When asked about his team's leaders on Tuesday, Coach Mike Krzyzewski mentioned the two obvious (and the two oldest) ones, Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant, but also included James.

"This is his sixth NBA season," Krzyzewski said of James' growth as a leader. "There's a big difference there."

And there's a difference to any observer who's been around this team for the last three years. James was a not-so commanding leader in 2006 before Bryant and Kidd joined the team, and deferred to them somewhat last year, but as they prepare for the 2008 Olympics, he has clearly taken the reigns as an informal captain of the squad (no formal captain will be named).

"He's talking a lot more," said Chris Bosh, who played on the '06 team. "He's been very active and very vocal."

As can be seen in this video, Krzyzewski wants LeBron to lead. And as can be seen by observing practice, Krzyzewski is getting what he wants.

Including the 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Championships and 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament, James has played in 27 games for the U.S. Senior National Team. That's more than any of his teammates except Kidd. And James, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony are the only ones to have played each of the last three years under Krzyzewski.

"He knows Coach K's system," Carlos Boozer said today. "He's very familiar with it and he's taken it by the horns."

Watching James take control of this team, you forget that he's 23 years old. You forget that Michael Jordan had already won Olympic gold when he was born. You forget that he could easily be leading the U.S. Team four and eight years from now, and still be in his prime at the 2016 Olympics, wherever they may be.

You forget it because of how he acts. He's the first to pick up the intensity when practice begins. He's the first to tell a teammate where he needs to be on the floor. He's the one they ask when they forget a play.

"I think a big plus for our team is how vocal he is and how much he talks," Deron Williams said, "especially on defense."

The entire U.S. Team, from top to bottom, will tell you that defense is what will determine how they do at in Beijing. And with only one true big on the floor at a time, James size and presence is key in keeping opponents out of the paint. And with communication being a key to team defense, his willingness to talk can only be beneficial.

"When he's keying our whole defense from the baseline and being vocal like that," Williams continued, "it helps [the guards] out."

James could easily take the role of the best player on the team (or second-best, depending on your viewpoint) and cite his youth or the presence of nine older guys as a reason not to be vocal. He could just be the talented and fun-loving kid who keeps his teammates loose while more intense guys like Bryant keep them focused. It's likely that no one would complain if that was the case.

But it's not. He's the one keeping them both loose and focused. And he's certainly focused himself.

With disappointing third-place finishes with the national team in both '04 and '06, critics have given James a certain label by adding a "ze" to the end of his first name. He's clearly determined to remove it this summer.

And he's making sure that his teammates will help him out.

John Schuhmann will be covering USA Basketball through the Beijing Olympics. Send him a question or comment.