May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is interviewed by TNT announcer Ernie Johnson after beating the Atlanta Hawks in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
For the fifth straight year, LeBron James will be making his appearance on the NBA’s biggest stage, The Finals. Though the coveted Larry O’ Brien trophy has not been in his grasp every time (he’s 2-2 the past four years), James has had some of his best NBA games during his two title runs and a third just four wins away.
In his quest to bring a first-ever title to the Cleveland Cavaliers, we look back at some of his most memorable championship games, the ones which we hope we’ll see more of in the coming days as the NBA Finals unfolds.
The following list is ranked in order from impressive to LeBron’s most spectacular game so far.
5. 2012 NBA FINALS Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat (June 19, 2012)
Final Score: Heat 104, Thunder 98
Key Stats: 26 Points, 9 Rebounds, 12 Assists, 2 Steals, 10-20 FGs
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a 17-point lead in the first quarter that could have crushed the Miami Heat early in the game. Instead, James led a furious comeback with several assists to open three-point shooters and a couple of baskets of his own to cut the Thunder’s lead to 49-46 at the half.
From there, it was anyone’s ballgame but LeBron made sure that the win would go to Miami as he fell one rebound shy of a triple-double. Suspense would build up in the fourth as LeBron went down with 5:51 left in the game due to cramps, the score tied at 90-all. He would score later to give the team a two-point lead. But it was his clutch three-pointer at the top of the key with 2:54 left on the clock, breaking a 94-all tie, which gave the Heat the momentum to win the game.
The game was a feature presentation of LeBron’s low-post game as he showcased the lessons he learned from Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon over the previous summer.
The game was a feature presentation of LeBron’s low-post game as he showcased the lessons he learned from Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon over the previous summer. When he was down low, no one could stop James from scoring or getting his teammates the ball no matter who guarded him. If not for the cramps, this game could have been over much earlier.
Next: Closing It Out
Feb 20, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Perry Jones (3) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
4. NBA FINALS 2012 Game 5: Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat (June 21, 2012)
Final Score: Heat 121, Thunder 106
Key Stats: 26 Points, 11 Rebounds, 13 Assists, 1 Steal, 2 Blocks
There was no denying LeBron from grabbing his first-ever NBA title as he orchestrated a blowout win in the clinching game of the 2012 Finals. Nearly every shooter for Miami was on-fire in this game especially Mike Miller who knocked down seven bombs from long-range.
Many of those assists came from James who drew several defenders to him leaving the shooters wide open. His offense was a mix of low-post moves and drives to the hoop with OKC’s top defenders unable to contain him. James would finish the game with his first Finals triple-double (26-11-13) and his first Finals MVP award. LeBron closed out the Thunder in five games and separated himself from Kevin Durant as the best player in the game.
Jun 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) reacts during the second quarter of game seven in the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
3. 2013 NBA FINALS Game 4: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs (June 13, 2013)
Final Score: Heat 109, Spurs 93
Key Stats: 33 Points, 11 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, 2 Blocks, 15-25 FGs
As the Spurs were seeking to go up 3-1 versus the defending NBA Champions and James struggling to score during the first three games, LeBron took the opportunity to announce his arrival in the series with a breakout game. Showcasing the jump shot which was missing from his first Finals go-round with San Antonio in 2007, LeBron made the Spurs pay for leaving him open time and time again. He was aggressive from the start of the game as he made mincemeat of Kawhi Lenard and Manu Ginobili’s defense all night long.
One of the best highlights of the game was his block on Spurs’ legendary big man Tim Duncan. James made 15 of his 25 field goal attempts, his most makes ever in all of his Finals appearances.
Next: The Ray Allen Game
Jun 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) makes a jump shot in the last seconds of game seven in the 2013 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 95-88 to win the NBA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
2. 2013 NBA FINALS Game 6: San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat (June 18, 2013)
Final Score: Heat 103, Spurs 100 OT
Key Stats: 32 Points, 10 Rebounds, 11 Assists, 3 Steals, 1 Block
This game will forever be known as the “Ray Allen championship-saving” game as the shooting guard made a corner three to tie the game with seconds to go to send the game into overtime.
But the game wouldn’t have gotten to that point without one of LeBron’s best games of the Finals, carrying the team on his back the entire game on the way to the second NBA Finals triple-double of his career with (32-10-11). James was fired up throughout the game as he led the team’s comeback from a 10-point third-quarter deficit, scoring 16 points in the fourth and giving the Heat a brief lead down the stretch before the Spurs mounted a comeback of their own.
Despite his six turnovers (with two toward the end of the fourth) and below .500 shooting overall, LeBron made the three-pointer that cut the Spurs six-point lead in half with 25.1 seconds to play which later led to Allen’s miracle three and the team’s subsequent win in overtime.
Next: Finishing the Comeback
Jun 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Boston Celtics former center Bill Russell (right) presents the MVP trophy to Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (left) after game seven in the 2013 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena. Miami defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win the NBA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
1. NBA FINALS 2013 Game 7: San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat (June 20, 2013)
Final Score: Heat 95, Spurs 88
Key Stats: 37 Points, 12 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, 12-23 FGs, 5-10 3-pt FGs, 8-8 FTs
There’s no doubt that LeBron James is one of the game’s greatest players of all time. If ever there was, this game cemented his place among the game’s most elite with a masterful performance that took the Spurs down for good in the series.
The King looks once again ascended to his rightful place on the throne with another Finals MVP trophy in hand…
The final minute of this game showed James’ “clutch-ness” when many believed that he didn’t have what it took to win a close game especially in the Finals. With the Heat still sporting a precarious two-point lead in the fourth quarter, James gave them a breather by knocking down a 20-foot jumper with 27.9 seconds left to play. He sealed the win in the ensuing play with a steal and two free-throws as the Spurs fouled him soon after.
It was also his highest-scoring game of the NBA Finals ever (37) and his most three-pointers in the championship round as well with five threes. The King took once again ascended to his rightful place on the throne with another Finals MVP trophy in hand and it couldn’t have come on a bigger stage than Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals.
Do you agree with my list and my ranking? Did I miss a game that should have been here? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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