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LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Looking to enter his 19th season in the NBA, James reminds us just how long he has been dominating the game of basketball.
After being drafted as the first-overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, LeBron went on to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award. He averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers finished the season 35-47.
This was the lowest career-average in any category for LeBron James. In his follow-up season, LeBron James averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists as the Cavaliers finished their season with a winning record.
LeBron James has won four MVP titles in his career. Both on consecutive occasions. His first two were in Cleveland from 2008-2010. The next were in his time with the Miami Heat from 2011-2013.
LeBron has played the game of basketball at such a high level that he consistently put up MVP numbers over the course of his illustrious 18-year career. In this article, we take a look at LeBron James' five best seasons where he didn't win MVP.
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers 2007-08
In the 2007-08 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers emerged as a threat in the Eastern Conference. With LeBron James leading the team all the way to the NBA Finals in the previous season, the Cavs were looking at another shot at the title.
LeBron had a great year. He led the league in scoring, averaging 30 points a game while also grabbing 7.9 rebounds and dishing out 7.2 assists. Winning the NBA Scoring title in the process, LeBron James also took the Cavaliers to a 45-37 record in the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, the Cavs came up short against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The C's went on to win the NBA title that season after forming "The Big Three" lineup of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
LeBron James averaged 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists for NBA Playoffs that season. LeBron James finished fourth in the MVP race as Kobe Bryant walked away with the award.
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers 2016-17
In the 2016-17 season, the Cavaliers were coming off of a winning NBA campaign. As the defending NBA champions, having won off one of the greatest comebacks in league history, the Cavaliers looked difficult to stop.
LeBron James continued his run at the peak of his powers. He averaged a league high of 37.8 minutes per game while playing in 74 games at the age of 32. He averaged 26.4 points with 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists as the Cavaliers finished with a regular-season record of 51-31.
The Cavaliers made it to the NBA Finals on the backs of their superstars, LeBron and Kyrie Irving. However, they would lose to the Golden State Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to their ranks, in five games.
LeBron averaged 32.8 points in the playoffs with 9.1 rebounds and 7.8 assists to go with it. LeBron James finished in fourth place in the MVP race as Russell Westbrook won the accolade this season.
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers 2006-07
In the 2006-07 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers went on to the NBA Finals led by a young LeBron James in the fourth year of his NBA career.
The Cavaliers ended the regular season with a 50-32 record, which placed them second in the East. LeBron James averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and six assists in the regular season.
LeBron put on a dominant display in the playoffs as well. He averaged 25.1 points and 8.1 rebounds while dishing out eight assists a game. He also played a career-high 44.7 minutes a game in the playoffs.
After defeating the Detroit Pistons, who boasted the best record in the East in the finals, the Cavs would face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs.
LeBron James finished in fifth place in the MVP race as Dirk Nowitzki won the title that season.
#2 LA Lakers 2019-20
After acquiring superstar Anthony Davis in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, the LA Lakers in the 2019-20 season emerged as title contenders. The Lakers dominated the Western Conference this season as the duo of LeBron and Davis went on a rampage.
LeBron, now 35-years years old, played some of the best basketball of his career. While not as physically spry as he used to be, his game changed to distributing the ball and scoring from the midpost. LeBron James averaged 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and a career-high 10.2 assists as the Lakers finished with the best record in the West.
The Lakers also went on to win in the NBA Finals against LeBron's former team, the Miami Heat. LeBron put in a dominant performance through the course of the NBA Playoffs, averaging 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists.
Along with the championship, LeBron also won the NBA Finals MVP. LeBron James finished in second place in the MVP race behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers 2017-18
LeBron James had one of the best seasons of his career in his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals the year prior followed by Kyrie Irving's departure, LeBron really carried the team on his back as he took them to the Finals again.
LeBron's durability was put on display this season as he played all 82 games while averaging 36.9 minutes per game at the age of 33. For the regular-season, James averaged 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists as the Cavaliers finished the season with a 50-32 record.
As the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers had to fight their way to the Finals. Two seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers in the first round and the Celtics in the Conference Finals put them in a difficult spot going into the Finals.
With no help, the Cavaliers were swept by the Warriors as LeBron capped off his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance. In the playoffs, LeBron averaged 34 points, 9.1 rebounds and nine minutes on a 41.9 minutes played per game.
LeBron finished in second place in the MVP race behind James Harden.
