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#3 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant and LeBron James have gone toe-to-toe in the NBA Finals three times, and Durant has come out on top more often. Although it was not a defensive masterpiece from either party, Durant successfully delivered the goods for the Warriors to earn the finals MVP.
LeBron James and the Miami Heat first met Durant during his stint with the OKC Thunder. Although the Heat's Big 3 closed the series in five games, Durant outscored LeBron James and averaged 30.6 points in the series.
In 2017 and 2018, fans were treated to intriguing NBA finals as both offensive firehouses squared off against each other. Durant successfully reduced LeBron's efficiency to lead the Warriors to the title. On both occasions, Durant was named the MVP.
#2 Andre Iguodala
The 2015 NBA Finals would be on the minds of many as Andre Iguodala won the MVP mainly because of his tenacious defense on LeBron James. Although the points average will show James as an elite scorer, his efficiency was abysmal.
Although no one can exactly say he locked down LeBron James, he certainly made things super difficult for him. With Iguodala on the court, James averaged 26.1 points, seven assists, and shot 38.1% from the field per 36 minutes. By comparison, James averaged 34.9 points and 6.6 assists without Iguodala on the floor.
LeBron James shot an abysmal 35.6% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc. His free throw shooting was also poor as he shot 69% from the charity stripe.
#1 Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James found it hard to hit top gear against another San Antonio Spurs player during the 2014 NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard was a menace on defense and terrorized James throughout the series.
The Klaw was another player who successfully reduced LeBron James' impact significantly and denied the Miami Heat a three-peat. When Leonard was his primary defender, he shot only 34% from the field.
Kawhi was named the 2014 NBA Finals MVP for his overall performance defensively. He was named the NBA Finals MVP mainly because of his defense on LeBron.
