Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES "has put a massive stamp" on '14, as he appeared in his fourth consecutive NBA Finals; welcomed a newborn daughter; "spoke out on social issues; continued his work with the LeBron James Family Foundation; launched two TV shows; and made an appearance" in an upcoming movie, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. James said, "I don't do these things for recognition; I do it because I'm passionate about it and I want to do them. Hopefully I'm not remembered just because I'm a basketball player. It's the vehicle that got me to these places. But I'm using that to create opportunities for other people." Zillgitt wrote James' Heat losing to the Spurs in last season's Finals "won't be remembered as much as his decision to return to the Cavaliers in a homecoming that altered the NBA landscape and re-energized a fan base that is craving Cleveland's first championship" since '64. Bringing his family back home "was the easy part." Foundation BOD member DESIREE BOLDEN said that "more corporate sponsors wanted to help" the LeBron James Family Foundation when he returned to his hometown team. Bolden said, "The foundation does a great job of making LeBron so real and accessible. It's authentic, and the kids constantly feel his presence." Zillgitt noted James also can connect "on a macro level with more than 17 million followers on Twitter." James also has demonstrated it's acceptable to take a stand on social issues and not have it impact on the business side." James: "From being a parent to being a basketball player to being in the community and speaking on social matters, if it's something I'm passionate about and if it's authentic to me and I believe in it, I tend to talk about it" (USA TODAY, 12/26).
