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It is no exaggeration to say that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has had to carry the weight of his team's expectations throughout his career. Everywhere he goes, he is the main man and nothing less than a championship is acceptable. With so much responsibility came some ridiculous performances.
A four-time NBA Finals MVP and champion with three different teams, LeBron James has produced some of the most memorable clutch performances. James' ability to score the basket at will and know-how to set up teammates has made him the closest thing to a perfect team player.
However, with excessive ball-handling duties comes turnovers. Turnovers are part of the game no matter how hard one tries not to commit them. With that in mind, here we look at his top five playoff series where LeBron James had more than 30 turnovers.
#5. Vs Golden State Warriors - 31 turnovers
This series was arguably the greatest achievement of LeBron James' illustrious career. Down 3-1 to the greatest regular-season team ever assembled - the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James was a man on a mission - to bring a championship to Cleveland. King James averaged 29.7 points, 8.9 assists and 11.3 rebounds in the 2016 NBA Finals while shooting better than 49% from the field. However, he did have 31 turnovers in the series.
LeBron recorded seven turnovers in Game 2 and Game 4 of the series. Going down 3-1, the Cleveland Cavaliers truly had their backs against the wall. But time and time again, LeBron James pulls out moments of magic out of thin air. Despite having five turnovers in Game 7, King James dropped 27 points, dished out 11 assists and collected 11 boards as the Cavs did the unthinkable and won the series 4-3.
#4. Vs Detroit Pistons - 31 turnovers
In just his third year in the league, LeBron James was a young pup when going up against the Detroit Pistons in the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals. James recorded 31 turnovers in this series that went the distance, but also averaged 26.6 points, 6 assists and 8.6 rebounds while shooting better than 44% from the field.
LeBron conceded eight turnovers (series-high) in a Game 4 win over the Pistons and seven turnovers in a Game 6 loss. Playing as the clear underdogs, LeBron James and company took the Detroit Pistons to seven games and this was an early indication of LeBron's potential.
#3. Vs Washington Wizards - 34 turnovers
During the 2005-06 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft LeBron James, recorded 34 turnovers as the Cavs went up against the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference First Round. James, who was still very young, went on to average a whopping 35.7 points, 5.7 assists and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 51% from the field and over 38% from the perimeter.
However, LeBron James did record 34 turnovers in that series against Washington. He had seven turnovers in Game 4 and a colossal 10 turnovers in Game 2 which was by far the series-high. With that said, LeBron James, at the end of the day, got the job done once again for his team
#2. Vs Boston Celtics - 37 turnovers
LeBron James recorded a mammoth 37 turnovers in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Representing the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James was up against a three-headed monster in Boston - Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Nevertheless, 23 year-old LeBron James averaged 26.7 points, 7.6 assists and 6.4 rebounds while shooting a little over 35% from the field. Despite going up against a stacked team, James and company were able to take the series to seven games. The Boston Celtics, led by coach Doc Rivers, eventually went on to win the series and win the championship that season by beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.
#1. Vs Boston Celtics - 40 turnovers
Arguably the greatest playoff run by a player in NBA history, LeBron James willed his team forward during the 2018 NBA Playoffs unlike ever before. The team standing in his way from another NBA Finals appearance were the Boston Celtics. What ensued was a one-man carry job as LeBron James, with all his might, took his team to the NBA Finals.
LeBron James, playing over 41 minutes per game in this series, averaged 33.6 points, 8.4 assists and 9 rebounds along with 40 turnovers while shooting better than 52% from the field and over 40% from downtown. A truly great series for LeBron, despite recording the most turnovers in a playoffs series of his career, as he led the Cavaliers to yet another NBA Finals appearance. Despite having 40 turnovers in the series, the Boston Celtics players seem to have no answer to LeBron James.
