Jeff Zillgitt

USA TODAY Sports

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Two summers ago, LeBron James considered becoming president of the National Basketball Players Association.

He decided he didn't have the time to give the job what it required, but he made it known that he would stay active in union matters. When close friend Chris Paul became NBPA president, James knew he had a direct line to the union.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star may not have an official role with the NBPA, but as the face of the players, he is a de facto leader.

"I am kind of the guy who has the power, I guess," James said honestly, if not a bit sheepishly.

So it was not a surprise that news reporters rushed to ask James questions about the league's new $24 billion TV and media deal after the Cavaliers practiced Monday.

James knew the two sides were getting closer to a deal and was prepared with answers.

"Give a lot credit to David Stern, I'll tell you that," James said. "He built our league, and he built our brand. For us to be able to make a television deal like that for the type of money, a lot of it is his vision."

With a sharp understanding of what it is taking place financially in the NBA, James was diplomatic but also had a message for players and owners.

"As a players association and as owners, we've got to figure out how we can continue to grow the pie and continue to grow the business of the game. That's the No. 1 objective," James said. "That should always be the No. 1 objective — how we continue to grow the game. It's one of the most renowned games we have in this world."

Upon deciding to return to the Cavs in July, James signed a two-year contract, a business decision made to benefit his bank account. He can opt out after this season, and as a maximum salary player, take advantage of a jump in the salary cap.

It's possible he signs a series of short deals for the next few seasons, constantly maximizing his bottom line, and after the next collective bargaining agreement, James can sign a long-term deal with Cleveland that makes him the highest-paid player in the league — likely topping $30 million.

But he isn't focused on his future contracts right now.

"I don't even really get into speculation and conversations with my name," James said. "I haven't even begun to think about it as far as how I'm going to go forward. I've been too busy worried about how to get better in training camp. But there will come a point and time where I will sit back with my team and some of the guys and from a players' perspective and a players' association perspective how we go about this with this new deal."

James also delivered a message to players: Be educated. He is not only interested in increasing his own bottom line, he's interested in leading the way so others can benefit.

"That's the problem we have sometimes: Guys want money but (are) not educated," he said. "Guys want the best deal but aren't educated on what's going on. It's 30 owners. It's 400-plus players. We know we have to do what's best for all of the players but at the same time, guys need to continue to be educated about it so when the negotiating process happens, guys just aren't speaking just to be speaking and have no idea of what's going on."

James didn't spare owners either. In the last round of collective bargaining in 2011, the league said more than 20 of its 30 teams were not profitable and owners needed a new economic model. They got it, too.

Players went from a 57%-43% split of basketball-related income to a 50-50 split. Not every team is profitable now, but it's a definite turnaround for several teams. James is well aware of what franchises have sold for recently, including the $2 billion price tag for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Owners claiming losses in the next negotiations "will not fly with us," he said. The CBA expires after the 2020-21 season but either players or owners can opt out of the deal after 2016-17.

"The owners were telling us they were losing money. There's no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now," James said.

He didn't complain about the current deal but noted, "You always want more and give less. But I think both sides benefited from it as you've seen in this new TV deal. Both sides continue to grow, but there's some things we'd like to see changed, as players.

"We gave up a lot."

But he wasn't willing to discuss if he thought the split of basketball-related income should change in favor of the players.

"That's not a conversation I'm going to have today," James said.

James spent four years in Miami playing on the same team as James Jones, an NBPA executive committee member who is now James' teammates in Cleveland. He also talked often with short-time Heat player and NBPA executive committee member Roger Mason, and Ray Allen, who pays attention to union matters.

"My responsibility is to try and protect the players," James said. "At the end of the day, we will renegotiate. We know it's going to happen at some point because our deal is ending soon. We would love to do it sooner rather than later."