Tony Dejak / AP

LeBron James, Damon Jones and Anderson Varejao celebrate during the Cavaliers' Game 6 victory over the Pistons on Saturday. Four years after skipping college for the pros, James completed his degree in superstardom with four straight clutch performances to earn the Cavaliers their first trip to the NBA finals.

After halftime, James seemed to toy with the Pistons. They sent one, two and three defenders to try and stop him, and James made them pay by feeding rookie Daniel Gibson, who made 5-of-5 3-pointers and scored a season-high 31 points — 22 of them in a 27-10 spurt.

“I told Daniel before the game, ’Detroit is going to double-team me, triple-team me before I cross halfcourt, so get that gun and get it locked and loaded and just shoot it,” said James, who had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. “Don’t second-guess yourself. Just shoot it.’ And when they closed out on him, he drove the ball to the rim and made free throws.”

Gibson finished 12-of-15 from the line, and his emergence as a dependable scorer will give the heavily favored Spurs more to consider as they plan for James.

“LeBron told me to step into my shot and shoot it with confidence,” Gibson said.

When the King orders, you obey.

In James’ second trip to the playoffs, he came of age.

In the biggest games of his life, he dominated.

In a city without a major sports championship since 1964, he has given hope.

If he had been like any other teenager and enrolled at Ohio State or North Carolina after getting his diploma from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, James would be winding down his final semester of college.

It’s a time for 21- and 22-year-olds to let loose, a final blowout before beginning careers and the rest of their lives.

James seems to have his mapped out nicely.

“It’s another chapter in my book, I guess,” he said.

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Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images Contributor

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