updated 4:24 p.m. ET April 12, 2008

CLEVELAND - Kicking back near the rear of a charter bus, a sleepy LeBron James pulled up his sweatshirt’s hood and contemplated a cat nap on a rainy afternoon in New Orleans.

As Cleveland’s superstar was about to doze off before departing for a community service event during a busy All-Star weekend, Jason Kidd came aboard and hustled down the aisle as if he were leading a three-on-one fastbreak.

“My point guard,” James hollered to Kidd, his U.S. Olympic teammate who at the time was in a tug-of-war trade between New Jersey and Dallas.

Moments later, Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki arrived.

“MVP,” James crowed toward the NBA’s reigning top player, who slid his 7-foot frame into a tiny seat a few rows away.

Finally, Steve Nash joined the group.

“MVP-P,” James said, playfully acknowledging Nash’s back-to-back most valuable player awards with a second P.

Suddenly surrounded by some of the NBA’s elite, James wondered if he was out of his league.

“Hmmm,” he said. “I must be on the wrong bus.”

More like driving it.

In an NBA season defined by big trades, Boston’s rebirth, New York’s prolonged plunge as well as a scramble for supremacy in the wild, wild Western Conference, James has become an almost unstoppable force. He’s on a short list of front-running MVP candidates along with Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett.

James, though, seems to be regarded by most media voters — ballots are due on April 17 — as no higher than the third choice. Bryant and Paul have led their teams to better records and are locked in a Obama-Clinton-like race to the wire. Garnett has orchestrated the Celtics’ impressive turnaround.

But it’s hard to imagine any of them being as “valuable” to their team as James has been to the Cavaliers.

Humbled and motivated by getting swept against San Antonio in last year’s finals, James has taken his game to a higher level in his fifth pro season. Since November, he has silenced critics, the ones who wondered if he could consistently make 15-foot jumpers, the ones who argued that he couldn’t finish games, and the ones who doubted his leadership and focus over an entire season.

He has grown into a player for the ages.

“I wish he would stop it,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said with a smile.

A 6-foot-8, 250-plus-pounder who plays anywhere he wants to on the floor, James was leading the league in scoring at 30.2 points per game through Thursday, and was averaging career-highs in rebounds (7.9), assists (7.2) and field-goal percentage (.482).

Special feature Are you a witness? A look at the highs and lows of Cavaliers guard LeBron James' career. NBCSports.com

He’s also the league’s top fourth-quarter scorer, averaging 8.7 points for the defending Eastern Conference champions.

“The guy’s the MVP of the league,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “I know I’m biased. But there isn’t a player who does everything like he does. He doesn’t just score. He doesn’t just get people easy shots. He doesn’t just rebound. He defends.”

If a player’s stature is measured in historical context, then consider these nuggets: James is on the verge of becoming the third player to average 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan. Only five players — James, Robertson, Jordan, John Havlicek and Larry Bird — have averaged at least 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and James will be doing it for the second time.

And, a few weeks ago, he became the leading scorer in Cavaliers’ history.

“At 23,” Brown said, shaking his head.

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