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LeBron James caused waves following the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets Monday night.
The 20-year NBA veteran told reporters he would consider his future in the Association, in what was a direct contradiction to his previous rhetoric, most notably including his desire to play with eldest son, Bronny.
While at this stage James’s comments seem more like posturing than imminent reality, it has become a leading topic of discussion in the NBA world.
As James ponders what’s next, Mail Sport counts down his 10 most memorable moments through two decades on the NBA floor.
LeBron James offered an ambiguous response to questions regarding his future in the NBA
10. 2004 Team USA Disaster at Athens Olympics
A 19-year-old LeBron James alongside Allen Iverson (C) and Amar’e Stoudemire (L) in 2004
Under the rule of Larry Brown, Team USA were utterly embarrassed at the 2004 Olympics, winning just a bronze medal.
James was joined by a host of NBA stars including Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan and Amar’e Stoudemire.
Team USA lost its first game to Puerto Rico 92-73 — its third and largest-ever. They followed it up with another group loss, this time to Lithuania.
The pièce de résistance was a 89-81 loss to Argentina in the semi-finals, behind 31 points from Manu Ginobli. Aged just 19, James played just three minutes, scoring three points.
Lithuania were unable to defeat the US in the bronze medal match, losing 104-96.
9. Buzzer Beater vs. Orlando in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals
With a second remaining, James nailed a game-winning the three over ORL’s Hedo Turkoglu
James scored 35 points in the game but it was his final shot which naturally received the focus.
In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James gave the Cavs a buzzer-beating 96-95 win in front of a raucous Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
With a second remaining, James received an inbounds pass from Mo Williams, nailing the three over Hedo Turkoglu.
It leveled the series at 1-1 before Orlando went on to defeat Cleveland 4-2 behind the dominance of Dwight Howard.
8. Redeem Team – 2008 Beijing Olympics
James was part of the 2008 Olympic Redeem Team – who absolved the sins of the 2004 team
James won a gold medal in Beijing alongside Wade and Carmelo Anthony, among other stars
After partaking in the shambolic 2004 campaign, James was part of the star-studded USA team which took its rightful place atop the gold medal podium at the Beijing Olympics.
The Redeem Team did not lose a single game en route to atoning for the embarrassing loss four years prior.
Team USA’s slimmest margin of victory throughout was 11 points in the gold medal match vs. Spain (118-107).
James played alongside Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard, among others.
7. Cramp in Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs
A 27-year-old James had to be carried from the court after suffering from major cramps in ’14
James struggled to cope with the increasing heat after the AC blew out in San Antonio, TX.
After back-to-back titles with the Heat, James wilted in Game 1 of the ’14 Finals in the stifling San Antonio AT&T Center after the air conditioning gave out.
James struggled throughout the game as the temperature rose, cramping after a layup to bring the Heat within two. James left the court with 3:59 left in the fourth.
San Antonio went on a 16-3 run following James’s absence. He was carried off the court
San Antonio went on to win the series comfortably, demolishing Miami in Games 3, 4 and 5 en route to a 4-1 series win and of course, the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
6. 48-point game vs. Detroit in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals
James produced one of the most famous individual performances in the 2007 Eastern Finals
James scored the game-winning layup in double overtime against Game 5 vs. Detroit in 2007
A year after his playoff debut, James produced one of the most famous individual performances in recent history during Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals vs. Detroit.
The 22-year-old James scored 25 consecutive points and 29 of the Cavs’ final 30. What’s more James had the game-winning layup in the double-overtime victory.
James finished with 48 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. To this day, it is still one of James’s greatest single-game performances.
Cleveland went on to close out the series in six games before James – and the franchise’s first Finals appearance. The Cavaliers were ultimately swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
5. Loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Finals
LeBron James and the Miami Heat faltered in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks
James scored just 18 fourth quarter points in the series — averaging three Q4 in the NBA Finals
The most infamous Finals performance of James’s career came against Dallas in the shock series loss while with the Heat.
Then in his prime at 27 years old, James averaged just 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists in six games vs. the Mavericks.
His 8.9 point decrease from his regular season average was the largest drop-off in NBA history. Tellingly, James scored just 18 points in the final quarter across all six games — an average of three per game.
Given the expectation of his first season with the Heat, James received intense scrutiny from media and fans alike for his performances against a Dallas team bereft of superstars beyond Dirk Nowitzki.
4. Claiming the NBA’s all-time scoring record
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer in 2023
LeBron’s incredible career has led to him overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (right) record
LeBron James’s 20th season may currently be remembered for the shortcomings of the Lakers, but in time the focus will shift back to an historic evening vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James became the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer on February 7 surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 34-year record in a stunning performance.
He went into the game against OKC needing 36 points to overtake the record of 38,387 – which was set by Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.
The King claimed the record with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a trademark fadeaway dagger. He finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 133-130 defeat.
3. LeBron’s first title vs. OKC in 2012 NBA Finals
James captured his first of four NBA championships after Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals
He delivered the now-iconic meme during a freakish ECF performance en route to the Finals
James finally overcame the hump in his third attempt, dispatching of the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the Finals.
Averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists, James atoned for his performance against the Mavericks in the year prior.
He had to come through a bruising Eastern Conference Finals series vs. Boston in which he had 45 points and 15 rebounds in an elimination game at TD Garden. The game is remembered on social media for spawning the ‘LeBron stare’ meme. Game 7 back in Florida was Miami’s, booking their ticket to the Finals.
‘It’s about damn time,’ James said after clinching his first of four rings.
2. The Decision
James first became a divisive figure upon announcing his departure from Cleveland to Miami
James linked up with Wade and Bosh in what was the first iteration of a superteam in the NBA
James infamously left the Cavaliers for Miami, or ‘taking my talents to South Beach’, as he put it back on July 8, 2010.
Broadcast live on ESPN, James shocked the world after seven seasons with his hometown Cavs.
Ultimately, he linked up with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade to form The Big Three — the first of several superteams, now a commonality in the Association.
It was the first wave of widespread negativity James had faced since coming into the league.
Cleveland fans burned his jersey in the streets and while they might not have agreed with the move or how it was announced, James raised $2million for the national office of the Boys & Girls club.
1. Capturing Cleveland’s first NBA Championship in 3-1 Comeback
LeBron James made good on his promise to bring a championship to his hometown Cavaliers
James delivered one of the signature moments of his career with a chase-down block late
Indisputably the greatest moment of James’ career is his orchestration of the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history en route to the Cavaliers’ first title.
James, with the help of Kyrie Irving and others, overcame the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in an historic three-game sequence.
The King poured in 109 points (41, 41, 27) in the final three games as Cleveland claimed its first title with a 93-89 Game 7 win in Oakland.
Of course, the game is remembered for Kyrie Irving’s late three over Steph Curry and James’s incredible chase-down block on Andre Iguodala.
Following the win, James famously cried ‘Cleveland, this is for you!’ The prodigal son from Akron returned to finish his work.
Then, he left for the Los Angeles Lakers; for whom he may or may not return.
