There is no doubt that LeBron James will go down as one of NBA’s all-time greats. Imagine the accomplishments he achieved in his career, particularly the championship titles acquired. The King is one of the best in the league right now.
But with his achievement, the hopes of many franchises have been diminished. James’ seven straight trips to the NBA finals have brought devastation to most organizations in the league. Here is some evidence proving that LeBron is a franchise destroyer.
The Indiana Pacers
Remember the time when the Indiana Pacers suddenly rose to fame?
It was during the 2011-12 season when they became a force to reckon in their division. This was all thanks to a core lineup consisting of Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, and Paul George. They easily won 42 games and were believed to be title contenders. But unfortunately for them, they fell short when they fought against the Miami Heat. In this series, LeBron James easily averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. These numbers were enough to shut down the Pacers. Although the team continued to be a monster in the next seasons to come, their years of being a title contender ended during the series.
The Chicago Bulls
According to Fansided, the Bulls quickly became a fan favorite among all franchises thanks to Derrick Rose and later on Jimmy Butler.
During their prime, the Bulls were looking good as a title contender. Many even believed that Rose was their next Michael Jordan, or that at least he could help them bring fame once again. In the 2010-11 season, the Chicago Bulls faced the Miami Heat in the Conference Finals. The series proved to be tough for each team, but LeBron still averaged at least 29 points, 2 assists, and 8 rebound.
Just as the series ended, Chicago’s future quickly ceased to exist. Rose would have an injury that changed his career for good. Although he came back, he suffered the same injury again. Since then, he has not been in the MVP form that he once was in. While Butler proved to be an exciting scoring machine for the Bulls, his efforts were not enough, even with Dwayne Wade’s inclusion.
The Boston Celtics
This is perhaps the most interesting team on this list. Keep in mind that the Boston Celtics were considered a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference, most especially during Kevin Durant, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce’s time. They did not only win more than 60 games, but they also grabbed a championship title. But in the 2010-11 season, this roster would change. Allen went to the Miami Heat to play alongside LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. When the Heat and the Celtics fought, the former started with a 2-0 lead. James dominated each of the two games with at least 35 points. Although the Celtics won game three, the next game went to James’ side, as Lebron once again scored 35 points.
The Celtics were destroyed in game 5, as James went for a 10-0 run in the final two minutes of the game. The rest was history. Although the Celtics still became relevant after the devastating loss, they never acquired the same glory.
