CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) -- Superstar Tim Duncan joined Shaquille O'Neal in taking over National Basketball Association supremacy in 1999 when Michael Jordan retired after six titles in eight years.

With a fourth title in nine seasons going to Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs and four others going to "Shaq" in that span, the big men might be set to pass along the throne to "King James" -- Cleveland playmaker LeBron James. The Spurs completed a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals with an 83-82 victory Thursday but Duncan seemed to signal a shift by telling James afterwards: "The league is going to be yours soon." Asked if the exchange was heard correctly, James smiled and said, "So why ask me what he said?"

Following the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird rivalry of the 1980s and Jordan's six titles in the 1990s with Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers won three titles in a row and lost a final with O'Neal, who won a crown last year with Miami.

NBA commissioner David Stern called the Spurs "a team for the ages" and "in the pantheon of the great teams in NBA history." Only Boston, the Lakers and the Bulls have won more titles.

Jordan's era ended when player and management egos collided over credit for the glory and led to a breakup. The Lakers' run, also mentored by ex-Bulls guru Phil Jackson, died because O'Neal and Kobe Bryant struggled to play together.

Duncan's willingness to share the spotlight and coach Gregg Popovich's idea to build his lineup on character and talent has made the Spurs the enduring post-Jordan dynasty and the example rivals build upon to try and dethrone them.

"That longevity is attributed to Timmy and other guys we've brought in who have a certain character, people who care about the team more than an individual," Popovich said.

"It shows in a lot of different ways. It makes it easy to coach that group and for that group to get along, because there are a lot of bus rides and plane rides. "When you have those kinds of guys it's something special."

Tony Parker, the French guard who was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, paid tribute to Duncan after the title was secured.

"I feel very privileged to play with him because he's a superstar, very unselfish, and gave me the opportunity to play my best basketball at the right moment," Parker said.

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said the defeat would inspire James -- shut down in the Finals -- to work harder to improve, much the way Jordan struggled to defeat Detroit in the playoffs before making a 6-for-6 NBA Finals run.

"More than anything I think he takes perseverance and understanding," Brown said.

James, whose 25 million dollars in endorsement income leads the NBA, has already vowed to work hard in the off-season, when he is set to help the US team qualify for next year's Beijing Olympics before taking another NBA run.

"I have to be 10 times better. Our team has to be 10 times better," James said. "You don't want to make the Finals one year and not get the opportunity to play next year. "If we work hard, prepare ourselves for next year and years to come, we'll give ourselves an opportunity to be part of this again."

James' girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave birth to the newest child of the NBA superstar, Bryce Maximus, early on Thursday morning, about 20 hours before tip-off. James shot 10-for-30 in game four but said he had a pre-game nap. "I didn't get the sleep I wanted but that's not an excuse," James said. "This is special for my family, to be in the Finals and have another James come into the family."

Lebron Jr.'s baby brother's birthday will always be the day that James' first NBA Finals ended in humbling defeat, but winning a championship trophy one day would likely ease the memory's sting for the NBA's rising star.