The 6 signature moments of LeBron James’ career

LeBron James has played for two decades in the NBA, but he doesn’t have to give it up unless he wants to. His comments from early this week after being eliminated make it seem as if retirement could potentially be in the cards for him, though, and if this is it, what a ride it’s been.

In his last game of the season, he set a career-high in points in a half of a playoff game and the record for the most by any player that age. Aside from teaching a generation of kids, and even adults, the game by just watching him, he lived up to the hype machine that inflated as he was a high school player.

These are the six biggest moments from his career to this point.

No. 6: Scoring 25 straight points to defeat the Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals

On May 31, 2007, James scored 25 consecutive points in Detroit to lift the Cavaliers to its third straight dub in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. #23 dusted defenders on drives through the middle, lost his man cutting off-ball and shot over disruptors from the perimeter.

Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton must have been horrified watching James strike at them repeatedly as if Michael Myers was on the hunt for them. He finished the night with 50 minutes recorded and 48 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. The win pushed the Cavs to a 3-2 advantage.

Steve Kerr was on the broadcast for TNT that night and said what James was doing was “Jordanesque.” Who, aside from Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen, is as qualified to make that statement?

At the postgame presser, Billups said the Pistons threw everything they had at James, but the team couldn’t stop him.

Years later, as an ESPN analyst, Billups said James “climbed a mountain that night.”