There’s no denying that LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time
With four NBA championships to his name, his legacy in the sport is truly undeniable. From leading the Miami Heat to two consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013 to bringing a long-awaited championship home to Cleveland in 2016 and then leading the Lakers to victory in the 2020 season, James has been a consistent force to be reckoned with on the court.
For much of the current 2023 campaign, it looked like King James was going to have to miss the postseason. Despite becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer earlier in the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have, to say the least, been underachieving. A 4-0 shutout by the Denver Nuggets, who are currently the favourites to win the title at Betway’s NBA odds, left the Los Angeles Lakers reeling and looking forward to a crucial summer to compete for the ring again next season.
So, with King James already preparing for what is said to be his last NBA season, we decided to take a look through the history books at his last four successes.
Maiden Triumph with Miami
The 2012 season was the start of LeBron James’ championship reign. After several seasons of coming close, James and his Miami Heat teammates (Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh notably) finally managed to clinch their first NBA title. The team was dominant, finishing the regular season with a 46-20 record and sweeping the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
They went on to beat the Pacers and the Celtics before facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals and winning in five games. LeBron was named MVP of the Finals, averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game while shooting an impressive 47.2% from the field.
Defending the Gold
In the following campaign, King James and his Miami Heat successfully defended their crown. The Florida outfit came out of the blocks hard and immediately charged to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Throughout December, they embarked on a four-game winning streak on the road, a run that their success would ultimately be built on.
After defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers, they advanced to the Finals where they played the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat finally won the championship in Game 7 of a hard-fought series. For the second time in a row, LeBron was awarded MVP of the Finals after averaging 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
Leading His Beloved Cavs to Glory
LeBron James finally returned home and rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, determined to win a championship in his own city. This was finally accomplished by him and his squad in 2016 when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in what is regarded as one of the best NBA Finals series ever played.
Kyrie Irving’s game-winning three-pointer in Game 7 gave LeBron’s squad an unprecedented triumph and a first Larry O’Brien trophy for the Ohio-based franchise. After averaging a triple-double throughout the series (29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists), LeBron was once again awarded MVP of the Finals. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was their first NBA title.
For Kobe
After a disappointing 2019 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James was determined to turn things around in 2020. Alongside his teammate, Anthony Davis, he led the team to their first NBA championship in a decade. The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals after finishing the regular season with a 52-19 record.
They also triumphed over the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Houston 76ers. In addition to averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 59.1% from the floor, LeBron was awarded MVP of the Finals for the fourth time in his career. It was yet another milestone in King James’ storied career and perhaps more importantly, came just mere months on from the tragic news of Lakers great Kobe Bryant’s death.