Oh Captain my Captain: LeBron James

What a leader LeBron is. Energetic, fit, inclusive, loose, serious, fun, aware, unselfish, tone setter. That's leadership #HeatStreak
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 26, 2013

There's no denying the success of the Miami Heat this season with their NBA record approaching win streak. On the surface, they are playing the most competitive basketball each and every night and being rewarded for that. Dig a bit deeper and you can see why.

While not the sole reason for the team's success, LeBron James is proving that he is legitimately one of the great forces the NBA has ever seen. While the scoring and statistics speak to James' talent, there is a lot more going into what makes him such a great athlete.

LeBron James has taken the pressure, scrutiny, and championship expectations of his move to the Miami Heat and sculpted himself into one of the great leaders in sport. Love him or hate him, here are some of the ways Lebron leads:

James is one of the most physically fit athletes in the league. This allows him to stay in games longer and bring more energy to the court. This raises the expectation of his teammates to be stronger and work harder.

He is very clear what the goals of the team are, and knows that it will take every member of the Heat to win another championship. Everyone must contribute their share in protecting that vision; there are no passengers on this bus.

LeBron plays the game correctly and promotes the beauty of basketball. That child-like creativity let's his teammates enjoy the game for what it is: a game. But would you ever want to get in Lebron's way when he drives to the hoop? Didn't think so. It may be a fun game, but there is no question that James means business when the clock is wound. A characteristic of great leaders in sport is that they shape their team's idea of fun not as "casual and enjoyable", but as "challenging and rewarding". Setting the tone.

Would you follow LeBron James into battle? Personal vendetta's aside (Cleveland)...it's hard to find a reason not to.