Comparing LeBron James' Miami Mansion To His Ohio Palace (Photos)

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has found himself at the center of a firestorm during the 2011 NBA Finals. The King's lack of production, particularly in the fourth quarter, has contributed significantly to the Heat entering Sunday's Game 6, trailing the Dallas Mavericks 3-2 in the best of 7.

Of course, James finding himself in the middle of a media circus has been the constant since he made the decision to “take his talents to South Beach” last summer.  Without question, one of LBJ's greatest transitions has involved spending the length of the NBA season on the warm weather shores of South Florida, as compared to the more inclement landscape of Northeast Ohio. This change in lifestyle has involved an alteration in the type of residence James now calls home.

James purchased a $9 million mansion in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami. Located 4.5 miles south of the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami, the 12,178 square foot, bay front home includes: six bedrooms, eight and half bathrooms, a wine cellar, home theater, infinity pool and guest house. The property sits on the scenic shores of Biscayne Bay, 1.5 miles from the trendy commercial village of Coconut Grove and 10 miles south of the heart of South Beach.

Take a look at many very detailed photos of the estate.

James chose to set up shop in a completely different area than teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who live very close to one another in Miami Beach.

In comparison, James' Bath Township, Ohio abode dwarfs the Miami mansion, in terms of size. Nestled within a quiet suburban backdrop, 28 miles south of Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland, the home is measured at more than 35,000 square feet. The layout includes: a recording studio, bowling alley, aquarium and movie theater. The total size of the property is a massive 5.6 acres.

Here is an ifollosports.com original story, from last summer, showcasing the exterior of the palace and other James' related haunts in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Obviously, the tremendous disparity in real estate values, between South Florida and Northeast Ohio, allows for James to get more for his money up north, particularly considering the bay front setting of the Coconut Grove pad. It will be interesting to see where he elects to spend this upcoming offseason.   

While the spotlight on LeBron James has stayed constant in both locales, the logistics of his daily living have most certainly undergone a major transformation.