Ahead of Game 1 on Wednesday, we use Stats Perform data to look back at some of his standout performances in the championship series and seewhat milestones await. LeBron James: 28.4 PPG (1,562 Total Points) Both LeBron James and Stephen Curry have turned in some epic scoring performances in the NBA Finals. You can argue whose playstyle was more conducive to winning, but you cannot deny the greatness of both of these champions on the games greatest stage. He returned to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 and again went to get to four straight Finals from 2015 to 2018. Although statistics might be a valuable tool for comparing individuals, they do not fully explain who the best players of all time are. In James path was an Oklahoma City Thunder team that was heavy on star power Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka were all on that 2011-12 Thunder squad but light on experience, and the more veteran Heat took full advantage of that. LeBron James' son Bronny, already a captivating NBA draft prospect, has been rounding into one of the best high school players in the country. If James never wins another NBA title, it shouldnt matter a single bit as far as his legacy goes because of this 2016 championship run. Curry and the Warriors went 1-1 in those games and 1-1 overall in the series. LeBron Raymone James Twitter: KingJames Instagram: kingjames (King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets) Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard Shoots: Right 6-9, 250lb (206cm, 113kg) Top 10 Wide Receivers of All Time: Discover the Best NFL Players. This doesnt take a single thing away from what Stephen Curry has meant to 4 NBA championship teams. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1. That is the most by any player in a Finals in the past 30 years. The Los Angeles Lakers announced LeBron James has a right foot tendon injury and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. This was the last season of James with the Miami Heat as he then re-joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second term. Stats: 35.8 PPG/13.3 RPG/8.8 APG/39.8 FG%/31.0 3P% LeBron averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists en route to a 4-1 series . In this article, the regular season, postseason, and NBA finals statistics of LeBron James and Michael Jordan will be compared to discover who performs better overall. Taking a look at the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's historic season for the Nuggets. He got hurt in the third quarter, grabbing at the ankle after spending some time on the floor in obvious pain. LeBron is the 5th player to get swept in 2 NBA Finals, joining: In contrast, James plays in a more free-flowing offensive era. And while Irving was absolutely vital to the success of this series with his clutch shot-making Love didnt actually do too much, for those wondering and theres an argument for the impact Draymond Greens suspension had, this series was all about James. Clutch shots, playoff buzzer-beaters, single-handedly getting the coach of the year fired, and one of the best performances in NBA Finals history are just so. So, with that said, heres a look at James eight NBA Finals, in terms of how he performed individually, ranked. Throughout his record-breaking 17-year career, Lebron James has achieved an magnificent number of successes. 2016: In a rematch against the Warriors a year later, LeBron spearheaded a Cavs side that became the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals and win the NBA championship. James is third in both categories. ET, ESPN), they do so with Tatum playing at an MVP level, on pace to become the first Celtic to . LeBron, a four-time MVP, fell to a young Warriors team that won their first title in 40 years. James played 156 straight games prior to the groin strain, including two grueling Finals runs, a league-leading 3,026 minutes in his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and his first 34 . Jordan is slightly behind James in terms of shooting percentages, with a career field goal percentage of 49.7% to 50.5%. Per Game Table; Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% eFG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV . Ray Allen backpedals to the corner and ties Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals with 5.2 seconds remaining, saving MIA's championship season pic.twitter.com/1CF4LPdJ32. James has produced some memorable displays in the Finals, but also some he would probably rather forget. Do I really need to compare the personnel in each series? LeBron has already surpassed many of the NBA's greatest players and is now only 1,459 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer. During the 2017 performance, Curry recorded 2.2 SPG, and in 2022 against the Celtics, he averaged 2.0 SPG. But I definitely wasnt going to the locker room and not finish the game. The Lakers (30-33) are in 11th place in the Western Conference, a game from 10th and the final spot in the Play-In Tournament, and only 2 games behind Dallas in the race for seventh.The top six . The overall impact in a game cannot just be determined by these mere stats. Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 2, 2023. Still, just the fact that James, at that age and with that team, was able to make the Finals dethroning a powerful Detroit Pistons team in the process was a proud accomplishment. Kia MVP Ladder: Is it too late for Damian Lillard to surge into chase? The Lakers trail the No. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Stephen Curry and LeBron James are forever linked together as the 2 greatest stars of a generation. has had one of, if not the longest prime in the history of sports. ; Aragons; ; Asturianu; Azrbaycanca; Basa Bali; ; Bn-lm-g; . James was named Finals MVP after averaging 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7 assists. Cleveland was considered underdog to a San Antonio team that won its fourth NBA title with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker all in their prime. The Spurs avenge a heart-breaking Finals loss in 2016 by dominating the Heat in wha would prove to be the final games of LeBron James Heat career. Kashmir33 [NBA] LeBron James Additional comment actions I think yesterday in one of the Charania tweets threads about the injury there was a dude with dozens of upvotes saying something like "I'll wait further until we hear more reports because this might just be Klutch PR to provide an excuse" or some similar shit. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. That was answered in 2016, in what is without question the defining moment of James illustrious career. MORE:What an NBA championship with Lakers would mean for LeBron James' legacy. LeBron James stats (2022-23): 29.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 6.9 APG, 50% shooting, 31% 3-point Despite his relatively advanced age, James continues to play at an MVP level for the pedestrian Lakers. James suffered the injury against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday but was able to return as the Lakers completed a 27-point comeback. Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85 to sweep the series and give LeBron his sixth NBA Finals loss. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Series outcome: Cleveland loses to Golden State 4-1. He turned in 30+ point games in all 6 games, which included 2 games with over 40 points scored. Curry has put forth 2 efforts of 2.0 SPG or better in his career during the Finals. On the other hand, Michael went to the finals 6 times and won all 6 of them without even proceeding to level 7. Rushmore of basketball, his stance on social justice causes has alleviated his name to the sphere of Muhammed Ali, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The Lakers will be without LeBron James for at least two weeks and potentially the rest of the season should the team go on a losing streak By Charlie Wilson 16:38, Fri, Mar 3, 2023 | UPDATED: 16: . Even more impressively, though, he can become the first player of any of the major leagues in the United States NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL to win the championship MVP award with three different teams. James, 38, is averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists so . However, he came out victorious in only his second season there, winning his 3rd championship ring in the process. He lost two NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs (2007, 2014) and three more against the Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018). This feat from James not only earned him even more respect and admiration from around the league, but also left many wondering, What if Love and Irving were healthy?, Stats: 29.7 PPG/11.3 RPG/8.9 APG/49.4 FG%/37.1 3P% Today, we will take a look at each of these two superstars and compare them based on their Finals performances. Thanks for following us. LeBron supposedly hurt his hand after punching a whiteboard in the locker room in frustration following the Game 1 loss when his teammate JR Smith inexplicable drove away from the basket instead of shooting with four seconds remaining and the game tied. The Orlando forward played only 11 games this season after missing two years with a torn ACL. Please check your email for a confirmation. Over the last few days, James has reportedly been getting multiple opinions on his injured foot from multiple doctors. Advanced Stats: Michael Jordan. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com . Wes Unseld ('71 & '75 Bullets) Please logout and login again. He has a better career field goal percentage (52.0 vs. 50.4%) and averages more assists per game than James (11.2 vs. 7.4). However, as far as the Finals go, James best series was once again the 2016 comeback over the Warriors. 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers def. Additionally, in Game 1 of the series, James suffered a bout of dehydration and started cramping limiting him to just five minutes in the fourth quarter of that game and dispelling his aura of invincibility in the process. Stats: 33.6 PPG/12.0 RPG/10.0 APG/56.4 FG%/38.7 3P% While the stats highlights Jordan's incredible scoring ability, it also highlights James' overall . They, they had to win in Game 7, which Miami eventually did. The first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 15. Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-1. Having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, King James had one tough road to navigate in order to get to where he is today. Medical update on @KingJames, via the team: LeBron James has been evaluated by Lakers team physicians and medical staff, and it has been determined that he has sustained a right foot tendon injury. James, who was named Finals MVP, averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks. James best defensive series by far came in the historic 2016 comeback win over the Warriors. Stephen Curry: 43.2 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 91.7 FT%, LeBron James: 48.4 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 73.1 FT%. Playoffs. LeBron James: 4-6. Miami Heat, 4-2. #1 | TOP 20 PLAYS of 2010s Compared to Jordan's 33.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in the NBA Finals, James has averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. However, it was not enough to stop the Heat slumping to a 4-1 defeat against the Spurs. It was a historic series for the best player in the world . Since that 2007 Finals trip, James has been in The Finals six times, winning three championships in that span. When James left Miami in the summer of 2014 to return to Cleveland he made a promise to his childhood team that he would bring a championship to it, and he delivered with a seven-game effort for the ages. As you can see from his statistical line, this wasnt James best series. James also averaged 2.3 SPG in the 2013 Finals and 2.0 SPG in 2014. RotoWire names five under-the-radar players who could add value to your rosters as we approach fantasy playoffs. Be the first one to comment on this story. The best Curry ever shot from three in a Finals series was in the 2022 victory over the Celtics at 43.7% on 11.8 attempts per game. Even though the 1st season in LA turned out to be a disaster, the King alongside Anthony Davis managed to get the storied franchise back to where it belongs, helping them win their 17th NBA Championship and his 4th personally. Top 10 PGA Golfers: Find Out Who the Best Golfers are Today, Jonathan Quick Net Worth: Learn How Much the NHL Player is Worth, Kendrick Perkins Net Worth: Uncover the Former NBA Players Worth, Dan Snyder Net Worth: Know How Much the NFL Owner is Worth, Top 10 Highest Paid UFC Fighters of All Time, Michelle Yeoh Net Worth: Find Out How Much the Actress is Worth. The Mavericks conquered their first NBA title beating the Heat in six games after being down two times. LeBron James averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the series. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Yet its crucial to remember that Jordan played in a time when the defense was prioritized over the offense. Stephen Curry has played 34 games in the NBA Finals and has dished out 204 assists in those games. While the stats highlights Jordans incredible scoring ability, it also highlights James overall impact on the game. Regular Season Stats MIN FG FG% 3PT 3P% FT FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS; Averages: 36.1 . The Warriors added Durant and he was in beast mode the whole series, handing the Dubs their fifth NBA trophy. Meanwhile, James finished the series averaging 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4 assists. On Thursday, the Lakers made an official announcement regarding the nature of his injury and his prognosis. For this category, we expected LeBron James to hold a significant advantage over Stephen Curry, and that is exactly what we got. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. He has won the Rookie of the Year award, 4 MVP awards, 4 Finals MVP awards and 4 NBA . The Cavaliers were +650 money line underdogs, according to the Westgate sportsbook in Las Vegas, the worst odds a LeBron Jamess team have ever faced in his nine NBA Finals appearances. And, as the Celtics (44-18) enter Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. 2. In comparison to Jordans 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists a game, James has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. James has been to 10 NBA Finals in his career, while Curry has been to 6, with each player taking home 4 NBA championships. James will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Friday's 10-game slate. Compared to Jordans 33.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in the NBA Finals, James has averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. http://www.nba.com/video/collections/2016/06/13/playlist-lebron-james-in-finals-061316/, 2011: Dallas Mavericks def. LeBron James has played 20 seasons for the Cavaliers, Lakers and Heat. In addition to James, Lakers guard DAngelo Russell missed his second game with a right ankle sprain. For the better part of the last decade, NBA fans have gotten used to seeing Stephen Curry, LeBron James, or both players in the NBA Finals every year. He had a rough start as OKC managed to hold him to just one field goal in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 1, but after that he couldnt be contained as his combination of scoring and passing was just too much for the Thunder to deal with. James has been the best player on the court overall in 90.0% of his NBA Finals appearances, whether he won or lost. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make the NBA playoffs this season, a good chunk of the work toward that goal will have to be done without their franchise player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('83 & '89 Lakers) After missing the playoffs in his first year with the Lakers, LeBron has a chance to join John Salley and Robert Horry as the only NBA players to win a title with three different teams. LeBron James of the @Lakers will be the first NBA player to win a Finals MVP with a team and then later play against that team in the playoffs. He became the 1st player to lead the entire Finals in total pts, rebs & asts, LeBron scored or assisted on 66.84% of his team's FGs in the Finals, by far the highest % in the last 45 yrs (next highest, MJ 56.3% in '91). LeBron will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks. Considered by many as the GOAT, LeBron James not only continues to inspire on the court with his work-ethic but even off-it with his multiple programs aimed at helping those in need. The 2017 postseason marks the 10th anniversary of LeBron James first run to The NBA Finals, when his play powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first championship series. With the Golden State Warriors out for revenge, with Kevin Durant in the fold this time around, there was nothing the Cavaliers could do not even an outrageous James triple-double stat line to prevent this inevitable Dubs championship.