LeBron James isn’t fooling around anymore. He isn’t being led anymore, either. He has stopped following, because following has only led him to derision, humiliation, failure.

That’s what I see in this LeBron of the 2012 NBA Finals compared to the LeBron of a year ago, the one who lost his way off the court with The Decision, then lost his way on the court during the 2011 Finals.

That LeBron? He followed. He listened to others, whether it was Dwyane Wade or Heat coach Erik Spoelstra or the overmatched pals from his hometown posse.

This LeBron? He follows nobody, which is why he has become the LeBron we’ve been waiting to see emerge from his man-child cocoon and become ready, once and for all, to win an NBA championship. That’s not a guarantee that he’ll win this particular NBA championship, mind you. The Oklahoma City Thunder are no joke, and everyone understands that — LeBron included.

via Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports