After taking the loss in Chicago on Wednesday, Lakers star LeBron James spoke honestly on the state of his team and reflected on some of his previous battles against the Bulls. This week, James did not achieve the desired result in Chicago but he still had plenty of highlights to consider when asked about his all-time favorite moment against the club.
“The battles that I had against [Derrick Rose], Joakim [Noah] and Taj [Gibson] and all those guys during those times,” said LeBron. “The one year when I was able to hit the game-winner, Game 4 I believe… by their bench.”
I asked LeBron about his favorite moments playing against the #Bulls
He didn’t disappoint: pic.twitter.com/x7DTMVcgWP
— Ryan Taylor (@rytay_) December 21, 2023
Back when LeBron was still in the East, he played the Bulls much more frequently, and he gave them trouble throughout his career with all-time averages of 28.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game against the team. LeBron’s battles against the Bulls are much less common today but, somehow, he still puts on a show every time he’s in the “Windy City.”
LeBron’s Amazing Game-Winner In The 2015 Playoffs
The moment in question dates back to the 2015 NBA playoffs, during LeBron’s first postseason run with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After beating the Celtics in a 4-0 sweep in round one, they faced off against a Bulls team in the Semifinals that was on their last leg with Derrick Rose. With the series tied at 1-1, Rose went viral in Game 3 by hitting a game-winning three at the buzzer. But with his back against the wall, facing a 3-1 series deficit, LeBron responded in a huge way in Game 4 by nailing a game-winning three to cap off a 25-point, 14-rebound performance.
LeBron stole the soul of the Bulls that night and the Cavaliers wouldn’t lose again in the playoffs until the NBA Finals, when they lost to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in 6 games. The whole season was a masterpiece by James but he saved his best for the playoffs en route to his fifth straight Finals appearance. The Cavaliers would go on to win a championship in the very next season, storming back from down 3-1 to beat the Warriors in 7. As for the Bulls, they failed to even crack the playoffs in 2016 which would ultimately lead to them trading Rose and starting a mini rebuild…. all thanks to LeBron’s heart-crushing game-winner in the year before.
LeBron James Leading The Show In Los Angeles
LeBron’s days of ruling the East have long been over but he’s found a lot of success with the Lakers. In six seasons with the team, LeBron has averaged 27.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on 51% shooting. He’s led the Lakers to several playoff runs, including a championship victory in 2020 at 36 years old. The fact that LeBron is still going strong, over 20 years after being drafted, is unprecedented in the NBA but he hasn’t lost a step so far.
Today, just like against the Bulls in 2015, LeBron is the hero and the leader of his team and his play has put them in a strong position to compete for a title. This season, though, the work will be cut out for him to carry the Lakers to a respectable finish in the Western Conference.
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