Lebron James Career Timeline Overview
Intro
Oh boy, where do I start with Lebrons’ glorious and illustrious career. Lebron has been an international icon for the past 20 years. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever live, I am going to be talking about what has helped the king achieve this status.
The Upbringing of a Star
Lebron Raymone James was born on December 30th, 1984, making him 39 years old as I am making this. Lebron was drafted to the NBA when he was only 18 years old. This makes him 1 of 41 players ever to be drafted as a teenager out of high school, which is an impressive feat in itself, but it would be nothing compared to what he would achieve later in his career.
Lebron Draft Journey
Lebron was taken #1 in the 2003 NBA draft as the best, highest scouted, and most hyped draft prospect since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969, nearly 35 years prior. In his rookie year, Lebron was great, especially for a rookie, putting up 21 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. Sadly, the glorious King would be an All-Star snub this season, making it his first and only non-all-star season in his entire 21 year career, as he has been an all-star for 20 consecutive seasons.
Lebron on the Cavaliers #1
Lebron dominated the league as a young star. He was on magazine covers, he was getting sponsorships, and he was amazing at basketball. From 2004-2010 Lebron was unstoppable as a player, he averaged 29 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists while on the Cavs. And, in 2007, Lebron willed the Cavs to the finals despite limited help. To put into perspective how vital Lebron was to this team, he led the team in ppg (27.3) and apg (6.0), and throughout the regular season, the Cavs were 0-7 without Lebron playing. Although a successful season, they were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs. Despite great singular success, winning two MVPs and the hearts of NBA fans all around the world he was still hungry for more.
The Decision
On July 8th, 2010, Lebron was interviewed by ESPN in a classic interview. “The Decision” was streamed live on ESPN in which Lebron mumbled the glorious words “This fall, I’m gonna take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.” This caused a public outrage and in Cleveland people were rioting, that is a story for another time though.
Miami Heat Era
Lebron found instant success on the 2011 Heat. alongside Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, they took the team all the way to the finals and battled it out with Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. After taking a 2-1 lead, they would ultimately lose 4-2 in a heartbreaking defeat. This was a short lived sadness though, as they would be right back in the finals against Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and the OKC Thunder. In this series they would only lose the first game of the series, and after that they shut the Thunder out 4-0 in the final four games, winning Lebron his first ring of many more to come. He would also win his third MVP averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assist, he was selected to his 8th straight All-Star game, and won Finals MVP as well.
In his second season with the Heat he would win another MVP, sealing his fourth and final MVP thus far, averaging 27 points per game, 8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in 76 games. This season the Heat would win another ring, making it two in a row, in a hard fought come from behind victory, battling a young star. Kawhi Leonard was thrust into the spotlight, and would wreak havoc throughout the league.
The next season was just as electric, with Lebron averaging 27 points 7 rebounds and 6 assists. This year the Heat would go to the finals and go against the Spurs again, only it was different this time. The Heat wasn't as explosive this series. Although the series was tied at 1-1 through the first 2 games, the Spurs would pull away, in an infamous game five where young Kawhi Leonard Clamped Lebron, helping them win. In total this was a good season for Lebron, being an All-Star, being in the MVP race as usual, and making it to the finals. Although he had some incredible feats, his time in Miami was done, and he sought to repay the city that brung him into the spotlight, the city that he grew up in as a kid, Cleveland.
The Return
Lebron returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, as a perennial All-Star, multiple time MVP, and an all around glorious star, he would do anything to repay a city that felt betrayed by him.
Skipping past the first couple of years back in Cleveland, we will focus on the 2016-2017 season where Lebron did the unthinkable, like he always does. In the 2018 NBA Lebron faced one of the most dominant dynasties in not only basketball, but sports history, this was the 2010’s Golden State Warriors.
They had come off a finals victory the year prior to none other than the Cavs themselves, Lebron really carried this team on his back, along with Kyrie Irving who got injured in game 5 of the 2017 finals, which really made Lebron the focal point of this team. They swiftly got down to a 3-1 deficit and all hope was lost, at least we thought. In a press conference interview GSW shooting guard Klay Thomspson uttered the famous words “He must’ve gotten his feelings hurt. This was all Lebron needed to tap into his King like ways of glorious and beautiful play. After a nasty blowout by the Cavs 112-97, Cleveland fans regained some hope, but there was still very little. After the Cavs beat the Warriors again, 115-101, GSW fans began to become worried, and the Cavs fans were on the edge of their seats. Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals is considered by many to be the greatest NBA game ever played, although low scoring, the final 6 minutes of the game were nerve racking for both fanbases, as the Warriors were dreading losing after taking a 3-1 lead, and the Cavs fans were ecstatic at the opportunity presented to them. Lebron and Kyrie put it on this game, in the end, it was close, but the glorious King Lebron James never disappoints. Kyrie hit a three in clutch time, putting the cavs up 92-89. After that Lebron got fouled by Draymond Green with 10.6 seconds left, putting him at the free throw line. After he made the second on the case was pretty much sealed, the Cavs did the impossible, they achieved the 3-1 comeback no one thought they could. After being counted out so many times, Cleveland's sports curse had finally been broken, we had brought home a championship, adding onto Lebrons incredible career, and his GOAT case.
Lakers / Bubble Era
Lebron would sign with the LA Lakers out of free agency on July 1st, 2018. Nothing too eventful would happen until 2020, where he won another ring against the Jimmy Butler led Miami Heat in a 4-2 victory.
Legacy
Lebron Raymone James is 39 years old and most likely going to retire within the next few years, he is the first player to ever play in 20 straight all-star games, the first player to ever make a 3-1 comeback in the finals. He is a 4x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 3x NBA All Star MVP, 13x All NBA First Team, 3x All NBA Second Team and many more, Lebron is truly a basketball phenom, and will always be a legend.