavy snow in Wisconsin forced them to cancel their flight Friday night, they were not able to get to town until about noon Saturday after spending the night at home.

• Lance Allred's 10-day contract expired on Saturday. The Cavs are expected to sign him to another one when they return to the practice floor on Monday.