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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking each version of LeBron James

By Tony Pesta

SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 23: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a break from the action during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 23, 2009 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. The Cavaliers won 117-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 23: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a break from the action during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 23, 2009 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. The Cavaliers won 117-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-2018)

By the time LeBron James made his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he had been through it all. He sustained the fire in Miami and emerged as a two-time champion. Now, James looked to deliver on a promise to the city that helped raise him.

Joining a much improved Cavaliers roster, James was set to play alongside a budding star in Kyrie Irving and an All-NBA member in Kevin Love. Together, this Big Three was ready to compete for championships.

The 2014-15 NBA season was derailed by injury. Love was taken out of the postseason with a dislocated shoulder while Irving battled a knee injury for much of the first three rounds. By Game 2 of the NBA Finals, James was left alone to battle the Golden State Warriors. Shorthanded, James and the Cavaliers fell 4-2 to the Dubs.

In the next year, the Cavaliers were seeking revenge. Meanwhile, the Warriors continued to raise the stakes by capturing 73 regular-season wins and crowning Stephen Curry as the league’s first unanimous MVP.

We all know what happened next. Facing a 3-1 deficit, James erupted for 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game across the final three games to capture the Finals MVP and deliver a championship to the city of Cleveland.

James elevated his play each season with the Cavaliers. The 2016-17 Cavaliers were likely the best team in franchise history, coasting to a 12-1 record in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Had it not been for a loaded Warriors team with Kevin Durant, the Cavaliers may have repeated as champions.

Following the aftermath of the 2017 NBA Finals, the Cavaliers were left devasted when Irving demanded to be traded. The front office scrambled to keep a competitive roster around James, but what resulted was a slew of aging veterans and incapable young players.

This didn’t stop James from winning the East. At times carrying the entire team on his back, James dragged Cleveland to the Finals, averaging 42.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game when facing elimination in the East.

James facing elimination in 2018 NBA Playoffs:

  • CLE vs. IND (Game 7): 45 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals
  • CLE vs. BOS (Game 6): 46 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals
  • CLE vs. BOS (Game 7): 35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks

James was nothing short of amazing in the postseason. However, this was the first time in his career where we saw James take a noticeable break during the regular season. He seemingly coasted through many games, looking uninterested more often than not.

This was also the first time we began to see some decline in his athleticism. James relied more on his wits than his raw athletic ability in Cleveland. As a result, he averaged a career-high 9.1 assists per game in the 2017-18 NBA season.

Overall, James was magnificent in his second stint with the Cavaliers. He reached four consecutive NBA Finals and delivered on a championship victory. Even so, there is another better version of LBJ.

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