When it comes to LeBron James’ legendary career, the endless debate has always been which version of him was the greatest: Miami LeBron or Cleveland LeBron. For Tyronn Lue, who coached James during some of his most iconic moments in Cleveland, the answer is clear.
Appearing on Club Shay Shay, Lue explained why he believes the Cleveland years, particularly from 2015 to 2018, were LeBron’s peak.
“The year we went to the finals when Kyrie was gone… He was super efficient in Miami, but I didn’t get a chance to watch it like I wanted to. You know, of course, you can’t see every game, but what he did in Cleveland. That stretch he had in Cleveland, I think that was his best.”
“The year, 16, 17 season, we went back to the final. We played against KD for the first time. Like that season right there, I think was one of the best seasons, like you said, they’ve ever had. And then I can’t remember what that playoffs was.”
“The playoff run he had, that might’ve been the best playoff run. That was 18. That period, that 15 to 18, I think that might’ve been his best basketball.”
It’s a bold statement considering how dominant James was in Miami. From 2010 to 2014, LeBron redefined efficiency and dominance on both ends of the floor. Over four seasons, he averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists while shooting an outrageous 54.3 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from deep.
Those years brought him two MVPs, two Finals MVPs, two championships, and four straight trips to the NBA Finals. Miami LeBron was an unstoppable force, blending size, speed, and power in a way the league had never seen.
Yet, Lue argues that Cleveland LeBron was something different, a version that combined prime athleticism with a sharpened basketball IQ and complete command of the game. From 2014 to 2018, during his second stint with the Cavaliers, James averaged 26.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game.
He earned four straight All-NBA First Team selections, made the Finals every year, and, most importantly, delivered Cleveland its first championship in 2016. That Finals, where he led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors, remains one of the most celebrated feats in NBA history.
The 2018 playoff run Lue highlighted stands as further proof of his point. With Kyrie Irving gone and Kevin Love battling injuries, James carried a depleted Cavaliers team to the Finals, averaging 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 9.0 assists across the postseason.
His performance included unforgettable moments: the game-winner against Toronto, the Game 7 masterpiece in Boston, and the iconic 51-point eruption in Game 1 of the Finals against the Warriors. It was a run fueled by sheer willpower, proving he could still dominate at the highest level without a stacked supporting cast.
Ultimately, the debate will rage on. Miami LeBron may have been the most efficient and physically unstoppable, while Cleveland LeBron was the most complete, an all-around maestro capable of lifting teams on his shoulders.
Tyronn Lue, who had a front-row seat to some of LeBron’s greatest triumphs, has made his choice: the Cleveland years were King James’ true peak.
