The man-child anointed king of the NBA four years ago appeared ready to assume his throne, but he could not conquer the West. For LeBron James and his ordinary band of Cleveland Cavaliers, this proved to be an impossible task in a disappointing sweep.

Michael Jordan gave his heir apparent a bit of advice before the NBA finals began, telling the 22 year-old court phenom that he would have to bring it night in and night out.

"It's expected of you and you do it," Jordan said. "Not one game, not two games. It's consistent."

James just did not have "it" during the Finals as he could not repeat the awesome 48-point performance against the Detroit Pistons that sealed the Eastern Conference championship. However, the young king needed help from his teammates that he did not receive.

Jordan definitely would admit that he would not have won his first title in 1991 without the supporting cast that included Scottie Pippen, John Paxson, Bill Cartwright and Horace Grant. James needed Drew Gooden to become Pippen-like as a forward, and Sasha Pavlovic needed to drain jumpers in Paxson-like precision. 

Yet, although James was denied his first championship, he is making the cultural transition into becoming Jordanesque – that is he is becoming a mainstream marketing magnet. We know that James' rings should eventually come, but to fully take Jordan's mantle he has to be able to sell the league.

None of the other marquee players who were in the running to be the "next Jordan" before James entered the NBA have been able to promote it as well as James has so early in his career, including the pantheon of Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett. Of these four, Bryant clearly wanted to be like Jordan in every aspect, and it appeared he was on his way after winning his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 21.

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The league used Bryant as an ambassador for the game abroad, and his endorsement deals were hefty until his admission of committing adultery in 2003. That lapse of moral judgment cost Bryant his clean-cut image and endorsements with Sprite and McDonald's. He still has his $45 million contract with Nike, and the league's top selling jersey, but his star has faded.

Ironically, James entered the NBA at the height of Bryant's downfall and is well on his way to becoming the legend the Lakers' franchise player could have been.

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Last year, James earned $26 million in endorsements, which made him the ninth-highest-paid athlete on a list complied by Forbes. Try to imagine the buzz for James memorabilia here in Ohio. People want everything in Footlocker and Champs that has James' name on it. Basically, the Cavs' superstar is so hot right now that he could sell autographed rocks to kids.

Also, think about his appeal nationwide and around the world. Like Jordan was, James is the face of Nike in basketball, and his global popularity is soaring in China and other countries whose NBA fan bases are growing. During the prime of Jordan's career, he was estimated to be a multibillion-dollar endorsement industry. James still has some years ahead of him before he reaches that level, but he'll more than likely get there before he turns 30.

During the off season, James will probably think intensely about the advice Jordan gave him. However, being the savvy and intelligent young man he is, I think James is looking at the larger picture of what taking over for Jordan really means.

Jordan evolved into much more than just an extraordinary basketball player. He became and still is a cultural icon. We'll see if King James becomes the same on and off the court.