Lebron James never a champion? Maybe.

Not long ago, most NBA fans would have considered that notion ridiculous. Of COURSE he's going to win titles. Lots of them. They remember "King" James himself saying so on a much hyped video with D-Wade and Chris Bosh, when the former Cleveland Cavalier announced "the decision" to take his talents to South Beach -- as in play for the Miami Heat.

During that highly choreographed publicity stunt, replete with seemingly magical smoke and lights everywhere, Lebron prophetically exclaimed that they would win "not one, not two, not three, not four, etc", titles, and left the rest to others' imagination. While the "Big 3" shimmied and smirked for the cameras, the basketball fans in Miami went wild. So did the media in trumpeting the soon to be coronation of the King.

But it hasn't happened. During Lebron's Cleveland years, and even to the present day, we've all seen him dip his hands into talcum powder just before a game, then slap them together to create his "magical" dust cloud, as if something special is about to occur.

Many times it does. James might well be the most overall gifted athlete to ever play the game. He can score, rebound, pass, run, defend, and one never knows what bit of basketball wizardry he'll come up with next. Combine his height, build, conditioning, extraordinary skill, and dedication to the game -- and that adds up to something very special.

Yet, despite all the bluster and hype, Lebron has yet to be a champion. He led the Cavaliers to a title shot years ago -- but they lost. Same with Miami, just last year, when the Dallas Mavericks conquered them for the NBA crown. Close but no cigar, as they say.

Look around. These days the Chicago Bulls sit atop the East, and they're not going away any time soon. The Boston Celtics, with their own ageing "Big 3", plus a sensational point guard in Rajon Rondo, can't be entirely discounted for one more go-around when the playoffs start. And don't look now, but under the never-ending genius of Larry Bird, the Indiana Pacers are perhaps the youngest team in the league, flying very quietly below the radar screen as the #3 team in the East, and will continue to get better.

In the West, it's another crap shoot. The Okla City Thunder is getting a lot of attention, as are the Clippers, likely for their "newness" to being a contender. The Lakers are the Lakers, and there's a couple other teams that could be dangerous come playoff time. Meanwhile, San Antonio quietly sits atop the heap. Whatever team survives that gauntlet will present a formidable opponent indeed to whoever comes out of the East.

And that's the thing when it comes to Lebron. Forget about the "decision", the talcum powder, the highlights, dunks, and everything else he brings. It doesn't matter. Forget about his predictions of multiple championships like they were some sort of "gimmes" as well.

Lebron James is indeed a sly fox when it comes to basketball, but it might just be that he'll never get into the hen house.

And the hounds are coming.......