Dear LeBron James, This Is Your Moment

Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals is LeBron James’ moment. Can he capitalize on a rare opportunity to rewrite his legacy?

The 2016 NBA Finals have been unlike any in recent memory. From displays of dominance to strange suspensions to all-time performances, the narrative has changed with every passing game.

The one constant: LeBron James has been as brilliant as any player in NBA Finals history.

One could poke holes in that theory by deeming another historical performance as better than James’ in 2016. That’s an entirely fair belief, but delving into that discussion would distract us from the situation at hand..

James is playing at a level that few players have ever reached, as evidenced by his averages of 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.7 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game.

The cumulative numbers are just as impressive..

That’s downright absurd.

James is the first player in NBA Finals history to record at least 180 points, 65 rebounds, 50 assists, and 15 steals—and yes, I dug beyond the preface of 1984 to 1974, when steals were recorded as an official statistic. That doesn’t even account for his series-leading 13 blocks.

In what’s undoubtedly the biggest game of his illustrious 13-year career, James has a chance to cap off a remarkable run to a championship and thus rewrite his legacy.

The Pressure

The Golden State Warriors are under significantly more pressure than the Cleveland Cavaliers. To win more regular season games than any team in NBA history, only to fall a single victory short of a championship, would be a devastating blow.

To win the championship would be a career-defining achievement, but to lose in the NBA Finals would be a gut-wrenching outcome.

If LeBron James and the Cavaliers were to fall short of a championship in 2016, his legacy would—well, it’s tough to explain. On paper, it’d be tough to deny that a record of 2-5 in the NBA Finals would pale in comparison to the other members of the all-time Top 10.

In the moment, however, it’d be tough to penalize James for much of anything given the series he’s had—sort of.

James has been the best player in this series—by far. Even if Stephen Curry were to dominate Game 7, James would still have thoroughly outplayed him for the second consecutive year in the NBA Finals.

The reality is, James has lost so many times before in the NBA Finals that a fifth loss would create the reputation of a player who isn’t an actual threat to win a title.

More importantly, he’d have an opportunity to beat the man who bested him for MVP, only to fail in doing so—an anti-Michael Jordan moment, if you will.

Winning For Cleveland

Cleveland is one of the most passionate sports cities in the world. The dreadful reality is, the city of Cleveland is in the midst of one of the worst title droughts in the seemingly endless history of American sports.

No professional team from Cleveland has won a championship in over 50 years—in any of the four major sports leagues.

The last time a major Cleveland sports team won a championship was 1964. It was the Cleveland Browns that won the NFL championship that year, and yes, that was before the Super Bowl even existed.

The star player on that team, Jim Brown, remains the most iconic sports figure in Cleveland’s lengthy history.

Of course, Brown’s role in the civil rights movement far outweighs what he did on the field. With that being said, his achievements on the field, as well as that since elusive championship, have played a tremendous role in his eternal reputation.

On the court, James has an opportunity to achieve that same immortality by ending the 52-year title drought.

The Meaning Of Another Ring

For as brilliant a player as he undeniably is, LeBron James is a very small step below the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant. That isn’t a comment on his talent or production, but instead his legacy and penchant for stepping up in the biggest of moments.

James is dangerously close to entering the highest of tiers on the all-time spectrum, and winning this championship would achieve basketball immortality.

Winning a third championship would give James the same number of rings as Bird—an instant boost to his all-time status. As previously alluded to, winning a title for Cleveland would be a boost to his legacy on its own.

Perhaps most importantly, it’d put an end to the criticism he faced for leaving Cleveland to join the Miami Heat—and then some.

The Cavaliers have star-caliber talent, but it’s young talent—talent that hadn’t reached the playoffs before James’ arrival. Thus, winning a ring would silence the criticism that he can’t win without other elite players—and he’d be doing so against the winningest team in NBA history.

LeBron James, this is your moment.

must read: Who is the Golden State Warriors' real MVP?

Be prepared for the longest 48 minutes of your life.