Hoops Habit
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Ranking the top 5 NBA Finals games in LeBron James’s career

By Matthew Way

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. 2016 NBA Finals, Game 6

It’s probably fitting that the one series with two games on this list comes in the greatest Finals comeback of all-time. LeBron’s Game 5 was great, but his performance in Game 6 was downright dominant under the circumstances.

Draymond Green returned from his suspension, but the King ensured that it wouldn’t matter.

Cleveland came out swinging and led by 20 after the first quarter, fueled by LeBron’s nine points, four assists, and two steals. The Warriors fought back in the middle periods, decreasing the deficit to only nine entering the fourth.

And then James showed that he was in complete control.

He scored or assisted on 27 of Cleveland’s first 28 points in the final quarter. And the only exception was a Kyrie Irving technical foul free throw. LeBron was in complete control of the game when it mattered the most and the Cavaliers extended their lead to 20 with three minutes left.

During the decisive run, he emphasized how much control he had over the game and moment in a statement block of Stephen Curry:

It was one of those moments that just felt like LeBron was never letting his team lose the series. Even against the most dominant regular season ever, he did whatever he wanted. And it was quickly becoming clear that he was on the brink of making history.