The 25 defining moments of LeBron James' career

 

LeBron's career can't go on forever, can it? If it were to end tomorrow, it would be the greatest run of sustained excellence the league has ever seen. In celebration, these are the moments that have defined his storied time in the NBA.

 

2016 Finals Game 7

LeBron has scored more points than anybody in NBA history, but his defining play is a defensive stop. It was Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, and LeBron got a chase-down block on Iguodala, on what would have been a go-ahead layup. This paved the way for the Cavs to win their first championship.

 

2012 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6

 

The Paul Pierce-era Celtics won only a single title in 2008, but they remained competitive in the years that followed. They had a great shot at reaching the Finals in 2012, when they were up 3-2 against the Heat in the conference finals. LeBron, though, went for 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, shifting the series momentum and sending Miami to the Finals. 

 

2018 Finals Game 1 

The Warriors pummeled the Cavaliers in the '18 Finals with a sweep. It wasn't LeBron's fault, though, especially in the opening game. He logged 51 points, eight rebounds, and eight dimes, but a balanced attack from Curry, Durant, and Thompson was too much to handle in overtime.

 

Scoring Record

Towards the end of the third quarter in a regular-season game on February 7, 2023, LeBron hit a relatively ordinary-looking shot. There was immense historical significance, though: It was the shot that gave him the all-time career scoring record. Since then, he has continued to add to the total, making the record increasingly unlikely to ever fall.

 

2007 Eastern Conference Finals Game 5

 In a superlative playoff moment from early in his career, LeBron had an incredible 25-point fourth quarter and overtime against the top-seeded Pistons in Game 5 of the Conference Finals. That run also included 29 of the Cavs' final 30 points. He finished with 48 total, which was enough for the W.

 

2012 Finals Game 5

In his first eight years in the league, LeBron failed to win a championship. Year nine, though, it finally happened with a 4-1 victory over OKC. He ended the series with an exclamation mark in Game 5, putting up 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists.

2013 Finals Game 7

Ray Allen hit the defining shot of the 2013 Finals, but LeBron put his stamp on the series, too. This was especially true in the deciding Game 7. It was a close win over the Spurs, and 'Bron putting up 37 points and 12 rebounds certainly helped.

 

2020 Finals Game 6

 People like to put an asterisk on the Lakers' 2020 title, but ultimately LeBron added another championship to his total. He led the charge in a closeout Game 6, dropping 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 dimes. He was doing this at 35, by the way.

 

2009 Eastern Conference Finals Game 2

 

 LeBron has had so many huge shots, and this one is definitely up there. Down two with one second left, LeBron caught the inbound pass outside the three-point line and quickly drained the shot. Orlando was up 1-0 in the series, so it was a massive make to prevent the Magic from building momentum (although they did end up beating the Cavs in six).

 

First Game

LeBron was one of the most hyped rookies ever, so his first game in 2003 was as high-profile as any regular-season game. He made his debut in Sacramento and was handed a loss. He was personally successful, though, logging 25 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and four steals.

 

2013 Regular Season Game vs. Boston

 Jason Terry faced an impossible situation: After turning the ball over, he found himself standing in the paint surrounded by three Cavs. One of them was LeBron, and to his credit, Terry jumped as James received the alley-oop pass. 'Bron did what he had to do and emphatically disrespected Terry with the slam.

2015 Finals

The 2015 championship just wasn't meant to be for the Cavaliers, with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love both missing significant time. LeBron put the team on his back, though, and made it a competitive six-game series. In four of those games, he scored at least 39 points.

2016 Finals Game 5

The Cavs were in a tough spot in Game 5, down 3-1 against a historic Warriors team that went 73-9 that regular season. LeBron wasn't intimidated, though, and he delivered with 41 points to push the series to 3-2. That was in addition to 16 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and three blocks.

2014 Regular Season Game vs. Charlotte

LeBron claimed the all-time scoring record through remarkable consistency. His career is full of big scoring nights, though. The greatest of all was when he hung 61 on the Bobcats, doing so on remarkable 22-for-33 shooting, including 8-10 from beyond the arc.

 

2006 Playoffs First Round Game 1

It took LeBron a few seasons to make the playoffs for the first time. When he did, though, he showed up. In his very first game, he dropped a 32-point triple-double on the Wizards.

2024 Regular Season Game vs. Minnesota

The 2026 season marks LeBron's 23rd in the NBA. He's been in the league so long that he pulled off a unique NBA first: playing in a game alongside his son. LeBron and Bronny made history during a game against the Timberwolves in 2024. 

 

2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5

 The Celtics gave LeBron a tough time during those Pierce/Garnett years. James, though, got the better of them in the second round of the 2011 playoffs. He had a major Game 5, scoring Miami's last ten points to close out the series.

 

2017 Finals

The Warriors beat the Cavaliers pretty thoroughly in the 2017 Finals, only needing five games to win the series. LeBron sure gave them a hard time, though. Over the series, he averaged a triple-double, the first time a player had ever done so in the Finals.

 

2018 Playoffs First Round Game 7

In the first round of the '18 playoffs, going into Game 7, LeBron already had two 40-point nights. When his team needed him in the do-or-die game, LeBron again came through. In a close win, he delivered 45 points on 16-of-25 shooting.

 

2009 Regular Season Game vs. Milwaukee

 LeBron picked up his first MVP award in 2009, and it was games like this that helped him get there. In Milwaukee, LeBron dropped a 55-piece. That included 24 fourth-quarter points and 16 over a two-minute span.

2023 Regular Season Game vs. Los Angeles

 

LeBron has plenty of rare achievements in sports history. Here's one: He's the first player to score at least 40 points in a single game against all 30 NBA franchises. He completed his collection by scoring 46 on the Clippers in 2023.

2022 Regular Season Game vs. Golden State

LeBron had his best scoring night as a Laker in 2022. In a regular-season match-up against the Warriors, he put up 56 points at the ripe age of 37. While his scoring isn't what it used to be, there are definitely still flashes like this.

2008 Season

LeBron is the most prolific scorer of all time. Yet, when you look at his career season-by-season, he only actually led the league in points per game one time. That was in 2008, when he put up an even 30 a night. 

2023 Regular Season Game vs. New York

It was an ordinary night when LeBron's Lakers played the Knicks in a 2003 regular-season game. 'Bron's performance was something special, though. With 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, he was the first player to notch a triple-double in his 20th NBA season.

2005 Regular Season Game vs. Toronto

 Playing in Toronto in 2005, LeBron was still a rising star. His case to become a legend was getting stronger by the day, though. This regular-season game helped when he scored 56 at just 20 years old.