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LeBron held the Cavaliers banner for a good seven seasons before deciding that it's time for change, and that he's too good to not have a championship ring after 7 seasons in the league.
Then came "The decision" in 2010, where LeBron disclosed to the world on a televised show that he'd be joining the likes of Dwyane Wade & Chris Bosh in Miami Heat. This made him one of the most hated men around the league, and he drew intense hatred from the fan base back in Cleveland.
Nevertheless, absorbing all the criticism, he turned it into something he had made that decision for. From a gifted basketball player, he had become a bona-fide basketball legend by the time his stint at Miami ended in 2014. He left the city with two Championship rings, two NBA Finals MVP trophies & two NBA regular season MVP trophies more than he came in with.
He had done enough to validate his decision of leaving Cleveland and had silenced all his haters with highlight performances that the Heat fans can drool over for decades to come.
I'll try and sum up his best 5 games in a Heat uniform in which he defied all logic of physical athleticism and mental toughness.
#5 Game 4: 2012 Eastern Conference Semis vs Indiana Pacers
Stat line: 40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
With Chris Bosh out with an abdominal injury and the team coming off an embarrassing loss in Game 3, scoring just 75 points in the game, Miami weren't the favourites to win this matchup against a strong Indiana side with homecourt advantage.
With his back against the wall, and his title hopes on the line, LeBron gave it all he could, dropping 40 points and pulling down 18 boards. Wade helped with his contribution of 30 points and Miami sealed a 101-93 victory, which would be the first of the three straight that would eventually send Miami to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals.
He knew his team needed scoring and rebounding, so he delivered at just the right time. Miami's victory prevented the Pacers from going 3-1 up in the series and this win was instrumental keeping in mind the fact that this was the year when LeBron won his first ever NBA title.
If not for such classic playoff displays, the King wouldn't even have had a chance at the throne in the first place.
#4 Regular Season 2010: Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Stat line: 38 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 0 turnovers
James opted to leave Cleveland in favor of joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami during this off-season's free agency period, drawing immense criticism from fans in Cleveland, Ohio.
LeBron James and the Miami Heat took their talents to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers in LeBron's first return to his former team, making this arguably the most anticipated game of this season.
The animosity in the Quicken Loans Arena was palpable but not nearly as powerful as James’ pure athleticism and skill. It was clearly much more than just a regular season basketball game for both LeBron and the fans in attendance.
While fans derided him with boos and many hate-filled slogans, James calmly made 15 of 25 field goals and had 8 assists, all in three quarters, with no turnovers. James rested comfortably on the bench for the fourth period, while his current team finished a 118-90 rout of his former team.
#3 Regular Season 2014: Miami Heat vs Charlotte Bobcats
Stat line: 61 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 22-33 shooting, 8-10 from three
Some might argue that this game deserves the top spot in his Heat career. But that very argument just emphasizes the sheer greatness of 'the King', considering the fact he scored 61 points in a single game and still had better games in his 4 years with the franchise.
A blistering 61 points on 22-of-33 shooting, 8-of-10 from three, with seven rebounds and five assists. The King's previous career-high of 56 points came in 2005 against the Toronto Raptors. And he also shattered Glen Rice's Miami Heat franchise record of 56 points, scored on April 15, 1995, against Orlando.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was dumbstruck by this man's effortless scoring. After the game, he said, "There was an efficiency to what he was doing, the rim looked like an ocean for him."
Chris Bosh called the game “Phenomenal. Amazing. Stupendous. Immaculate.”
#2 Game 7: 2013 NBA Finals vs San Antonio Spurs
Stat line: 37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Following Miami's intense 103-100 overtime victory in Game 6 to keep their championship hopes alive, there was still a Game 7 to play and many wondered whether LeBron had enough energy in him to propel the Heat to a second consecutive championship.
LeBron hit a postseason-high five three-pointers, scored a postseason-high 37 points, made all of his free throws and hit a jumper in the dying seconds of the game that turned a two-point Heat lead into four.
Also, he tied Tommy Heinsohn's record set in 1957 for most points in an NBA Finals Game 7 win. In case you needed a reminder, he did this in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Miami won the game 95-88 and their second consecutive title, and LeBron won his second straight Finals MVP. Miami Heat became only the fifth team to win the NBA title by coming back from a 3-2 series deficit and win the final two games at home.
#1 Game 6: 2012 Eastern Conference Finals vs Celtics
Stat line: 45 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists
To put things into perspective, at this point in LeBron's career, he was yet to win any rings after having a miserable series in the 2011 finals.
One year later, LeBron and the Heat were down 3-2, going into Boston for Game 6. If LeBron had failed to deliver again, his critics and haters would have had a field day. But in this game 6 in Boston is where he silenced his critics and turned the perception of him around for good.
LeBron scored 45 points on 19 for 26 shooting, grabbed 15 rebounds and displayed an aura that we've never seen from him before. He played out of his skin like a man possessed and single-handedly dominated the best defensive team in the league as the Heat won the game by 19 points.
They ended up taking the series in game 7 and eventually, winning the NBA Championship. LeBron's first ever championship ring DID NOT come easily.
The then Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers jibed at the media by saying,"I hope you guys can stop talking about LeBron now and how he doesn't play in big games. Now that's to bed."
