Mike Celizic

NEW YORK - You can argue that Lebron James is No. 2 to Kobe Bryant’s No. 1 in talent. But you can’t argue that there’s a superstar in any sport who does more things right than King James.

He cruised into Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, smoother than George Clooney and slicker than Pat Riley’s hair. Other players try to do everything right. James is the one who actually pulls it off.

Even Knicks fans, who may be second only to their cousins in Philadelphia in reviling opposing stars, recognize it. A lobster could count on the fingers of one hand the number of visiting players who were regularly cheered in Madison Square Garden. One was Michael Jordan. The other is LeBron James.

He got the royal treatment Tuesday night on his first trip of the season to New York. Fans, some dressed in “2010” t-shirts and carrying signs urging him to sign with their team in two years, roared when he was introduced.

James sounded sincere when he said he was touched by the affection.

“I’m flattered that teams would love me to be a part of their teams. I love the fact that it’s happening,” he said of the hoopla and hype that’s grown up over the fact that he’s going to be a free agent — two seasons hence.

The whole business borders on the preposterous. We’re not talking about a guy who’s soon going to be available. We’re talking about a guy who has nearly two full seasons yet to play with his own team.

But he understands that, too. He is acutely aware of his standing in the league as one of its two best players, and he’s comfortable with that.

That’s not as easy as it sounds. Most of us are uncomfortable with attention or lack of the same. We’re not always sure exactly who we are and what we’re really worth. Give us a lot and we’ll turn into selfish jerks. Give us too little and we’ll whine you senseless. Give us just enough and we’ll want more.

You don’t have to think hard to come up with a list of dozens of players who wouldn’t be able to handle the attention and the adoration that have come LeBron’s way. Kobe Bryant couldn’t do it. Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t do it. Tim Duncan didn’t want to do it.

In short, it’s hard to be the best at something and not turn into the exit ramp on the alimentary highway. And nobody’s ever done a better job than he of walking the fine line between ego and reality, between keeping the home fans happy and the potential future home fans hopeful.

If this were going to be a bidding war, it might be different. Then he’d have an agent like Scott Boras to aggravate everybody and make him look like a greedy s.o.b. But the NBA has limits on how much he or anyone can be paid, and the league allows his home team to spend more to keep him than other teams can spend to lure him away.

So it’s really not about money. Teams aren’t trying to buy LeBron, they’re trying to court him. And like the belle of the ball, he’s making everybody feel they have a chance.

A week ago he was in New Jersey giving Nets fans reasons to hope that he may join their team in 2010. Tuesday night, he was performing the same act in New York.

Addressing a swarm of media before his Cavs dismantled the Knicks, James talked about the magic of Madison Square Garden.

“Every time I come here, because you know the history — not just basketball, but everything that ever went on, concerts, boxing,” he said. “How can you not love being in this building?”

But then, just as hopes might have been soaring in the stands at such words, he threw a sop to his own team, Cleveland.

“I’m saying playing here as a visitor,” he added. “I’m not saying being here all the time.”