LeBron James has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers in his long career. The King has brought home championships for every franchise he has played for. He is a four time Finals MVP and has made an amazing 10 NBA Finals appearances.
Finals MVP #1
The Miami Heat shocked the world when they added LeBron James to their roster in 2010. He joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form what many credit being the first “Super Team.” While the Heat did reach The Finals in the first season of the Wade-Bosh-James combination, they were upset by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 series.
That Finals defeat was fresh on the Heat’s mind as the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season began and Miami made sure it did not falter once again on NBA’s biggest stage. For James in particular, The Finals had been a nightmare in the wins and losses department. In his first Finals trip — James averaged 22 points, seven rebounds and 6.8 assists in the series — his Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in 2007. Trip No. 2 to The Finals featured similar numbers from James (17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists) … in a six-game series he lost to the Mavs in 2011.
The 2012 Finals were a different story for The King — and his team. His numbers were glimmering (28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists) and the Heat blasted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden’s Oklahoma City Thunder squad in five games. James claimed the first Finals MVP of his career for his efforts and, more importantly to him, got the championship he had wanted.
Finals MVP #2
The Heat would make the NBA Finals again in 2013. This time LeBron’s team would take on the San Antonio Spurs. The series went to 7 Games and was a hard fought series. The Miami Heat would win back to back championships and James would earn back to back Finals MVP awards.
Finals MVP #3
In 2014, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending four seasons with Miami. His time with the Heat was successful, James won two Championships. But he believed he had unfinished business in Cleveland. LeBron started his career in Cleveland and left to pursue a ring. Now he wanted to bring the title to the State he was raised in. In 2016, LeBron brought a title to Cleveland when his Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors. James would earn his third Finals MVP award.
Finals MVP #4
LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. By the time James moved to LA, he was already one of the all-time greats. James struggled to find team chemistry in his first few years in Los Angeles. He lacked a true star as a teammate. That would change when the Lakers sent the New Orleans Pelicans a substantial package of players and draft picks for Anthony Davis. Pairing James with Davis had Lakers fans excited. The acquisition paid off big for Los Angeles in Davis’s first season with the squad. In 2020, the Lakers would win the NBA Title, and they were led by Davis and James.
The King
LeBron James currently has 4 Rings and 4 Finals MVP awards. The King is still going strong and definitely has a chance at adding more rings and MVP trophies to his resume before his iconic career ends.
- Adam C. Better
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