Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has won a few championships. In fact, he’s won four of them (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020). That’s to be expected of someone vying for the title of the greatest player of all-time.
With that being said, one might wonder which NBA title is his favorite. He’s won at least one with three teams. He’s won them in different decades.
Lakers’ LeBron James Reveals Cavs Championship His Favorite
“The first championship is always special,” James tells Travis and Jason Kelce on New Heights.
“But, man, nothing tops the Cleveland (Cavaliers) one for me—everything about it. The 50-plus years of no championship in Northeast Ohio, the seven years I was there before leaving, then coming back to truly appreciate the city and the team even more. Being down 3-1 against the greatest team ever assembled—the 73-9 (Golden State) Warriors with Steph (Curry), Klay (Thompson), and Draymond (Green)—and finding a way to come back and win.
“That’s why you saw me crying on the court,” he adds.
“It was for the city, for Northeast Ohio, and for everyone who stuck with me. It was such an emotional, unbelievable journey, and that 2016 championship will always be the defining moment of my career. Someday, I’ll be an old man, and that year will still bring me back. It’s unforgettable. Cleveland deserved it.”
Legacy Talk
In 2016, James’ championship run was the stuff of legend. There have been quite a few legacy-defining moments and achievements in his storied career. However, at that time, his ability to make his case as the greatest of all-time truly hung in the balance.
If James lost to the Warriors, he would have been 2-4 in the NBA Finals. Considering that the iconic Wilt Chamberlain is 2-4 in the NBA Finals, he would have been able to retain at least some level of mystique. After all, he was already a four-time NBA MVP by that point (as was Chamberlain).
Nonetheless, coming away 2-4 on the league’s biggest stage when former Chicago Bulls megastar Michael Jordan went 6-0 wouldn’t made it all but impossible for him to compare. Acknowledging that he was the underdog in multiple NBA Finals matchups would hardly make that record less of an eyesore. Especially with the vitriol that comes with him failing to meet expectations.
Conversely, a win against the Warriors would’ve helped him rectify his reputation. At that point, he had a losing record in the NBA Finals. Even more importantly, his failure to takeover against the Dallas Mavericks was deemed unworthy of GOAT status. By defeating a team that broke the record for the most single-season wins with 73, he would’ve accomplished a feat that Jordan had never managed.
(2016 Finals GM7) The forgotten sequence. 🤫
Down four in the 4th QT with 5 mins left LeBron draws a foul on a 3P attempt & hits all 3 FTs (Cavs now trail by 1) Next possession down LeBron hits a 3 to go up by 2. Led to — “The Block” pic.twitter.com/kyRK81z0WM
— LeBron Factory (@LeBronFactory) June 19, 2023
The fact that he was the first player to come back from down 3-1 in the NBA Finals actually made it more impressive.
Love, Loyalty
James’s Cavs championship wasn’t all about what it meant for him individually. As he’s often said and demonstrated, he has a deep love for his home state. Though born and raised in Akron, Cleveland is less than an hour away. Both locales are considered parts of Northeast Ohio.
For awhile, a lot of Cavs fans held a grudge against James. They felt abandoned by him when he left the team in 2010, signing with the Miami Heat. In the end, he was able to completely restore his image as the hometown hero. When he bounced out of Brentwood the second time, heading to L.A. in 2018, it was easier to accept because he was able to deliver a championship.
What could’ve been a tragic ending to their relationship gave way to a beautiful beginning. There were even Cavs fans supporting the Lakers. For those who were around during the Kobe-LeBron rivalry, it was a fascinating development. But such was his reality, all because of what he was able to accomplish before leaving.
