Lebron James isn't the first high school basketball player to go straight into the NBA, but he's probably the best. He has the body, skills and the basketball brain of an All-Star.
This 21 was on 22 as he scored 41 points to take Cleveland Cavaliers (克里夫兰骑士队) to a 107—104 win over the New Jersey Nets (新泽西网队) on March 28. Aged of 19 years and 87 days, James became the 23 player to score 40 or more in the NBA.
“It was by far James' best 24 ,” said Cleveland coach Paul Silas.
Known to his friends 25 “the king”, this was the day James earned his crown(王冠). But he was 26 from being a king during a childhood spent in the back streets of Akron, Ohio. 27 many other African-American basketball players, James' early years were a 28 . His mother Gloria was just 16 when she gave birth to him; he knows nothing about his father. Mother and son battled for everything from food to a place to live. 29 help from his grandmother and neighbours, James would 30 have died when he was young.
This spirit of survival has served him well on court, forcing him to take any 31 he finds. “I 32 losing, I don't like losing,” said James of his 41-point display. “I 33 the opportunity for us to win and I was 34 to capture (夺取) it.” At 2.03 metres, he is no Yao Ming but this didn't 35 him being first choice in 2003 NBA draft. This was 36 to his strength and skill, much of which he learned from high school American football.
Although he has a 37 brain, James has never had to concentrate on 38 . Some people think this is a mistake and say he should have gone to college to 39 his mind. But James is one of the lucky few who has found fame and fortune 40 a diploma (文凭). On the court, he is king.
21. A. action B. performance C. activity D. talent
22. A. sale B. exhibition C. show D. duty
23. A. oldest B. strongest C. tallest D. youngest
24. A. performance B. lesson C. action D. appearance
25. A. for B. as C. by D. with
26. A. well B. far C. deep D. late
27. A. As B. Like C. Likely D. Alike
28. A. fight B. struggle C. battle D. war
29. A. Except for B. Except C. Besides D. Without
30. A. certainly B. impossible C. hardly D. probably
31. A. goal B. game C. match D. chance
32. A. hate B. refuse C. object D. reject
33. A. grasped B. seized C. caught D. held
34. A. afraid B. unlucky C. able D. certain
35. A. keep B. forbid C. protect D. stop
36. A. according B. referring C. thanks D. sticking
37. A. fast B. quick C. high D. top
38. A. studying B. resting C. sleeping D. eating
39. A. advance B. march C. increase D. develop
40. A. apart from B. but C. except D. without