For Akron native LeBron James, sometimes it's not good to be king

There were times in comic books and movies even Superman wanted to be normal.

Although, I’m sorry, I don’t know that I would have actually made the leap he made in “Superman II,” going all earthling and everything. But love will make you do crazy things.

LeBron James is as close as you can get to Superman in the professional sports realm. Four NBA titles, four MVP awards, fourth in NBA history in assists and currently on the cusp of breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record all demonstrate that.

But in a "New York Times" piece James confesses that times exist when he could just be a “guy.” Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, indeed.

"I don’t want to say it ever becomes too much, but there are times when I wish I could do normal things.

"I wish I could just walk outside,” James said in the story. "I wish I could just, like, walk into a movie theater and sit down and go to the concession stand and get popcorn. I wish I could just go to an amusement park just like regular people. I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people."

"I’m not sitting here complaining about it, of course not. But it can be challenging at times.”

People talk about James being in the spotlight for the past 20 years playing in the NBA. They forget high school. He arguably ushered in the age of the superstar prep athlete from his time at St. Vincent-St. Mary and the times the school’s teams appeared on national television. He was anointed “The Chosen One,” on a “Sports Illustrated” cover while in high school. That spotlight has been bright for more than 20 years. It's not difficult to see — especially as he chases Abdul-Jabbar's scoring — his longing for normalcy.

It's certainly an “It’s a Wonderful Life” kind of rumination.

James is also allowed to ponder such a life free from the glare of the spotlight. There, however, is a city – namely Akron – that’s benefited greatly from it.

And if there’s a lick of honesty at play here, he’s mostly embraced the fame, using it to break into film and television and to use the platform it provides to speak out on social justice.

James could get dragged for his confession, but in actuality, it’s refreshing to see Superman show some vulnerability.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: LeBron James on celebrity: 'It can be challenging sometimes'