LeBron James: Top 5 Christmas Day Performances
By Joshua Howe
1. 2011 at Dallas
Stat line: 37 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 57.9 FG%, 78.9 FT% (15-19), Win
The Christmas after that matchup with the Lakers, the Miami Heat walked into American Airlines Center a different team.
They had been defeated by the Mavericks in The Finals the season before, where James notably crumbled under the pressure of the moment. It was a staggering blow to a team that had been up 2-1, and considered themselves the superior club.
This was also the season of the lockout, which meant that Christmas Day was the first game of the shortened (62-game) season.
The hype was off the hook. Everyone had been craving basketball for months, none more so than James and the Heat, who wanted nothing more than to take another crack at the squad that had sent them home the previous June.
Well, as the stats can tell you, James got his revenge. He looked calm while doing it, but you just know that it must’ve felt great for him to come out and crush the team that had given him such fits the last time he saw them.
This performance is the most LeBron has ever scored against another team on Christmas, and he did it by attacking over and over, as seen from the amount of times he got to the free throw line. He was efficient and dominant.
What a game for James and what a treat for fans. Can’t wait to see what he’s got planned this time around.