LeBron James' Top NBA Finals Performances

Even though this particular Finals didn’t go the way LeBron James probably hoped it would, it only solidified The King’s status as one of the game’s all-time greats. King James has made it to the Finals seven straight seasons, making him (and James Jones, of course) the only two players in NBA history not on the ‘60s Celtics to make the Finals that many times in a row. In addition, he also became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a Finals series, averaging 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game against the Warriors.

Even with a 3-4 record in that stretch, seven straight Finals appearances is beyond impressive in its own right. And what’s even more astounding is that year after year, LeBron shows up in a big way at the Finals. Even in years that he hasn’t won, he’s played a big role in keeping his team in games, and keeping the series close. Just like he did this year.

This loss hardly falls solely on The King’s shoulders. He faced a team that won 31 of its last 33 games, and a team that features four of the top ten best players in the league. If it weren’t for LeBron, there’s little doubt that this series would end in four 50-point victories for Golden State.

And the 50-point margin is being generous to Cleveland.

Maybe LeBron isn’t better than Jordan. But it’s hard to argue that LeBron isn’t better than just about anyone else who has ever played the game. With that said, let’s take a look back at the nine best LeBron James NBA Finals performances.

Don’t show this list to Skip Bayless, though.

Points: 27

Rebounds: 11

Assists: 11

This may not have been LeBron’s best game from a scoring standpoint—although he did post a triple-double—but it produced the most memorable moment of his NBA career: “The Block.”

“The Block” has become perhaps the most iconic NBA moment since Michael Jordan’s “Final Shot.” It was with this rejection of Andre Iguodala that James fulfilled his long-standing promise of returning a championship to Cleveland, giving the Cavs their first-ever championship and the city its first major professional sports championship since the Browns in 1964.

After “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” and—yes—“The Decision,” Cleveland fans will gladly take “The Block.”

Points: 26

Rebounds: 11

Assists: 13

The “no ring” and “LeBron can’t play in the 4th quarter” memes were put to bed forever with this performance. LeBron’s second Finals triple-double came in the clinching game of his first-ever championship as a member of the Heat. It was here that LeBron’s perception changed forever, and where he permanently solidified his status as an all-time great.

Points: 32

Rebounds: 10

Assists: 11

Steals: 3

This is remembered as the “Ray Allen game,” but Allen would have never been in a position to hit the game-tying three if it weren’t for LeBron’s performance leading up to that shot. He put up a triple-double, while shooting 11 of 26 from the field and logging nearly 50 minutes in an overtime win against the Spurs.

Also, remember when the Miami bandwagon fans left this game early? Haven’t heard much from them since LeBron went back to Cleveland.

Points: 39

Rebounds: 11

Assists: 9

LeBron’s best performance of this Finals came last week. He finished one assist shy of a triple-double, and nearly completed the impossible feat of defeating the Warriors. James shot 15 of 27 from the field, 4-for-9 from three, and five of six from the line in more than 45 minutes of play.

Then, Kevin Durant had other plans…

Points: 40

Rebounds: 14

Assists: 11

Even though the Cavs didn’t win, the 2015 NBA Finals stand out as perhaps LeBron’s best Finals performance. Cleveland was without Kevin Love for the entire series, as he went down with a shoulder injury in the first round of the playoffs, and Kyrie Irving suffered a knee injury in Game 1 that kept him sidelined for the rest of the series. So, it was all on LeBron to carry the Cavs to victory—and he almost did. The fact that this series even went six games is a testament to LeBron’s greatness.

Points: 37

Rebounds: 12

Assists: 4

LeBron’s second title with Miami was sealed thanks in large part to this amazingly efficient performance: James was 12-for-23 (.522) from the field, 5-for-10 from three-point range, and a perfect 8-for-8 on free throws. He also turned the ball over just twice in 45 minutes, and this efficiency paid off in a big way—giving LeBron his second NBA title and the Heat their third in franchise history.

Points: 35

Rebounds: 10

Assists: 3

James propelled the Heat to what became their only win of the 2014 Finals with a fantastic Game 2 output. James also shot .636 from the field, hit all three of his three-point attempts, and hit four of his five free throws. Just another day at the office for The King.

Points: 44

Rebounds: 8

Assists: 6

Episode one of the Cavs-Warriors trilogy opened up about as well as it could have for LeBron: He put up a career Finals high in points scored, enough to lead all players that game. However, it was not enough to put the Cavs over the top, as the Warriors took the game 108-100 in overtime.

Points: 39

Rebounds: 16

Assists: 11

No Kyrie. No Kevin Love. No problem.

The only player to ever win Finals MVP from a losing team was Jerry West in 1969, the first year the award was given out. If any losing player has done anything to deserve Finals MVP since West, though, it’s LeBron in 2015. His prowess was on full display in Game 3, as the King notched a triple-double with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists—enough to lead the Cavs in all three categories. And more importantly, enough to even the series at one game apiece.

Points: 41

Rebounds: 16

Assists: 7

The Warriors had a 3-1 lead going into this game. That wasn’t a meme back then; it was just a fact of what appeared to be an inevitable Golden State championship.

Facing a 3-1 deficit on the road, LeBron and Kyrie Irving put up dual performances for the ages. James and Irving both had 41 points apiece, becoming the first two teammates in NBA Finals history to score 40 points in the same game. The two combined for 82 of the Cavs’ 112 points, and nearly outscored the Warriors, who ended up with 97.

We all know how things ended now, but at the time it just looked as though the Cavs had delayed the inevitable by a few days. If only Draymond Green hadn’t been suspended this game.

Points: 41

Rebounds: 8

Assists: 11

The 2016 Finals are what elevated LeBron from the all-time top ten to the all-time top two—and his best performance of that night helped bring the series to its seventh game.

James, once again facing elimination and longshot odds of overcoming a 3-1 lead, refused to lay down and die. He scored 41 on an amazing 16 of 27 (.593) from the field and 3 of 6 on threes. He finished just two rebounds short of a triple-double, and scored 40 points for the second straight game. The Warriors didn’t have the “No Draymond Green” excuse like they did in Game 5, either.

Honestly, James’ Game 5 performance could have just as easily taken No. 1 on this list, but that’s beside the point—the point that LeBron’s 2016 Finals is the best Finals performance of all time. He led all players in every major category, overcame a 3-1 deficit against the best regular-season team in league history, and bought Cleveland its first championship in over half a century.

Any of those things on their own would qualify one for an all-time great Finals performance. But all of them together? It’s hard to top that. Nobody has, and it’s hard to envision that anyone will.