Lebron James’ Path to the NBA Finals Will Be Very Similar to Kobe Bryant’s in 2009 If James Wins This Year
LeBron James can win his fourth NBA title and his first with the LA Lakers this year. The Lakers are a series away from advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.
If James wins the title this year, it will be very similar to Kobe Bryant’s 2009 NBA title.
LeBron James winning back-to-back titles in Miami
Ever since James entered the league, he wanted to win multiple NBA championships. James made the NBA Finals for the first time in his career during his fourth NBA season in 2007. Though the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs, James finally got the experience of playing in the finals. He knew that was not going to be his last trip to the finals, either. His next trip to the finals came in 2011 with a different team.
He joined the Miami Heat because he wanted a good shot at winning a title. James helped lead the Heat to the title in his first season with the team. Unfortunately, James would have to wait to win his first title as the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks. James was 0-2 in the finals and was determined to get that first championship. That would come the next season as the Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2012 NBA championship and give James his first title. It was an overwhelming feeling for James, and he wanted to win more. He would win his second straight title the next season as the Heat defeated the Spurs.
Just like that he had two NBA Finals and two Finals MVPs under his belt. James had a chance to three-peat with the Heat, but they fell short in the finals, losing to the Spurs. After the Heat lost to the Spurs, James decided to return to Cleveland to give the franchise their first-ever NBA title.
LeBron James winning a championship in Cleveland
When James returned to Cleveland, they immediately became a championship-contending team. James led the Cavaliers to the finals in 2015 and took on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors went on to win the title that year, but next year James got his revenge. He led the Cavaliers back to the finals in 2016, and they defeated the Warriors to win their first title in franchise history.
James did what he said he was going to do and bring a championship to Cleveland. That was James’ last title, and he had an impressive run of making it to the finals eight consecutive years. Now James is trying to bring a title back to LA.
Here’s how LeBron’s 2020 title run is similar to Kobe’s in 2009
Music artist Snoop Dogg posted a photo on his Instagram that showed an interesting stat with James and Bryant. Bryant won his fourth title in 2009 as the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic. During that title run, the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to reach the finals. The Lakers won the title in Game 5 in Orlando.
Now check this out. James and the Lakers defeated the Rockets in the second round and will take on the Nuggets in the Conference Finals, just like Bryant did in 2009. If James makes it to the finals, he will play for his fourth title in Orlando, where Bryant won his fourth. If James does go on to win his fourth this year, that will be very interesting that he and Bryant had similar paths winning their fourth title.
