LeBron James became a 4x NBA Champion back in October, further validating his status as one of the NBA’s All-Time greats.
And while Bron was, undoubtedly, the leader and best player for all his title-winning teams, it doesn’t mean he didn’t have help along the way. Even LeBron himself is aware of that fact.
Back in the 2013 Finals, for instance, with their backs against the wall, it was Ray Allen who came in clutch for the Heat, nailing a corner three to push the series to a Game 7. Today, it’s recognized as one of the greatest moments in playoffs history. And, even now, James apparently still calls his former teammate to thank him for coming up so big.
CBS Sports: If not for some technical difficulties, my plan was to have my Zoom background be a photo of you hitting that iconic 3-pointer against the Spurs in 2013. Do LeBron or Coach Spo [Erik Spoelstra] ever call you out of the blue to thank you for knocking down that shot?
Allen: Oh yeah, they do. They definitely do. And I owe them a debt of gratitude for accepting me into the fold. They already had a championship environment, and to welcome me in to help them get to the next level, that’s what true winners do. They always continue to find ways to win by any means necessary. They’re always willing to learn and get better. There hasn’t been a year that’s gone by where either one of them hasn’t mentioned 2013 to me. They’re always grateful for my input.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFiJc4Fsr2
That moment was key for LeBron, who only had one Championship at the time. Had Allen not hit that shot, James likely would have taken that loss, worsening his Finals record and knocking him down to only three Championships.
In the end, that shot may have very well saved Bron’s legacy, and his chance to catch Michael Jordan in the GOAT race. He’s got plenty of reason to be thankful…
