LeBron James sometimes gets criticism for not closing games or having a ‘killer instinct.’ And while the moments may not be as memorable as some other players have enjoyed, the stats show that he is perhaps the most clutch player in the NBA.
The playoffs matter more than any other games in the NBA, and making big shots then is what separates the greatest players from the rest. And when it comes to making shots in the last 30 seconds of games to give their team the lead, no one has done it more than LeBron James.
In that specific situation, LeBron has attempted the most shots with 23, five more than Kobe Bryant in second. And he has made 11, which is more than twice the number any other star has managed since 1997. He has a 47.8% efficiency rate on those shots too, which is better than known clutch playoff performers like Robert Horry, Jimmy Butler, and Dirk Nowitzki.
The first example of this is from the 2006 playoffs against the Washington Wizards in the first round. In Game 3, the Cavaliers were down one point with just over five seconds left on the clock. LeBron James worked his way inside through several defenders and made a tough shot to put his team ahead and clinch the victory.
In 2007, James would make his first NBA Finals appearance. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they beat the Detroit Pistons 4-2. And Game 5 is when LeBron James truly announced himself to the world. Scoring the final 25 points for the Cavaliers, James put the cherry on top by making a driving layup to put his team ahead with a little over two seconds left in double overtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ5AFLXzBFs
He had more moments like this with the Miami Heat, but another one that stands out is the epic shot he made for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls in 2015.
And there is one shot in particular that many won’t forget in a hurry. His running floater to win Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors in 2018 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals is one of the coldest shots of his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XWgRpfkxhY
These are just some examples of big shots LeBron James has hit, there are 11 of these in his career so far. Against his current opposition, the Golden State Warriors, he hit a game-winner over Stephen Curry in the 2021 play-in tournament too, although there was a little more time than 30 seconds left on the clock during that one.
LeBron James Is Allowing His Team To Flourish As The Lakers Are One Game Away From The Western Conference Finals
LeBron James has proved time and again that he can carry teams to the Finals all by himself. But with this season’s Lakers team, he has taken another approach to leadership. On the court and off of it, he’s encouraging his teammates to thrive, and it has resulted in game-winning performances like Lonnie Walker IV’s in Game 4.
James understands that if his teammates gain confidence, the Lakers will be difficult for any team to stop, and they are now on the cusp of ousting the defending champions. If the Los Angeles Lakers can get the job done against the Warriors, it will be another major accomplishment in James’ incredible career so far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiqspGnVC3k
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