LeBron James is the most decorated basketball player in history. He’s won a championship, two finals MVPs and an Olympic Gold Medal. In December of 2016 he surpassed Michael Jordan for 3rd all-time leading scorer with 10,335 points. Today I’m going to look back on 6 of his best Christmas Day performances from 2005 through 2017 and rank them from 1st to 6th.,
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. He has had some great Christmas Day performances over the years, but which ones are his best?
For NBA fans, LeBron James has become a Christmas tradition. He’s played on the holidays 15 times and had a number of big games.
But which of his accomplishments has been the most outstanding thus far?
We took a seat and rated James’ top six Christmas Day performances. And, although he has generally performed well every year, we ranked him based on his overall stats, whether his side won, and who he faced in the game.
Here are LeBron’s six finest Christmas Day performances.
Honorable mention: In 2003, LeBron James puts on a display against Tracy McGrady and the Orlando Magic as a rookie.
Because LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic, this one didn’t make the cut. However, in his first-ever Christmas Day performance as a rookie, James recorded 34 points, six assists, and four 3-pointers against Tracy McGrady, the league’s top scorer with 41 points.
It was a unique way to get a taste of LeBron’s Christmas magic.
6. On Christmas in 2007, James defeated Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (left) and Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (right) before a game on Nov. 12, 2009. | Getty Images/Carl Juste/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service
On Christmas in 2007, LeBron faced his friend Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat after guiding the Cavs to the NBA Finals the previous season.
Wade’s team wasn’t very strong that season, which is why its ranking is just sixth. James, on the other hand, outplayed his fellow 2003 draft classmate, scoring 25 points, 12 assists, and grabbing six rebounds in a 96-82 victory.
5. In 2009, LeBron James defeated Kobe Bryant and the defending NBA champion Lakers.
On December 25, 2009, LeBron James (from right) of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers. | Getty Images/Lisa Blumenfeld
In 2009-10, the Cavaliers and the Lakers were the East and West’s No. 1 seeds, respectively. The Lakers had also recently won the title the previous season. As a result, a Christmas showdown between the two, featuring LeBron James and Kobe Bryant (along with Shaquille O’Neal), was one of the season’s most anticipated matches.
Despite Kobe’s 35 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, The King led Cleveland to a 102-87 win with 26 points, nine assists, and four rebounds.
4. In another victory against Kobe and the Lakers in 2010, LBJ had a triple-double.
On Christmas in 2010, James played the two-time defending champion Lakers again, but this time with the Heat during his rookie season in Miami.
This time, LeBron’s team dominated from beginning to end, winning 96-80, with James producing a triple-double of 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. He also hit five of his six 3-point tries. The fact that he stuffed the stat sheet that day, while being up against Kobe, is a huge reason why this one rated in the top four.
3. On Christmas Day 2012, LeBron James reminded Kevin Durant and the Thunder who was in charge.
This game’s No. 3 rating is due to the fact that it is a rematch of the Finals. The Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals to give James his first title, and the two teams met again six months later on Christmas Day.
Kevin Durant led the team with 33 points and seven rebounds, but James came close to a triple-double with 29 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. The Heat won by a score of 103-97.
2. In the 2016 Cavaliers-Warriors rivalry, he guided Cleveland to a tight victory.
The Cavaliers and Warriors had played in the previous two NBA Finals in 2015-16, with Cleveland winning in seven games after trailing 3-1. It was, of course, huge to reignite that rivalry on Christmas Day. But, once Golden State signed Kevin Durant in the summer, the game gained even more traction.
And it lived up to every expectation.
The incumbent champion Cavaliers reminded Golden State that the Larry O’Brien Trophy went through them, as Kyrie Irving scored a three-pointer with three seconds remaining to give the Cavs a 109-108 victory. The Warriors couldn’t keep up with KD’s 36 points and 15 rebounds, but James’ 31 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists were too much for them.
1. On Christmas Day 2011, the King began his first championship run with a vengeance victory against the Mavericks.
During the 2011 NBA Finals, the Mavericks showed the Heat and their Big Three that quality doesn’t always prevail, as they won the series in six games. But, only months later, LeBron and his teammates avenged themselves with a season-opening triumph on Christmas Day (the NBA started late that year due to a lockout).
James almost scored 40 points in a 105-94 win, scoring 37 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. While LeBron’s 2016 game was a nail-biter, this victory set the tone for Miami’s championship season and ultimate two-peat. It was the starting point for a fantastic run.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
Dwyane Wade’s Recent Admission Reveals That He “Never Thought” LeBron James Would Play With Him on the Heat: ‘It was a rude awakening for me.’
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LeBron James is a basketball player who has been playing since he was in high school. He has had 6 best Christmas Day performances, which are listed below. Reference: lebron james high school stats.
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