Sports

Lakers’ LeBron James Reflects on His 1st NBA Finals Run with Cavaliers in 2007

As Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić prepares for his first appearance in the NBA Finals, LeBron James reflected back on the first time he made it to the biggest stage in basketball in 2007.

On the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast (starts at 6:30 mark), James admitted he “didn’t even know what was going on” during that run with the Cleveland Cavaliers because he was only 22 and wanted to “take in as much information as I possibly can” without overcomplicating himself by thinking too much.

Even though James had been in the league for four seasons at that point, the 2007 playoffs was a breakthrough moment for him.

It was the second straight year the Cavs made the postseason after losing to the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the 2006 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Detroit was the class of the East at that point and were in the midst of making the conference finals in six straight seasons from 2002-03 to 2007-08. They made the NBA Finals in back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004, winning in 2003.

After falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Cavs stormed back to win four straight games. James turned in one of the best performances in playoff history in Game 5 with 48 points in a 109-107 double-overtime win. He scored the last 25 points for Cleveland, including all 18 between the two overtime periods.

Cleveland’s victory over the Pistons sent the franchise to its first NBA Finals. The Cavaliers wound up being swept by a San Antonio Spurs team that was still in the midst of their dynasty with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all the prime of their careers.

Things would get better for James after that, as he has since won four NBA titles and four MVP awards. He eventually led the Cavs to a championship in 2016 with a memorable seven-game series win over the Golden State Warriors.

 

 

Related Posts

After an incredible campaign, Ohtani was nominated for MVP

LOS ANGELES — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was named among the nominees for Major League Baseball’s National League Most Valuable Player award on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) after…

แข้ง ทีมชาติไทย รายงานตัวก่อนซ้อมเกมอุ่นเครื่องฟีฟ่า เดย์ พ.ย.นี้

เมื่อวันจันทร์ที่ 11 พฤศจิกายน 2567 ขุนพล “ช้างศึก” ทีมชาติไทย ทยอยเดินทางมารายงานตัว เพื่อเข้าแคมป์เก็บตัวฝึกซ้อมก่อนลงแข่งขันฟุตบอลอุ่นเครื่องรายการ International Exhibition Matches ตามปฏิทินฟีฟ่า เดย์ ในระหว่างวันที่ 14-17 พฤศจิกายนนี้ พบ “ทีมชาติเลบานอน” และ “ทีมชาติลาว” การรายงานตัวในครั้งนี้มีเหล่านักเตะที่มีรายชื่อนำโดย ศฤงคาร พรหมสุภะ (สุโขทัย เอฟซี) , พีรดนย์…

David Campese’s Autumn Nations Series Team of the Week: ‘Freakish’ Springboks star features as several ‘harsh calls’ made

Following a sensational weekend of the Autumn Nations Series, Wallabies great David Campese selects his Team of the Week. “Firstly, I have to say what a thrilling weekend…

Aussie sevens star signs with NRL club in ‘huge blow’ weeks after taking out game’s top award

In a “huge blow” to Australia’s men’s sevens team, reigning player of the year Nathan Lawson is set to leave the code to join the Dragons in the…

‘We like that challenge’ – Pumas flanker Juan Martín González primed for Ireland shot

South Africa, check. New Zealand, check. Australia, check. France, check. Ireland? Argentina arrive to Dublin on Friday evening looking to inflict a second Autumn Nations Series defeat in…

Former All Black critisizes Ireland’s ‘motivation’ after Autumn Nations Series defeat

After one of the most anticipated Test matches on the end-of-year tour, former All Black Jeff Wilson has criticized  Ireland and how they played in Dublin. Wilson’s comments come after…