Over LeBron James’ seven years as a Cleveland Cavalier, he has had countless memorable moments that we still talk about and remember vividly today. These are some of his top moments from those unforgettable years. Begin the countdown starting with #10!
10. Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers March 2, 2008
Up 2 points with just over 2:30 to go in the game, LeBron James drives around defender Andres Nocioni and rises up to throw a vicious one-handed dunk that looks as if the ball simply came down and through the rim with James’ arm. On the ensuing Cavaliers possession, LeBron sizes up Nocioni before stepping back to hit a jumper and put his team up 83-86. The 2 offensive plays seal the game for the Cavaliers against division rival Chicago.
Continue the countdown on the next page!
9. Cleveland Cavaliers @ San Antonio Spurs November 3, 2006
LeBron James takes a screen from teammate Drew Gooden and with the defense not hedging out to James, he takes it all the way to the basket and glides over a miniscule Tim Duncan sending him tumbling down to the basket stanchion. It was one of his more memorable posters.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks February 4, 2009
LeBron James simply put on a show in one of the greatest arenas in sports. There was some controversy over his final stat line as to whether the final rebound he got should have been rewarded to him. It really should have been as he grabbed it, landed and passed it to a teammate before falling out of bounds, but the NBA took the rebound off his stat line and James finished with 52 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. An absolute classic LeBron James performance.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks February 20, 2009
Down 53-57 thirty seconds into the 3rd quarter, LeBron James scored 16 straight Cavalier points in the next 2-and-a-half minutes, knocking down 4 long 3 points and 2 mid-range jump-shots. The Cavs were up 69-61 at the end of the run. LeBron James finished the game with 55 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. James was simply dominant this game.
6. 2003 NBA Draft
With the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. It was an incredible moment for a kid and his mother who grew up with nearly nothing, but always had help from peers and coaches. “It’s a dream come true,” said James immediately following his selection.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Sacramento Kings October 29, 2003
In LeBron James’ first game in the NBA, he put up astounding numbers on the road in Sacramento. James finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. He became the NBA record holder for most points scored by a high school player-to-pro in his professional playing debut.
4. Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers May 3, 2006
With the Cavs down 120-119 in a tight 2006 overtime playoff game, LeBron James caught an inbound pass from Larry Hughes and quickly turned baseline to drive to the basket. Washington attempted to trap James at the baseline, but he somehow tiptoed his way under the basket where he laid it in with 0.9 seconds remaining. It was his first playoff game winner with less than a second left.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons May 31, 2007
The series was tied at 2 apiece and the Cavaliers were up 81-78 when LeBron James came into the game and helped his team to a thrilling, double-overtime victory over the shell-shocked Detroit Pistons. For every basket Detroit scored, James had an answer. He scored 25 straight points for the Cavaliers, including 29 of last 30 points. This would go down as one of LeBron’s best performances of his young career.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers @ Golden State Warriors January 23, 2009
Down 104-105 in Golden State, the Warriors put Ronny Turiaf on LeBron James and Stephen Jackson on Anderson Varejao because they assumed screens would be set for James to get to the top of the key, and it would be easier for Jackson to defend James on a switch at the top of the key. LeBron read this defensive tactic, jab-stepped towards the free throw line, and went baseline towards the sideline where the inbounder was. With Turiaf on an island, LeBron could do almost anything he wanted to 1-on-1. He dribbled right, stepped back, and knocked down an 18-foot jumper with just 0.1 left when it left his hands to give him his first career buzzer beater.
1. Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers May 22, 2009
With Cleveland down 93-95 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavaliers were already down 0-1 in the series to the Orlando Magic. They had given up a big lead to lose in the closing moments of Game 1, and had just given up a 23 point lead in Game 2. On the brink of defeat, the Cavs set up what seemed to be an inbound lob pass for LeBron James. As that was quickly evaporated thanks to Orlando’s defense, LeBron caught Mo Williams’ inbound pass at the top of the key with 1.0 second remaining and pulled up for 3 and the victory. It rattled in and Quicken Loans Arena erupted as it would go down as LeBron’s best shot as a member of the Cavaliers.