MIAMI — LeBron James is no youngster anymore. He'll be reminded of that next week in China.
"They called me ‘Little Emperor' when I first started going over there," James, 27, said Tuesday when asked by FOX Sports Florida about going abroad for two preseason games with his Miami Heat. "It's ‘Big Emperor' now since I'm a little older …. I feel a lot older than I did when I first went over there."
James, who said he will be making his ninth trip to China since entering the NBA in 2003, is hardly ancient. But he's getting to an age in which he obviously wants to keep extra wear and tear off his body.
That will be easier to do this season for James since the Heat have so much talent. With that in mind, James said he doesn't expect to have the same type of season statistically as he did during his 2011-12 MVP campaign and his focus is to stay fresh for the playoffs.
James last year averaged 27.9 points, a career-high 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. He shot a career-best 53.1 percent from the field.
"I understand that we got a lot of help, we got a lot of guys," James said. "I don't need to have a huge year. Hopefully, the best thing about our team I wish that we could all stay healthy. If I can (average) less than a little bit of my averages and keep me fresh once the playoffs start."
If the forward averages less than the 37.5 minutes he did last season, it hardly would be a surprise. The Heat have added guard Ray Allen, a 10-time All-Star, and forward Rashard Lewis, a two-time All-Star.
"I don't set a goal of what I'm going to do statistically," James said of what he possibly could do for an encore after his incredible season. "I just kind of play my game and let the chips fall where they may."
For the first time since the Heat beat Oklahoma City last June for the championship, James will take to the court Wednesday before the public. The Heat play their annual Red & Black Game, a free scrimmage at AmericanAirlines Arena.
It's been quite a positive last several months for James. After winning his first NBA crown, James added an Olympic gold medal and continued to rebuild his once-declining image.
But there's one thing James certainly didn't want to have any association with. A Philadelphia man was arrested last week for allegedly selling bags of heroin with "LeBron James" stamped on them and a caricature of the star dunking.
"I don't think LeBron James would be too happy with this drug-dealer dude using his name on these street bags," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood told the Philadelphia Daily News about the packets, said to have been worth $750 apiece on the street.
No, James wasn't.
"Yeah, I heard about that," James said. "That's not cool. That's the only way I feel about it."
Following Wednesday's scrimmage, the Heat play their first preseason game Sunday at Atlanta. Then it's off to China for games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 11 in Beijing and Oct. 14 in Shanghai.
"We have a veteran ballclub," James said of going so far overseas. "It's tough on your body as far as just trying to get back once you get back. You're traveling across the world to a place that's a day in front of you and then when you get back you kind of gain a day. It's difficult on your body when you come to try to readjust."
After all, James isn't a "Little Emperor" anymore.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
