Even for the greatest of players, their ascension can be marked by the time when they became “the man” on their team. For some it’s a natural and steady transition as they’re teamed with a bigger star right from the start like Magic was with Kareem, but for others this model has been proven to be more volatile than steady (See, Kobe & Shaq). Then there are those who have a moment define the ascension; many say when MJ made his game winning jumper at UNC he was only the 3rd best player on the court, but it was that shot that propelled him to his reign at the top on subsequent teams. The way in which this transition happens can have a profound impact on a player and his career.

As is a theme with everything LeBron related, he became "the man" at a far younger age than even those who made the leap directly from high school to the pros. What’s not well known about LeBron’s moment is the man who he replaced was none other than his friend and now manager Maverick Carter.

It was December 1999 of a 14 year old LeBron’s freshman year when the headline of the Cleveland Plain Dealer read “CARTER TAKES CONTROL, LEADS IRISH TO VICTORY” The article started, “Could anyone have asked more out of Maverick Carter last night when he led St. Vincent-St. Mary past Detroit Redford, 75-63” and continued, “The 6-4 Carter, the lone senior of consequence on the Irish roster, did everything but keep the scorebook as the undefeated Irish rolled to their fifth consecutive victory and handed Redford its first loss in five games."

Mav continued to have a solid season, but by February a newly 15 year old LeBron was leading the Irish in scoring at just above 18 a game. Mav took home player of the year honors and went to Western Michigan to play basketball, but always kept in touch with LeBron; giving him advice and guidance along the way.

Their relationship grew so strong that LeBron knew exactly where to turn when he fired his agent Aaron Goodwin in 2005; Mav was happy to take the job. They started LeBron’s own agent and sports-marketing company LRMR: The L stands for LeBron, R for Richard Paul, M for Maverick Carter, and R for Randy Mims-all of them childhood friends.

Last year, Esquire magazine said of Mav, "He is the CEO of LRMR. Also, he is the gatekeeper. You want LeBron, you don't just go to Maverick. You have to go through Maverick. He didn't finish his sports-management degree at Western Michigan University. Instead, Maverick went to the Harvard of sports
management, Nike, and apprenticed for a year and a half under Basketball Senior Director Lynn Merritt, who was the first convert to the Religion of LeBron. Merritt called Maverick a sponge. He listened
to everything. He asked questions-he asked, Who is the best at this? At that?-and then he drew from them the answers.”

The relationship between the two has only grown stronger through their professional dealings as LeBron becomes more and more of global icon. So the question becomes, if Maverick Carter has this much influence – what are his feelings on 2010? Well the reports are conflicting. Some say Mav is such a business man that he’ll make sure New York happens in order to expand LeBron’s endorsements and image. Others say Mav’s roots in Cleveland are just as deep as LeBron’s and that can’t be discounted. One thing that Maverick Carter has been quoted on though is the importance of getting LeBron that ring. "I think there's something to that, yes. To an extent, championships define athletes.''

If the Knicks have a roster that can be complimented with a second max player, it would be hard envisioning Maverick Carter advising LeBron against coming to the biggest market in the League with a legitimate chance at winning those championships.