LeBron James’ finals record isn’t that impressive but with the Lakers, he has a great chance of improving his win to loss ratio in the NBA finals.
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With a 10th NBA finals series on the line and a chance to itch his name in Lakers folklore , ‘the King’ would be walking into the bubble with his legacy on the line.
His naysayers may ask.. what now?
Can LeBron lead the Lakers to the NBA championship in Orlando or will he once again succumb to the pressure of the NBA finals.
The jury is still out on who will take home the regular season MVP as it’s a close race between LeBron (a fifth MVP) and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though he’s on track for first-team All-NBA a year after being left off it due to an injury ladden and playoff less season.
LeBron James finals record
LeBron won three championships in five years between 2012 and 2016, and famously appeared in eight straight NBA Finals series with the Heat and Cavaliers. And now after a year of well deserved rest he is back in the spotlight. Barring Karl Malone, all the greats that have come to Lakers have led the team to at least one title.
How will LeBron and the Lakers perform in the NBA Orlando Bubble?
Historically, LeBron James has been an extraordinary performer come playoff times and has single handedly taken less of teams to the promised land. The band of regular players become an unstoppable machine in playoffs and this Lakers team are not a bunch of pushovers.
It’s the best team that the kid from Akron has been on in a long time. His running mate Anthony Davis, arguably has the highest chance to take the Defensive player of the year honours along with a possible NBA finals MVP if they reach to that stage. It has never been the case that LeBron has had a player equally good as him on the same team. James and Davis are the best duo in NBA since Shaq and Kobe , and we all know what they achieved.
Also Read: How JR Smith to Lakers could help LeBron James and Lakers to win the NBA title
A championship this season would most assuredly add to James’ legacy, but a Finals loss would likely damage it beyond repair. There are basketball pundits and fans who believe that James’ 3-6 win-loss record in the Finals disqualifies him from consideration as the greatest of all time or G.O.A.T., a title used widely in discussions by fans and the media alike.
What people forget that he has been up against some giants and dynasties and had an herculean task in the finals every time. It is important to note that he has almost always been the best player on either Finals team with the title up for grabs.
LeBron James’ legacy going forward
If James succeeds in winning his fourth ring this season, it will do wonders for his legacy. He won’t leapfrog any of the other greats on the list above, but he would be a step closer to winning 50 percent of his appearances in the Finals. 4-6 looks better on his resume than 3-6, and another title would put him on the short list of all-time great players to win at least four championships.
Here are some of the great players in league history with four titles or more:
Player No. of Titles
Bill Russell 11
Sam Jones 10
John Havlicek 8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6
Bob Cousy 6
Michael Jordan 6
Scottie Pippen 6
Kobe Bryant 5
Tim Duncan 5
Magic Johnson 5
George Mikan 5
Dennis Rodman 5
Shaquille O’Neal 4
Bill Sharman 4
A fourth championship ring gives James one more than Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade, Stephen Curry, Kevin McHale and James Worthy, to name a few.
Additionally , he might well become the 1st player to win an NBA championship with three different teams. That coupled with another NBA finals MVP would help him achieve an important unique feat that even the “Claw” Kawhi Leonard is trying to achieve.
He would be able to come out of the gauntlet that is Western Conference and can shut his detractors who have always credited the easier Eastern conference to play down his efforts over the years.
It’s safe to say that LeBron won’t leave any stone unturned this time and along with a top defense that Lakers have, a serious title charge can be mounted in Orlando
The King and Brow are coming , one for his legacy and the other to start his.
