LeBron James and the Miami Heat are once again world champions. In a thrilling and historic NBA Finals, he stepped up when he needed too. During elimination Game 6, LeBron James had another triple double and came up with big plays. While adding another championship ring to his collection, his repeat now solidifies his mark in history and allows LBJ to sit on a list among the greats.
In 2007, LeBron James lost his first NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs. In this loss, it seemed that he was falling short due to lack of a proper supporting cast. All the greats that we compare LBJ to have multiple championship rings, had solid supporting cast. Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, Larry Bird had Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, Isiah Thomas had Joe Dumars and Bil Laimbeer and of course, Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Even in contemporary basketball, superstars had their support. Shaq and Kobe had each other, the Celtics had their ‘Big 3’, even the Spurs had their ‘Big 3’. In Cleveland, it seemed the only thing LeBron was missing was proper support to win a title.
Pat Riley, team president for the Miami Heat, has found the pieces to give him the proper support to succeed. The Miami Heat had an amazing season and finished it in the best way possible; by winning a game seven on their home court. The 2013 Finals have proved to us that we can start looking at the Miami Heat as a contemporary dynasty; as well as comparisons to Magic and other greats now are more realistic. These Finals have showed us more than anything that ‘King James’ is no longer a self-title. Now that LeBron is 2-2 in NBA Finals and now that LeBron has won his first back-to-back NBA title, with confidence we can refer to him as ‘King’.
Without Finals success and championship rings, everything would seem meaningless. The King is averaging 28.0 PTS, 8.6 RBS, and 6.7 AST per game during the NBA playoffs. Now, LeBron James thrives under pressure just like the rest of the greats; all had great accomplishments in their NBA playoff runs. While comparing Lebron to Jordan still seems far-fetched, he has earned the right to sit on a list of greats now that he has repeated another NBA Title. A king rules over an independent state. Right now, LeBron has complete rule over the NBA and refuses to give up his thrown.
Courtesy: USA Today
During these 2013 NBA Finals, the King took his beast mode to a new level. In recent big games, he has been just short of amazing, leading a come back not only in an elimination Game 6, but ultimately the King is responsible for the come back in the NBA Finals series after being down 3-2. LBJ and the Heat overcame adversity and pressure to steal the NBA Championship from the Spurs; one of the best dynasties in basketball. LeBron has fully matured into the role he was given as a rookie.
Bringing your team from behind in the NBA Finals to win a game seven is something fans haven’t seen since Kobe Bryant in 2010, when the Lakers came back to beat the Celtics. Others greats to lead their team to a Game 7 NBA Finals victory are Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon. Though many odds were in the King’s favor, we always wonder, “which LeBron James will show up.” After providing fans with one of the best Game 7 performances we have seen to this day, it is safe again to say that he has become more of a clutch basketball player, more of the player we imagined he would be upon his arrival in the NBA.
LeBron James has done nothing but completely dominate during Game 7s. Currently, he is 3-2 in Game 7s, averaging 33 point per game; along with, 8.3 rebounds per game. Even though those averages are not as impressive as Kobe Bryant’s or Michael Jordan’s, LeBron’s numbers and most recent performance have proved he could be on the way to legendary status; a true legend strives under pressure and performs at their highest level when needed. That is exactly what LeBron James did. We have seen him become more of a clutch player who now wants the game in his hands.
LeBron is one of three players in NBA history to average 30 PTs, 10 RBs and 7ASTs in postseason series. LBJ is also one of five players in NBA history to record a triple double in a playoff elimination game; the other four are: Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, James Worthy and Larry Bird. After making the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and after a repeat NBA Title and a consecutive NBA Finals MVP, LeBron has proven to us that his legacy is just beginning. LeBron has fulfilled his promise to Heat fans and the Heat franchise; who knows how long his championship run will go. Everyone mocked his “not one, not two, not three…” proclamation but now LeBron could be on track to prove our doubts wrong. This is what we expected from the teenager coming out of Akron, Ohio; now that he has meet critiques and fans expectations, there is the confidence LeBron James will do things we have not seen before and has the potential to go down as one of the greatest basketball players off all-time.
Congratulations to LeBron and the Miami Heat.
All statistics credited to basketball-reference.com
