LeBron James is considered to be one of the best basketball players of all time, and rightfully so. Ever since he came into the league, at the age of 18, he was nothing short of spectacular and brilliant. That goes for LeBron's performances on the court and off the court as well. Apart from being a great sportsman and a dominant basketball player, he is a successful businessman, a humble family guy, and a loving teammate. True role model, to say the least.
James is also known for giving back to the community and his charity work, as his "LeBron James Family Foundation" sends kids to college every year.
All these things make him already one of the greatest athletes of all time, but there are many that question LeBron's greatness when it comes to winning championships.
14 years of excellence
LeBron is currently playing in his 14th season, since being drafted number one overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 draft. He is a three-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time league MVP.
He won his first championship in 2012 when he was a member of the Miami Heat, and his second title was in 2013, also with the Miami Heat. His most memorable championship run was, of course, last year when he led his Cleveland Cavaliers to the promised land. The Cavaliers were down 3-1 in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, and they came back to win the title in Game 7 on the road.
The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to come back from 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, and this feat was even more impressive considering the fact that the Warriors were a 73-win team that season. With his third championship ring, James solidified his place among the all-time greats, but what happens if he loses to the Warriors this year?
The Cavaliers are currently down 2-0 in the Finals against the Warriors, and the way things are looking right now, James is looking at another possible Finals loss. That would give him five losses at the biggest stage of the NBA, and possibly remove James from the discussion as the GOAT (greatest of all time).
Chasing the ghost
LeBron is often compared to Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. Jordan of course, never lost an NBA finals series as he is 6-0 in the Finals, while LeBron has four Finals losses on his resume. Just weeks after he had won his third title, James gave an interview to Sports Illustrated and spoke about his motivation and what keeps him going. In that interview, he said, "My motivation is this ghost I'm chasing. The ghost played in Chicago."
He was obviously referring to Michael Jordan, and many are wondering if LeBron is really at Jordan's level? With four Finals losses in his career, and facing a possible fifth, 'The King' is under a lot of pressure with his legacy on the line.
How will he respond, and will Game 3 of this year's Finals be the decisive point for his legacy? We will have the answer soon, as Game 3 tips off on Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
