Lebron James Says He ‘Won the Two Hardest Championships in NBA League History’
LeBron James is never hesitant to give himself a pat on the back, but his latest bold statement might’ve been a tad overboard.
James recently appeared on the Road Trippin’ podcast with former teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, and he posed a blistering hot take about his last two championships. The reigning Finals MVP said the titles he won in 2016 and 2020 were the two hardest to win in NBA history.
LeBron James has won two NBA championships in five years
After going 2-4 in his first six Finals appearances, LeBron James saw his legacy take a hit. He did win two titles with the Miami Heat, but his losing record and his performance in the 2011 Finals against the Dallas Mavericks was damning to his career resume.
But James just kept leading his team back. The all-time great led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the championship series again in 2016, and they became the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win an NBA Finals. James was the catalyst to the comeback, as he averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game throughout the series. He led the Cavaliers in every main statistical category against the Golden State Warriors.
Four years later, James won a unique championship with his third team. James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a title in 2020 in the NBA bubble for his fourth career championship ring.
James takes a bold stance on his last two titles
James recently appeared on Monday’s episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast and spoke to Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye about their years in Cleveland and his time in LA. During their conversation, James had high praise for his last two championship runs.
The one thing that I know for sure, is that I’ve been a part of two teams that’s won the two hardest championships in NBA league history. The 2016 Cavs coming back from down 3-1 versus the 73-9 team, being down 3-1 versus one of the best teams that has ever been assembled. And then what we went through in the bubble. And if you were not in the bubble, you don’t quite understand it. You will never ever understand how hard it was to win that championship, to motivate yourself. This is literally out of your whole comfort zone. I didn’t see my family for eight and a half weeks. I didn’t see my kids until I got out of the bubble. Everything you’re accustomed to — your own bed, or your chef, you know your sleeping pattern. For me, I’m a routine guy, and when my routine is knocked off, it’s hard for me to center myself.
LeBron James
Quite a take from The King.
Is LeBron James’ bold statement correct?
James surely has a point in regards to the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors. No team had ever come back from a 3-1 deficit before, and that Golden State team was arguably one of the best groups to ever grace the floor in the NBA. What the Cavaliers did in 2016 was incredible.
But the 2020 title can’t be near the top of the list of the hardest championships ever won. Sure, the bubble was a struggle for every player involved, but the level of competition the Lakers faced along the way wasn’t too impressive.
