CLEVELAND — LeBron James has spent his longest time with a franchise during his current stint with the Lakers. Yet, his most remarkable season might have been while playing for the Heat. Nevertheless, Cleveland remains the city where it all started for him, and he’s dedicated a significant portion of his ongoing 23-year NBA career there.
The Lakers kicked off their eight-game “Grammy” road trip against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. This matchup is their only regular season game at Rocket Arena, and it might be one of the final times James plays in a venue he once called home for eleven seasons.
James holds numerous Cavaliers regular season career records including games played (849), points (23,119), assists (6,228), rebounds (6,190), steals (1,376), and triple-doubles (64). Every time he returns to Northeast Ohio, he receives an outpouring of affection from Cavaliers fans, who, I suppose, are hoping he’ll take the court in Cleveland one last time before he hangs up his shoes.
Here are James’ 11 standout moments with the Cavaliers.
NBA debut
When it comes to NBA debuts, not many are as highly awaited as James’. How did he deal with that pressure? Well, he exceeded expectations, a recurring motif throughout his career since being the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft. On October 29, 2003, he scored 25 points, had nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals in his debut, despite his team losing to the Kings. That said, he gave a hint of the greatness to come.
First 50-point game
A significant highlight from his sophomore season was when James scored his first 50-point game on March 20, 2005. He racked up 56 points, along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists, even though the game ended in a loss to the Raptors. Following that season, he earned spots on the All-Star and All-NBA teams for 21 consecutive years.
Playoff debut
During his third year, James led the Cavaliers to their first playoff berth in eight years. Not only did he shine in his playoff debut with a triple-double (32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), but the Cavaliers also won their first round series against the Wizards in six games.
25 consecutive points
James delivered a timeless performance against the Pistons, who were seeking their third NBA Finals appearance in four years. In a pivotal Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills, he scored 25 straight points, contributing to 29 of his team’s last 30 points, including the winning layup with three seconds remaining in double overtime. He finished that game with 48 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, propelling the Cavaliers to Game 6 and their first-ever NBA Finals.
Franchise leading scorer
On February 7, 2023, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Yet, prior to that, on March 21, 2008, at just 23 years old, he became the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer, overtaking Brad Daugherty.
Redemption Team
Though he wasn’t in a Cavaliers jersey, James won his first Olympic gold medal with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, famously known as the “Redemption Team.”
First MVP
In the 2008-2009 season, James captured his first NBA MVP award after leading the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 66-16 record. He’s won the MVP title four times in total, twice during his time with the Cavaliers.
First playoff buzzer-beater
His initial buzzer-beater victory in the playoffs occurred in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, when he made a 3-pointer over Hedo Turkoglu as time expired, sealing a narrow win. Interestingly, four out of his five playoff buzzer-beaters were made while he played for the Cavaliers.
2015 NBA Finals performance
While it didn’t result in the Cavaliers’ first championship— that would come a year later— James led the team to their inaugural Finals win in franchise history despite facing tough circumstances with injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. He averaged an impressive 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in their sixth consecutive championship series loss to the Warriors.
Cavaliers’ first NBA title
That chase-down block against Andre Iguodala in the Finals is memorable. In Games 5 and 6, James put up averages of 41 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 3.5 steals, and 3 blocks.
He led the team to a historic comeback, winning the NBA title over the Warriors in 2016 and finally ending a 52-year championship drought for Cleveland. This victory, in a way, shaped his legacy, as he mentioned feeling he had become “the greatest player of all time.”
2018 Finals Game 1
This game is often recalled for George Hill missing a crucial free throw and J.R. Smith’s infamous blunder, leading to the Warriors’ eventual win. However, James’ performance with 51 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals is certainly one for the ages.
