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LeBron James is expected to go up against top-flight NBA opposition for the first time Sunday.
James, going straight from high school to the NBA as the first pick in last month's draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, will play in Magic Johnson's 18th annual charity game at Staples Center.
James recently played in four summer league games for the Cavaliers, averaging 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists against mostly young, inexperienced players. He showed flashes of brilliance at times and inexperience at others.
In his final game Sunday at Boston, James shot 2-for-14 and missed two free throws that would have tied the game with about 15 seconds left in Cleveland's 80-76 loss to Washington. He played despite having bruised his leg in a collision with Milwaukee guard T.J. Ford a day earlier.
Among James' teammates on the rookie team in Sunday's game are first-round selections Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Ford, Jarvis Hayes, Marcus Banks and Dahntay Jones, and second-round picks Jason Kapono, Mario Austin.
Among those expected to play for the veterans team are Ron Artest, Caron Butler, Baron Davis, Richard Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Darius Miles, Gary Payton, Paul Pierce, Jason Richardson and Antoine Walker.
The game culminates four days of events benefiting the Magic Johnson Foundation's Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program, named for the former chief operating officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises who died in 1997.
A crowd of 14,758 watched last year's game at Staples Center.
James, going straight from high school to the NBA as the first pick in last month's draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, will play in Magic Johnson's 18th annual charity game at Staples Center.
James recently played in four summer league games for the Cavaliers, averaging 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists against mostly young, inexperienced players. He showed flashes of brilliance at times and inexperience at others.
In his final game Sunday at Boston, James shot 2-for-14 and missed two free throws that would have tied the game with about 15 seconds left in Cleveland's 80-76 loss to Washington. He played despite having bruised his leg in a collision with Milwaukee guard T.J. Ford a day earlier.
Among James' teammates on the rookie team in Sunday's game are first-round selections Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Ford, Jarvis Hayes, Marcus Banks and Dahntay Jones, and second-round picks Jason Kapono, Mario Austin.
Among those expected to play for the veterans team are Ron Artest, Caron Butler, Baron Davis, Richard Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Darius Miles, Gary Payton, Paul Pierce, Jason Richardson and Antoine Walker.
The game culminates four days of events benefiting the Magic Johnson Foundation's Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program, named for the former chief operating officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises who died in 1997.
A crowd of 14,758 watched last year's game at Staples Center.