As a 22-year NBA veteran (and counting), LeBron James has created countless memorable moments on the basketball court.
Still, some plays stand out above others, and there are three that stick out the most to James. In a recent appearance on ‘Bob Does Sports,’ the NBA legend described his three favorite career moments, starting with that iconic block on Andre Iguodala in 2016.
“[Iguodala’s] number one. A block to seal it, basically,” said James. “The alley oop in Boston, the dunk on Jason [Terry]. And I don’t know if it’s one particular highlight, but this game in particular: 29 out of 30, the last 25 points scored in Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.”
Out of the gate, the one thing to note here is that two out of the three selections were playoff games, which makes sense given that LeBron prioritizes the playoffs over the regular season anyway. Somehow, he always saves his best for when the stakes are highest, giving us some of the greatest performances in NBA history.
1. Block On Andre Iguodala In The 2016 Finals
LeBron didn’t specify his exact ranking between the three plays, but he did imply that his 2016 block on Andre Iguodala remains unmatched. Against a 73-win Warriors team that had just come back from 3-1 against the Thunder, the odds were stacked against the Cavaliers to win that series, but a couple of breaks in the final three games (including a suspension for Draymond Green) gave Cleveland a window to victory that they seized right away.
The play in question happened in Game 7, with an NBA championship on the line. With less than two minutes to go in a tied game (89-89), Kyrie Irving’s missed layup led to a fastbreak opportunity for Andre Iguodala. Instead of easy points, however, LeBron met him at the rim, where he swatted the shot from behind to secure the win (93-89) and finish with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and three blocks on 9-24 shooting from the field and 1-5 shooting from three. To this day, it remains one of the most important games of LeBron’s career.
2. Alley-Oop Poster On Jason Terry
Years before his miraculous title run in Cleveland, LeBron was still looking to prove himself with the Miami Heat. His time there is considered a great success, and it also gave us one of his most iconic career moments: an alley-oop dunk on Jason Terry. This one was back in 2013, during a matchup against the Boston Celtics (Heat won 105-103). The Cs were a stubborn and frequent obstacle for James at the time, and it’s why his iconic poster against them broke the internet that year.
There weren’t any major stakes in this game, but it left a strong impression on the Celtics as they watched James go off for 37 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists, two steals, and two blocks on 16-29 shooting. For the King, it was a showcase of his sheer power, strength, and athleticism during (arguably) the peak of his career. To this day, it’s a reminder of just how long LeBron has been doing this, and just how unstoppable he is with the ball in the paint.
3. 25-Point Run Against Pistons
If there’s anything that tops his Game 7 performance in 2016, it has to be LeBron’s 25-point scoring streak against the Pistons in 2007. He was just 22 years old at the time, but managed to lead the Cavaliers to victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Semi-Finals. In an incredible stretch, he scored the Cavs’ last 25 points, and 29 of their last 30 to produce a statline of 48 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and zero blocks on 18-33 shooting from the field and 2-3 shooting from three.
In this game, LeBron was doing everything for his team down the stretch, completely taking over scoring responsibilities. What’s crazy is that the Cavs needed every bucket, barely edging out the Pistons for a two-point overtime win (109-107). This was LeBron at his absolute best, and also his most aggressive, as it stands as a rare example of a time that he shut out his teammates to play the hero. It worked in this game, giving us an iconic performance we won’t soon forget.
